Specialist Occupational Therapist

Job summary A new role and opportunity to joinour Specialist Palliative Care Team.
Weare looking to recruit a dynamic individual with excellent interpersonal skillsto this new role with an enthusiasm for continual service development to meetthe changing needs of our patients.Working predominantly within theSpecialist Community Team, the successful candidate will work as an integralpart of the multidisciplinary clinical team providing a high-quality occupationaltherapy service to patients with a life limiting condition and specialistpalliative care needs.The role will require assessment of patientsfunctional ability and needs, providing palliative occupational therapyinterventions and rehabilitative management to optimise their quality of life andenable patients to live well in their home or support during their Hospiceinpatient admission.Can you make every moment count?As an autonomous practitioner, thisnew role will allow you to work with the AHP and clinical team andcollaboratively with the wider AHP to provide rehabilitative palliative care.
Aprofessional qualification or degree in Occupational therapy is essential.Palliativecare and neuro rehab experience is desirable.Thesuccessful candidate must be a car owner with a clean driving licence.
Main duties of the job To work as an integral part of the multi-disciplinaryteam to provide high quality, patient centred occupational therapy service topatients with life-limiting / neurological conditions.To provide specialist, therapeutic intervention,rehabilitation within the limitation of their condition, provide strategies topromote independence to optimise the individuals quality of life for patients intheir own home, Inpatient unit or attending the Wellbeing and Supportive Careservice.Act as expertresource, provide specialist advice to Hospice staff and the wider community ofhealth and social care professionals.
About us This role is based at Springhill Hospice, Rochdale and within the community of Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood.SpringhillHospice provides the following palliative care services to the local adultpopulation who are suffering from the effects of life-limiting and terminalillnesses:A 16-bed Inpatientunit providing 24-hour medical and nursing care.Hospice atHome Service - supports people whowant to end their days in their own home by providing the support and symptommanagement they need to be able to do so.A DayTherapies Centre for up to 16 patients, 4-days-a-week, offeringcomplementary therapies ( reflexology, aromatherapy and massage);creative and beauty therapies, social activities and clinical support.CommunityService - provides specialistpalliative care and support to patients and families in their own homes A 24-hour PalliativeCare Advice Line for patients, families, carers and health professionals.Bereavement Support for relatives following loss.CounsellingServices for patients, carers andrelatives, provided by a qualified therapist.An EducationUnit - an in-house training facility for hospice staff and local health andsocial care professionals, with the main focus of training being on theSpringhill Palliative Care Education Passport' (SPCEP) which ensures that corepalliative care skills are taught to all grades of staff.
Job description Job responsibilities PurposeTo work as an integral part of the multi-disciplinaryteam to provide high quality, patient centred occupational therapy service topatients with life-limiting / neurological conditions.To provide specialist, therapeutic intervention,rehabilitation within the limitation of their condition, provide strategies topromote independence to optimise the individuals quality of life for patients intheir own home, Inpatient unit or attending the Wellbeing and Supportive Careservice.Act as expertresource, provide specialist advice to Hospice staff and the wider community ofhealth and social care professionals.Clinical1.Managea caseload of patients with life-limiting, using patient centred evidence-basedprinciples; to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.2.Useclinical judgment in order to prioritise caseload in line with clinicalguidelines and protocols.3.Demonstratea broad level of knowledge and understanding of clinical conditions.4.Utiliseassessment skills to make clinical decisions utilising expert knowledge andclinical reasoning.5.Undertakeholistic assessments and work with patients to agree the best management planand evaluate the effect of occupational therapy interventions for patientsliving with a life limiting condition.6.Proactivelymanage patients using palliative based assessments and interventions, offeringsupport to patients and their carers to improve and optimise the patientsquality of life dependent upon their need.7.Assesscomplex care needs and co-ordinate a team approach to try and address theseneeds more effectively to support patients.8.Workwith patients and/or carers to identify goals as part of an overall care planin co-operation with the multi professional team using recognised goal settingdocumentation.9.Devisea treatment plan for each patient, agreed with the patient and communicated tothe family and multi-disciplinary team, to maximise independence and quality oflife.10.Monitorprogress and evidence the effectivenessof the intervention, using outcome measures and modify treatment whereappropriate.11.Advise,recommend, make provision for the installation of appropriate aids andadaptations to the patients social and physical environment12.Carryout home visits with or without the patient, to assess environmental risk andfunctional ability at home13.Assessneed and risk factors for hoist and wheelchair provision.14.Delegatedresponsibility for identifying necessary resources / equipment needs, monitoringusage, maintenance and reporting defects or deficits to the Physiotherapist / CommunityServices Manager.15.Prescribeand source equipment for patient use.16.Demonstrateeffective communication skills; explanation, persuasion, motivation, empathy,reassurance and empowerment with patients to achieve their optimum level ofindependence, convey highly sensitive and complex information or deal withdifficult or challenging situations, such as managing patient and professionalunmet expectation.17.Conveyinformation in a sensitive and appropriate manner on diagnosis, prognosis andtreatment plans in a range of verbal and non-verbal forms thatpatients/relatives can understand.18.Educatepatients, loved ones, and carers in conditions and their effects in order toadapt to an appropriate lifestyle.19.Usecommunication skills to facilitate advance care planning.20.Demonstrateeffective communication and joint working with the Hospice clinical team,external / other professionals as appropriate.21.Liaisewith external Neuro-rehab specialist OTs in order to support patients with compensatorypalliative occupational therapy.22.Contributeto the work of the multi-disciplinary clinical team, ensuring safe andeffective care and discharge arrangements for Inpatients.
Co-ordinate the provisionof specialised interventions or equipment.23.Attendand participate, where appropriate, in case conferences relating to patientdischarge planning.24.Referon to appropriate agencies for the continuation of treatment, reassessment,monitoring and provision of further equipment / adaptations.25.Demonstrateexpertise in multi-professional meetings, acting as patient advocate andrepresenting the Hospice from a palliative rehabilitation perspective.26.Activelynetwork across the borough to seek key partner health care providers /services, to ensure the Hospice has a good knowledge of and effectiverelationships with to ensure patients have access to the appropriate care whenneeded.27.AttendGold Standard Framework (GSF) meetings as required to network with the widermulti-disciplinary team and educate other health care professionals about theservice.28.Ensurethat patient records are maintained in accordance with both statutory andHospice requirements.29.Reportany incidents, complaints, near misses and untoward incidents, followingHospice policy.30.Maintainup to date activity data in accordance with professional and hospice standards.31.Collateand evaluate data to provide evidence of productivity, outcomes and quality.32.Prepareor support the Community Services Manager with high quality clinical reportsdemonstrating objective assessment and outcomes.33.Contributeto the development of the service; identify and implement quality improvementsand initiatives, participate in clinical audit, evaluation of patient outcomeswithin your clinical area, policy and protocol review within scope of role.Professional1.Activelyparticipate in the day-to-day management of complex palliative patients, planningown workload / visit allocation and work and closely with the physiotherapistto develop the AHP provision.2.Beaccountable for professional decisions as a lone occupational therapist.3.Provideleadership, management and development of all staff and volunteers within areaof responsibility.4.Demonstratecontinuous evaluation and reflection on own practice and performance througheffective use of professional and operational supervision and performance reviewin order to further develop OT provision.5.Actas a resource and adviser promoting evidence-based practice and best managementof palliative occupational therapy care.
Provide specialist advice to GPs,Practice Nurses, Nurse Practitioners and other community health workers acrossthe borough.6.Developeffective working relationships with Allied health professionals in local NHSTrusts, other community teams and Hospices.7.Ensureprofessional registration is up to date and uphold the Royal College ofOccupational Therapists and Health and Care Professions Council Code of Conductat all times to ensure the safety of patients.Education1.Ensureattendance at all mandatory training and professional development sessionsrequired by Springhill hospice.2.Participatein individual performance review and the use of personal development plan.3.Takeresponsibility for identifying own personal and professional developmentrequirements and communicating these to the line manager.4.Maintainown competency to practice through CPD activities and maintain a professionalportfolio, providing evidence of self-development.5.Keepup to date with research and developments within own field of practice toensure evidence-based practice.6.Providespecialist education and advice to other professionals (internally andexternally) involved in patient care about the role of occupational therapy in palliativecare.7.Providesupervision and support for all learner grades of staff including externalstudents on placement.
8.Delegatedresponsibility for Occupational Therapy students on placement; negotiatelearning contracts, set objectives, supervise placement practice and evaluation.9.Contributeto the development of patient and community focused education includingcoaching patients and their families and carers.Personal1.Ensurecompliance with Springhill Hospice policies and procedures at all times.2.Whenworking in the community and domiciliary settings, work as a lone practitionerwith telephone support if required.3.Attendand participate in all relevant meetings, both within the Hospice andexternally, as appropriate and as agreed with line manager.4.Ensurecontinued support and encouragement to colleagues within the clinical team andthe wider Hospice team at all times.5.Toexercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliableattendance.6.Developnew skills in response to emerging knowledge and techniques.General1.Read,understand and comply with all Hospice policies and procedures, applying theprinciples appropriate to the role.2.Demonstrateawareness of specific individual responsibilities in respect of theSafeguarding of Vulnerable Adults, in relation to the role.
Person Specification Other Essential Full current driving licence with ability and willingness to use own vehicle and sometimes carry equipment.
Willingness to work flexible hours and in various locations around the borough.
Qualifications Essential Professional Qualification or Degree in Occupational Therapy.
Relevant post registration education.
Registered with HCPC.
Desirable Membership of appropriate professional body.
Membership of professional special interest group.
Education/Training qualification.
Enhanced communication skills training.
Knowledge and Skills Essential Ability to communicate effectively and to adapt communication style to needs of patient, carers and staff.
Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships and effective multidisciplinary/inter agency working.
Ability to expertly use and apply a range of assessment and treatment techniques and approaches to the management of conditions relevant to speciality.
Ability to creatively problem solve.
Caseload management skills; organise, prioritise and delegate as appropriate.
Ability to appropriately deal with complex, distressing, emotional and sensitive information and circumstances.
Ability to independently as an autonomous practitioner with support from more senior staff when required.
Self-motivated and confident to make appropriate decisions, but willing to seek and accept support when necessary.
Desirable Symptom management skills; Anxiety, Breathlessness and Fatigue management.
Ability to analyse activity and outcome data accurately and write reports.
Clinical governance and service improvement expertise.
Experience Essential 3 years post-graduation experience.
Excellent occupational rehabilitation assessment and treatment skills.
Managing a caseload of patients with complex needs.
Demonstrable effective team working.
Desirable Palliative care and Neuro-rehab experience.
Coaching, education and supervision of junior staff and students.
Proven experience of developing and delivering therapeutic groups.
Experience of Advance care planning .
Participation in clinical audit.