Occupational Therapist Specialist

at  The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own practice, including the management of individuals in your care. To effectively self-manage complex caseloads within the service. To know the professional and personal scope of own practice and make referrals to other agencies. To demonstrate specialist knowledge and understanding of the key concepts of biological, physical, social, psychological and clinical sciences in relation to Occupational Therapy.
To provide a rapid specialist Occupational Therapy assessment and comprehensive risk assessment, using a high level of clinical reasoning skills to formulate an appropriate care pathway for patients within the cardiac rehabilitation service. To be flexible to work in a variety of clinical settings i.e. Outpatient clinics, cardiac rehabilitation classes, Residential/Nursing Home, bedded units and in patients homes. To apply knowledge of vocational rehabilitation to support individuals working in a variety of employment settings using clinical reasoning and problem solving to complete assessment and treatment plans to support return to work.
To use specialist knowledge to support and promote the development of the Occupational Therapy pathway within the cardiac rehabilitation service. To provide a specialist Occupational Therapy opinion to the Nursing and wider multidisciplinary team on the suitability and appropriateness of potential patients/referrals to the Service. Following a comprehensive specialist Occupational Therapy and risk assessment give accurate feedback and advice to relevant staff i.e. GP, medical staff, nurses, co-ordination, Physiotherapists, Social Workers, Health Care Assistants and family/carers.
To be responsible for the assessment, prescription and evaluation of specialist equipment and adaptations for patients with multiple and complex needs. To demonstrate a detailed clinical knowledge of a wide range of medical, cardiac, respiratory, neurological, musculoskeletal, and orthopaedic conditions. To be able to use research, clinical reasoning and problem solving skills to identify the therapeutic benefit of client centered interventions and make professional judgments with individuals with diverse or complex needs, or multiple problems according to outcome, changes in patient needs and environmental influences. To use specialist knowledge, training and experience to plan and implement client centered individual and/or group treatment programmes for people with complex physical, mental health and social needs.
To be able to formulate specific and appropriate management plans including the setting of time scales to accurately prioritise needs with individuals and the multi disciplinary team, in relation to available resources and professional demands. To monitor, analyse, evaluate and modify Occupational Therapy intervention and treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness. Using highly specialised knowledge, carry out and supervise a variety of physical interventions that require a high level of physical and manual dexterity. To apply a high level of knowledge of the effect of disability and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the individuals social and physical environment.
To work in a variety of environments, this may include confined and unhygienic spaces that could present a risk to personal health and safety. When necessary, to be responsible for the co-ordination of the individuals clinical care package. To demonstrate a detailed working knowledge of a variety of generic conditions and current Occupational Therapy approaches to their treatment and apply a high level of knowledge of the effect of disability to provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the individuals social and physical environment. To lead and contribute to assessment and provision of specialist Occupational Therapy advice in line with the national standards To maintain confidentiality in line with Professional, National and Trust standards and policies.
To facilitate, establish and maintain clear and effective communication networks with a variety of people, professional and external agencies. E.g. patients, carers, multi disciplinary team, Community RehabilitationTeam etc To communicate complex patient related information to promote collaborative working with other colleagues across health and social care to ensure the delivery of a co-coordinated service To adapt approach when information may be sensitive, confidential or distressing or where there may be problems with understanding due to physical, cognitive, psychological or social problems. To instruct and educate patients, carers, relatives, colleagues on the safe use of equipment, minor adaptations, treatment techniques, moving & positioning.
To promote an understanding of the role of Occupational Therapy within the cardiac rehabilitation specialty and appropriate related areas and agencies. To use advanced levels of interpersonal skills to negotiate with individuals in sensitive or volatile situations. To lead and facilitate departmental and multi disciplinary meetings as required by the cardiac rehabilitation specialty and Occupational Therapy service. To be responsible for the written recording of up to date, accurate information concerning the Occupational Therapy intervention in line with Trust and College of Occupational Therapy guidelines and abide by legal requirements governing confidentiality and data protection including integrated patient records.
To approve and countersign written documentation completed by non-qualified staff and students To be responsible for the completion and collation of appropriate departmental statistical records. To provide specialist written return to work reports, advice and recommendations, as required. To interpret and evaluate written records and referrals received from other members of the multidisciplinary team and outside agencies. To provide specialist detailed written reports, discharge summaries, risk assessments and other relevant information and recommendations regarding individual needs as required by the Service in accordance with legal, professional and Trust standards.
To develop written resources to assist with the facilitation of team and service development. To provide written patient information leaflets as determined by the needs of the Service. To provide appropriate specialised written reports and/or recommendations regarding individual needs as required by the cardiac rehabilitation service. To ensure that own clinical practice and that of staff with whom you work complies with appropriate professional and Trust standards and guidelines To work autonomously and use supervision and formal appraisal to reflect on own practice and performance, seeking advice, when necessary, from the Service Lead or Head of Therapy Services regarding particular patient or operational problems To be responsible for the performance management and annual appraisal, in line with the Knowledge & Skills Framework, of junior staff as directed by the Service Leader or Head of Therapy Services To deputise for the Team Leader in his/her absence To utilise leadership skills by instigating and managing projects as delegated by the Service / Team Leader or Head of Therapy Services To use appropriate delegation and prioritisation skills to assist with the effective smooth running of the Service To assist in the recruitment and selection of new staff in line with Trust policies and procedures In collaboration with other professional staff, to actively identify and contribute to service developments.
To work autonomously and use supervision and formal appraisal to reflect on own practice and performance, seeking advice, when necessary, from the Clinical Lead/Clinical Specialists regarding particular patient or operational problems. To be responsible for the performance management and annual appraisal, in line with the Knowledge and Skills Framework, of junior staff as directed by the Clinical/ Service Leads. To utilise leadership skills by taking responsibility for specific projects as delegated by the Clinical/ Service Lead To undertake teaching and lecturing duties for in-service training, internal and external courses to meet service requirements; and to public organisations as invited. To train Occupational Therapy students, acting as a professional practice educator and taking responsibility for the monitoring and evaluation of students for the period of their placement.
To provide advice, guidance and support to colleagues in connection with student education. To take an active lead role in the facilitation of on going development within the wider cardiac rehabilitation team. To take a role in the Service development plan and demonstrate responsibility for measurement and evaluation of current practices. To contribute to the delivery of the Occupational Therapy service development plan and lead on delegated projects as requested by the Team Leader/Head of Therapy Services.
Ensure that Health & Safety, infection control and other procedures within Community Rehabilitation are followed in line with Trust Policies and protocols

Please refer the Job description for details