Occupational Therapist

Job summary hours per week.Do you have an interest in Urgent Care and supporting clients at home avoiding a hospital admission?
We are looking for an Occupational Therapist with a can do attitude to join our patient and staff centred team.The Community Crisis Response Team are an interdisciplinary team who support clients at home during a period of acute physical illness across 7 days/week to avoid hospital admission.
We are committed to client centred care and have a culture of shared learning, integrated working and promote positive risk taking.
We are also committed to being the Greatest Place to Work with our staff centred improvement project.As a member of the team you will learn skills and competencies in holistic Urgent Care assessments.
Occupational Therapy is a valued discipline within the MDT and you will gain great satisfaction in using your skills, in collaboration with trusted health and social care colleagues, to work with patients during their health crisis.
Additionally there are exciting opportunities for working with Acute Response Practitioners to expand understanding of physical assessment and clinical reasoning of frail elderly patients.
We also have exciting projects alongside SWASFT to increase the number of people we treat and care for at home with a current focus on falls.Staff are supported with regular training programmes to meet team competencies, as well as encouragement to attend relevant professional courses and engage in service development.
Main duties of the job As an OT in CCRT you will work as part of a large MDT and be able to work as an autonomous proactive professional holding your own caseload of complex acutely unwell patients in the community aiming to avoid unnecessary hospital admission.The successful candidate will be responsible for assisting in education and management of junior staff and students, and have the opportunity to develop clinical and managerial skills whilst working with a complex and varied caseload.This is an ideal opportunity for someone looking to gain holistic assessment skills and knowledge in a supportive multi-disciplinary team or someone wishing to transition from the Acute to Community setting.This post will certainly benefit your career pathway, enable you to use your OT training and expand your skills in assessment of frail elderly patients.
If you are interested in finding out more then please contact us on 01752 434747, ask for Heather Lilburn or Duty Manager.Interviews will be held in person - date to be confirmed.This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted.
Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
About us Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall.
Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration.
We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place.
Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships.
Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities.
If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.
Job description Job responsibilities Clinical - Prioritise the day to day management of own caseload and that of the team, delegating activities as appropriate.
Ensure the patient is aware of the role and philosophy of OT and components of the OT process.
To be responsible for the comprehensive assessment, treatment and evaluation of patients including those with complex presentation using treatment techniques to promote normal movement, motor relearning, cognitive therapy, compensatory techniques and daily living skills.
To work as part of a MDT to manage acutely unwell patients in the community, including taking observations and liaising with relevant medical professionals/team members.
To use a selection of both standardised and non standardised assessments to assist and aid diagnosis of cognitive, sensory, perceptual, behavioural, physical, psychosocial and social functioning to make clinical interpretations resulting from assessments of your own caseload and that of your team.
To assess, prescribe and authorise aids and adaptive equipment from the core catalogue and make recommendations for minor and major adaptations to increase / enable or compensate for independent function, teaching compensatory techniques as required.
To assess seating and positioning needs and treat as appropriate including assessment for and prescription of standard wheelchairs and accessories when accredited referring on to the wheelchair services as required for assessment of complex and specialist mobility and seating needs.
To assess for potential splinting and positioning to prevent, treat and manage deformity and improve function for the upper limb.
Plan and review treatment programmes in close liaison with all members of the multi disciplinary team, patients carers and family in accordance with consent given.
To record and report regularly on patients progress and treatment to the multi disciplinary team or in accordance with the policies and procedures laid down in individual clinical areas including the original referrer.
To plan, organise and lead both formal and informal treatments and health education groups for both patients and carers.
Education of patients and carers regarding the impact of cognitive, perceptual and physical deficits on patient safety and independence in the home, leisure and workplace.
To impart sensitive information and advice to patients and carers which could have life changing consequences.
To provide an opportunity for patients and carers to express their feelings whilst encouraging acceptance and adjustment to their new circumstances.
Demonstrating to and informing other community staff re ongoing patient needs in the community, home care staff, district nurses.
To facilitate return of patients currently in residential or nursing care who wish to return home after a period of stay in a care setting.
Liaise with and ensure good communication with statutory and voluntary bodies to establish a comprehensive package to ensure continuation of care in the community.
Refer to follow up services to ensure treatment programmes are in place to progress functional independence based on identified needs at the end of episode of care.
To provide support and supervision to Band 5 OT's, assistants and students as required.
To identify occupational therapy clinical areas of strengths and weaknesses within the team and monitor both workload and caseload of Band 5 / non-professional staff and give advice on treatment interventions.
To be responsible for the discharge of patients from your caseload.
To provide written communication with outside agencies and charitable bodies to support the need for services and equipment on discharge from the service.
Actively contribute to service development.
To provide cover for staff who are absent, taking responsibility for aspects of service delivery.
To be responsible for utilising the goal planning process and the outcome measures used in the clinical area to review progress of the patient.
To use a range of verbal and non verbal communication methods with patients, who may have difficulty in understanding or communicating and who may be low in mood or lack insight.
To maintain competence in the use of manual handling techniques and equipment including the prescription of manual handling equipment for use in the community setting, demonstrating the use to carers as necessary.
To ensure use of risk assessment in all areas of your work are undertaken and comply with the Trust's Health and Safety policies and Lone Working Policy.
To demonstrate a high level of understanding of conditions relevant to the diagnostic area and those patients presenting with multi pathologyDepartmental and AdministrativeTo maintain an up to date record of all patient contacts, MDT care plans, OT assessments and reports whilst ensuring confidentiality at all times in line with Professional and Trust policies and procedures.To take an active role in audit, research and interdisciplinary development within the service.To be responsible for collecting and reporting statistical data in line with Trust policies and procedures.To be responsible for maintaining stock control systems, advising on resources and the responsible management of petty cash.To co-ordinate the day to day delivery of the OT service within designated team.To jointly manage the OT waiting list of referrals to ensure appropriate screening and prioritisation are utilised in accordance with service eligibility criteria and standards.ProfessionalTo take responsibility for ensuring own personal and professional development and statutory training demonstrating the ability to apply increasingly complex skills / knowledgeTo attend and contribute to staff meetings and attend relevant professional meetings and courses as agreed with OT Professional Lead / Operational Manager/clinical lead.To review and reflect on own practice through effective use of professional and clinical supervision in line with Trust policies and proceduresTo participate in providing instruction, learning opportunities, work experience and training staff and students from other units / disciplines / schools / colleges and training schemes as agreed with Line Manager and Occupational Therapy Lead.
This includes providing regular fieldwork education for student OTsTo participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within your areaMaintain high professional standards at all times as laid down in the College of OT / Health Professional Council Code of conductTo comply with the College of OTs, HPC Standards of Practice and Occupational Therapy policies and procedureTo undertake the supervision and appraisal of junior staff as requested by OT Lead demonstrating the ability to reflect on professional and ethical issuesTo plan and implement the induction, training and education of other staffTo contribute to the Trusts clinical governance arrangements and quality agendaTo apply professional, local and national guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care provisionTo adhere to Trust policies and procedures including Health and Safety at workTo respect the individual values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to those needsTo take responsibility for the recruitment process of unqualified staff and assist in the recruitment of junior qualified staffPlease see full job description attached Person Specification Experience Essential Minimum 2 years post graduate clinical experience.
Autonomous practitioner with experience of managing a caseload.
Experience of teaching.
Experience in rehabilitation.
Experience working across or be able to evidence knowledge of a broad range of clinical areas/presentations eg acute hospital, care of the elderly, respiratory, neurology, orthopaedics.
Experience of managing acutely unwell patients.
Experience of triaging and prioritizing caseload/referrals.
Experience of working with staff from other agencies.
Experience using a wide variety of manual handling equipment and applying it to different patient presentations.
Desirable Previous experience working at senior level.
Experience of teaching other professions.
Management experience.
History of employment in community-based post.
Experience of supervision of junior staff and/or assistants.
Experience of audit projects.
Experienced clinical educator of students.
Mental Health experience.
Experience of SystmOne, Eclipse, Salus.
Qualifications Essential Degree or equivalent in occupational therapy.
HCPC Registration.
Evidence of on-going education and professional development.
Relevant post graduate education.
Computer literate.
Recognised qualification in written and spoken English if this is not first language.
Current valid Full UK driving licence.
Desirable Masters Degree.
Member of relevant.
Special Interest Group.
ECDL or equivalent.
Management training.
Clinical Educator.
Knowledge and Skills Essential Essential criteria Evidence of CPD.
Knowledge of multipathology.
Knowledge of community services.
Knowledge of scope of practice.
Knowledge of the presentation of acutely unwell patients.
Knowledge of mental capacity.
Knowledge of safeguarding.
Knowledge of OT process.
Highly specialised skills in holistic clinical assessment, intervention and evaluation .
Excellent communication skills.
Excellent time management and organisational skills.
Ability to be creative and transpose established treatment methods into a home rehab setting.
Leadership skills and qualities.
Skilled in working in teams/multidisciplinary teams.
Innovative.
Documentation skills.
Desirable Knowledge/experience of SystmOne, Eclipse, Salus.
Knowledge of the Urgent Community Response Standards.
Knowledge of NEWS 2/clinical obs.
Shared skills.