About this role
Job summary
We are excited to advertise a Static Band 6 Occupational Therapy role within our Stroke, Neurological and Complex Care Services.
The role is part time, with hours ideally worked over 4 or 5 days and the expectation of contribution to the 7 day Acute Stroke Service.
We are looking for someone with experience within Stroke and/or Neurological Occupational Therapy who is passionate about providing high quality intervention to service users whilst developing and supporting the wider service, applying consistent and reliable underlying knowledge and skill.
The applicant should be confident with patient interaction and development of considered, goal oriented interventions in all settings. In addition, the successful candidate is required to support aspects of teaching, supervision and people management. Within the role there is scope for the development of enhanced skills in assessment and management of cognitive impairment, specialist handling, posture management and splinting.
The current role involves rotation between 3 areas:
7 day Stroke Service, assessing and treating patients post stroke in order to facilitate optimal recovery and timely progress through the stroke pathway.
Contribution to the outpatient neurological Occupational Therapy service providing input to patients with neurological conditions.
Complex care services providing assessment and treatment to patients admitted with complex neurological or medical presentations including input with patients on Intensive Care.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will be required to work across all three Trust Sites.
They will provide skilled therapeutic input to patients on their caseload working collaboratively with the Integrated Therapy Team and wider MDT. They will support assessment and provision of routine and more specialist equipment to optimise functional ability and facilitate effective discharge.
Therapy input is provided with a Home First approach, facilitating referrals to appropriate support services to enable discharge home wherever possible or to inpatient rehabilitation settings when this is not achievable.
There is the expectation that the successful applicant will be able to drive to support completion of access and home visits when required including for provision of equipment.
Within the Integrated Therapy Team there will be involvement with line management where appropriate - providing supervision, teaching and wellbeing support.
The role will be involved in facilitation of wider team management and development through supporting the band 7 Team Leads with day to day caseload and staffing issues as well as service and quality improvement projects.
The successful candidate will be supported by a robust team structure and existing high level of skill and expertise across the team. They will be encouraged to continue their development through varied learning and CPD opportunities.
About us
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Being open and honest
Ensuring people feel cared for
Showing respect to everyone
We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
DBS Checks and Costs
Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.
Job description Job responsibilities
Key Working Relationships:
Therapists across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Medical and nursing staff, other health care professionals and members of the MDT, support staff, community care co-ordinators, discharge co-ordinators, patients, carers, relatives, students and university staff.
Risk Assessment:
This post involves frequent manual handling activities e.g. hoisting, positioning, assisting sitting/standing, transferring, giving physical support during walking practice/exercise and occasional pushing of large items of equipment.
There is a frequent requirement for moderate physical effort, including repetitive techniques e.g. manual chest techniques, passive exercises, bed exercises and an occasional requirement for intensive physical effort for several short periods throughout the day.
Close contact with patients including the performance of invasive techniques such as Airway suction and Blood Gas sampling frequently exposes the post holder to bodily fluids e.g. sputum, urine, blood, vomit and faeces.
There is frequent need for prolonged concentration when assessing and treating highly complex patients and a need to act rapidly in potentially life-threatening situations.
The work pattern is often unpredictable with frequent interruptions/changes and managerial deadlines.
Often you may encounter emotionally distressing situations, such as dealing with bad news, terminal illness, death and bereavement, where empathy and support for patients, carers and other team members will be needed.
Job Purpose:
To provide high-quality, patient centred care as an autonomous practitioner, managing complex and high risk caseloads through assessment, diagnosis, development and delivery of individual treatment plans, and effective discharge planning.
Take ownership for managing a specialist caseload, within a defined service area or for a particular patient group.
To provide clinical leadership within a rotational area including the supervision, support, and education of unregistered staff, junior colleagues and students.
Actively contribute in service development, departmental audits, quality improvement and promote evidence-based practice.
Rotate across various specialist areas in response to service needs, including outpatients, community settings, and acute specialist areas as appropriate.
Contribute to the delivery of a 7-day service on a rota basis, depending on the specialty and rotation.
To undertake on-call duties and/or weekend working, as appropriate to the speciality. When performing on call duties, staff must be available on the ward within 45 minutes of the call.
Key Duties
Clinical:
To undertake comprehensive, specialist patient-centred clinical assessment, including complex risk analysis, of patients presenting with a wide variety of physical, functional or cognitive presentations. This may include in hospital, patients homes or other community settings that you must be able to travel to.
Demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning and decision making using functional analysis, and corroborative goal setting to optimise patient outcomes.
To utilise a broad and evolving evidence base of specialist knowledge to deliver and adapt a wide range of interventions such as mobility training, equipment provision, environmental adaptations, exercise prescription and cognitive strategies.
To independently plan and implement and evaluate treatment programmes adjusting interventions accordingly based on clinical findings and patient response.
To make onward referrals as appropriate and required for the patient.
To maintain high quality, contemporaneous clinical records in line with professional, legal and Trust standards.
To participate in the evening and weekend On Call Service (individuals substantively employed by WAHT only), which includes advanced respiratory techniques and non-invasive ventilatory aids. This may include the treatment of children. In line with professional requirements and service needs.
To work hours over 7 day working dependant on service delivery model.
To take a proactive role in safeguarding, recognising, escalating and managing concerns in line with policy.
To embed the principles of Making Every Contact Count promoting health and well being and self-management.
Communications:
To communicate highly complex, sensitive or contentious information effectively with patients, families and carers adapting style and approach to individual needs.
To utilise advanced communication skills to motivate, educate and empower patients supporting engagement in rehabilitation and long-term self-management.
To assess mental capacity, obtain valid consent and practice within relevant legal and ethical frameworks, including best-interest decision making where required.
To effectively manage and overcome communication barriers, including cognitive, sensory, emotional, and cultural factors.
To act as a key member of the MDT contributing to case conferences, ward rounds, discharge planning and complex decision making.
To provide specialist advice and guidance to colleagues, patients, carers and other agencies regarding patient management.
Education and Training:
To be appraised by the Senior Therapist within each team, taking a proactive role in setting, reviewing and achieving personal and rotational specific objectives. Demonstrating progression in both clinical and leadership competencies across settings.
To actively engage and contributing to supervision, CPD and in-service training programmes and take responsibility for personal learning and development whilst supporting the wider learning needs of the MDT.
To maintain and apply advanced knowledge of current clinical developments and evidence based practice, and contribute to the dissemination of best practice within the team.
To consistently complete all annual mandatory training and maintain competencies relevant to each clinical rotation, demonstrating flexibility and ability to rapidly acquire new skills required for different service areas.
To provide leadership, support, guidance, training and formal supervision to band 5 staff, students and junior and unregistered staff as appropriate, acting as a role model within the team.
To lead and actively participate in audits, quality improvement and service evaluations, and implementation of changes to enhance patient care and service delivery.
Organisation and Management:
To independently prioritise a complex patient workload and providing oversight and support of the management of the workloads for both band 5s and assistants.
To regularly take responsibility for the coordination of the team or service area in the absence of the team lead.
To demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of and adherence to National, Professional, Trust and Departmental policies and contribute to the review implementation and development of changes recommended within own service area following audit or research.
Ensure a safe working environment by adhering to Trust policies, processes and standards and support others to do the same.
To take a proactive leadership role to identify, challenge and address unsafe practice, or environments and report adverse incidents or near misses according to Trust policy.
Professional:
To maintain Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration adhering to the Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics.
To maintain own Continuing Professional Development in line with Clinical Governance and the HCPC Standards, actively seeking opportunities to develop advanced knowledge and skills relevant to rotational practice.
To be responsible for maintaining and developing own clinical competence through self-directed learning and reflective practice, while contributing to a culture of learning by supporting and facilitating the professional development of others within the team.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Significant post-registration experience at Band 5 level or equivalent Experience in acute hospital settings Experience with discharge planning Evidence of participation in audit and research equipment/adaptations, or a broad range of relevant clinical areas Experience of delegation to unqualified staff and/or training other MDT members Application of the relevant therapy process, including functional assessment and activity analysis Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
Experience in community settings
Personal Qualities Essential
Ability to manage and prioritise competing demands on a complex caseload independently Demonstrates initiative and the ability to lead a team in the absence of the team lead Ability to manage conflict, give constructive feedback, and support professional growth in others Commitment to client-centred, non-discriminatory practice Commitment to lifelong learning and participation in rotation schemes Professional manner and presentation, with awareness of confidentiality Ability to build positive working relationships and work inclusively Confident, reliable, and flexible Able to maintain judgement and work under pressure Committed to personal and team development Able to show initiative and act on feedback Approachable and supportive to others Ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance Able to maintain accurate and up-to-date records
Qualifications Essential
Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy HCPC Registration Evidence of post-registration CPD relevant to role
Desirable
Membership with RCOT
Other Job Requirements Essential
Ability to undertake manual handling and meet physical demands of the role Must hold full and valid UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle as this will be required for the role (Reasonable adjustments will be considered on request). Able and willing to work contracted hours over 7 days as required, including contribution to 7-day working and 24hr on-call service
Skills and Knowledge Essential
Ability to critically appraise evidence and apply it to clinical practice Advanced clinical reasoning and decision- making in complex or high-risk cases Understanding of professional ethics and their application in practice Good knowledge of health legislation and current practice Demonstrates understanding and application of clinical governance, risk management and quality improvement Effective written and oral communication skills Understanding of team dynamics and the role of therapy in different settings Ability to lead or contribute to audit, research, or service evaluation Teaching, leadership and presentation skills
Desirable
Able to demonstrate IT skills including knowledge of Word/Excel and EPR (Electronic patient record)
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Address Charles Hastings Way
Worcester
Worcestershire
WR5 1DD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)