JOB SUMMARY

1. Provide an occupational therapy service in both one to one and group settings,
   for patients attending Nightingale House Hospice services, with an emphasis on
   symptom control, rehabilitation and improving/maintaining independence and
   quality of life.
2. Be responsible and accountable for providing occupational therapy assessment,
   developing management and treatment plans, and delivering safe and effective
   occupational therapy interventions, to patients with diverse health needs who
   may have complex and/or chronic conditions.
3. Participate in the education and training of junior staff, and the supervision and
   delegation of occupational therapy related tasks to staff from own and other
   disciplines.
4. Act as a resource and support to Hospice staff by offering support, knowledge
   and skills in occupational therapy, meeting and understanding the psychosocial,
   physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients.

EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT

• Provides spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives,
  carers and other professionals in order to promote understanding of the aims of
  occupational therapy and to maximise patients’ rehabilitation potential, ensuring a

consistent approach for patient care.

• Takes responsibility for the education and training of staff from other disciplines

within the multi– disciplinary service and the supervision and delegation of

treatment programmes to staff from own and other disciplines.

• Acts as a resource and support to hospice staff by offering support, knowledge and

skills in occupational therapy, meeting and understanding the psychosocial, physical,

emotional and spiritual needs of patients receiving palliative care.

• Contributes to the development of patient and community focused education,

including coaching patients and their families and carers.

• Takes personal responsibility for life-long learning and own development through

reflective practice, supervision and appraisal and actively engages with learning and
development opportunities offered by the Hospice and relevant external education

providers.

• Maintain an up to date knowledge of suitable equipment which can be provided to

patients and their carers to facilitate discharge from the hospice and of the systems

and pathways to access this as required.

• Participates in study days, seminars and teaching programmes for health and

social care professionals both at the Hospice and externally.

HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS OF THE HOSPICE

All employees of the Hospice have a statutory duty of care for their own personal
safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees
are required to co-operate with management to enable the Hospice to meet its own
legal duties including attendance at mandatory training updates and also to report
any hazardous situations or defective equipment.

FLEXIBILITY STATEMENT

The content of this Job Description represents an outline of the post only and is
therefore not a final list of duties and responsibilities. The Job Description is
therefore intended to be flexible and is subject to review and amendment in the
light of changing circumstances, following consultation with the post holder.

Training and Education, Health and Safety Policies and Procedures: Equal Opportunities

• To report accidents recording the incident in the relevant book
• To adhere to Fire and Health and Safety regulations and maintain a safe workin

CLINICAL DUTIES

• Works with members of the multi–disciplinary team (MDT) to facilitate o
Occupational Therapy services within the Rehabilitation, In-Patient Unit and

Wellbeing services.

• Identifies and works with patients as early as possible to maximise their function

and engagement in activities of daily living (ADLs).

Reviewed by Director of Clinical Services 11/08/2025

• Has a commitment to client-centered practice and person-centered goals. Working

as part of the MDT, tailors occupational therapeutic input according to patients’
multi-faceted individual needs and preferences spanning physical, psychological,

emotional, social and spiritual dimensions.

• Undertakes comprehensive occupational therapy assessment for patients with

complex and diverse health needs, including progressive and life-threatening

diseases.

• Uses well developed clinical reasoning skills to develop, review and adapt

therapeutic interventions using educative, rehabilitative and compensatory
approaches as needed to optimize independence and promote occupational

performance across a varied patient caseload.

• Provides high quality occupational therapy input to optimise non-pharmacological

management of symptoms including breathlessness, anxiety and fatigue.

• Re-assesses the on-going occupational therapy needs of the patient, adapting

therapy input as their condition changes.

• Encourages client participation in occupational therapy by using negotiation,

reassurance and support for both patients, families and staff.

• Assesses patient’s understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid, informed

consent and work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to

consent to treatment.

• Contribute to the discharge planning process in collaboration with other members

of the MDT, to ensure a safe and effective discharge.

• Contributes to the various group programmes, both virtual and face to face in

outpatient services.

• Assesses people’s information needs and provides/signposts to resources to meet

those needs.

• Takes responsibility for the maintenance of occupational therapy equipment, and

provide aids and equipment appropriate to patients’ needs, giving instruction for its

safe and correct use, in line with Hospice policy.

• Monitors and reviews effectiveness of interventions and adjust approach

accordingly, including the use of outcome measures to guide service provision.

• Works autonomously but in compliance with the Royal College of Occupational

Therapists code of ethics and professional conduct, national legal frameworks and

local hospice policies and procedures.

• Is responsible for, and proactively initiates, effective communication with other

members of the Hospice team.

• Communicates effectively with formal carers and family carers, external agencies

and with the statutory and voluntary sectors to ensure effective client care and

continuity of care after discharge from Hospice services.

• Participates fully in the MDT approach to rehabilitation, attending internal MDT

meetings, case meetings and family meetings as relevant.

• Monitors workload within the service and feedback to the Clinical Director any

pressures as they arise.

• Monitors and manages risks involved in work activities and processes, for self,

colleagues and patients.

• Gathers, records and safely stores sensitive information and data as required

relevant to the role.

• Promotes a culture that supports self-management, independence and embeds

patient and community involvement within the sphere of practice.

• Participates in service review with the Clinical Director in order to drive service

improvement.

• Contributes to the implementation and monitoring of adherence to clinical

guidelines.

• Supports the Health Care Support Worker - Wellbeing in the storage and

maintenance of equipment and management of stock levels.

• Contributes to quality assurance e.g. through audit and research.
• Is an ambassador for Nightingale House Hospice as a charity, engaging in service

promotion and fundraising initiatives as required and encouraging members of the

team to do the same.

• Undertakes occasional community visits to support the rehabilitation and

wellbeing of patients in their own homes.

DUTIES IN COMMON WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF STAFF:

Training and Education, Health and Safety Policies and Procedures: Equal Opportunities

• To report accidents recording the incident in the relevant book
• To adhere to Fire and Health and Safety regulations and maintain a safe working

environment at all times

• To ensure cost-effective use of resources, to be responsible for managing the

relevant budget, and to co-operate with your line manager in the response to

regular financial reporting

• To be an ambassador for the charity
• To maintain the best appearance of your immediate working area
• To develop training of staff and volunteers
• To be responsible for liaison with the relevant Executive Director regarding your

own development needs

• To deliver wider training initiatives and promotional activity in the best interests of

the charity

• To take responsibility for being up to date with current policies, legislation and

procedures and to adhere to these
To treat everyone with whom you have contact through your work with equal dignity and
respect regardless of race, colour, gender, marital status, creed, religion, disability, age, or
any other factor that could be used in a discriminatory manner