Senior Occupational Therapist, Palliative Care - Band 6

at  Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Occupational Therapist, Palliative Care - Band 6 (30 hours a week)
We are looking for a Senior Occupational Therapist to join our palliative care team working with palliative predominately in patients across all specialties within the hospital. We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated individual who can demonstrate forward thinking, is open to learn new skills and competencies to provide holistic palliative care and demonstrate the ability to develop self and others.
The successful post holder will have experience of working with a range of conditions, including deteriorating conditions and will carry a specialist caseload of palliative patients.
To be a core member of the Palliative Care Team providing an effective and evidence-based service
To deliver therapeutic intervention, acting as a specialist clinician in Palliative Care , by using the principles of Occupational Therapy in an integrated and client-centred way supported by the Therapy Competency Framework. To act as a resource for therapists and other healthcare professionals in this specialist area. To offer non-pharmacological measures in managing complex symptoms and needs.
To work closely with the Community Palliative Care team, hospices and other stakeholders within primary care in building close links and gaining wider knowledge of community services and what is available to support patient care.
To assume responsibility for personal development and supporting the development and supervision of others by CPD (continuing professional development), linked to appraisal.
To support evaluation and service development in the clinical area in line with national and local drivers
Join us at an exciting time for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We have an ambitious plan for our Journey to Outstanding and are looking for aspirational , committed individuals to join us, making a real difference to both staff and patients.
As a former winner of England for excellence award ; Tourism destination of the year, the beautiful city of Gloucester and the scenic regency spa town of Cheltenham are fantastic places to work and live.
As a hospital trust we are currently involved in over 100 clinical trials and studies whilst also providing acute elective and specialist services to a population of over 620,000 .
By joining Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust new colleagues can look forward to a warm welcome and a future full of opportunities and support.
The post holder will work as an autonomous practitioner in liaison with other health professionals within a multidisciplinary team.
To work with patients and those important to them to complete comprehensive, patient centred assessment and intervention that looks at helping with functional and comfort symptom management.
To communicate with the multi disciplinary teams (MDT) to aid effective patient care, which will include taking an active role in team meetings, joint treatment sessions, case conferences and the Oncology Palliative Care Specialist Interest peer group meetings. Either working alone or as part of the multi-disciplinary team, to make recommendations for appropriate and timely discharge/transfer from hospital.
To consolidate and learn new skills and competencies to provide holistic care using the Therapy Competency Framework. To develop clinical reasoning and treatment techniques through the active participation in training and development. To consolidate knowledge and skills learned through this process with the direction of senior staff, and deliver evidence-based training. This will involve facilitating own learning opportunities, reflecting on practice and learning through this process.
To provide education, support and guidance in palliative care for therapy staff, undergraduate students and other medical and healthcare staff, in order to develop clinical skills and to promote consistency of practice. This includes devising and delivering training programmes. As well as promoting effective communication with therapy, consultant, nursing and other healthcare staff in order to agree an inter-professional approach to patient management and ensure equity of care.
To participate in service and policy development and support the implementation of policies and service improvements. In order to maintain and achieve Government, Trust and Therapy targets. This will include effectively planning, organising and balancing clinical and non-clinical activities such as meetings and administration.
To contribute to the Clinical Governance and Quality agenda by active participation in service initiatives, health and safety and risk management.
To maintain clear, accurate and concise patient records in line with departmental and professional standards and include relevant outcome measures. This will include writing patient reports for e.g. medical practitioners and solicitor’s requests.
To comply with Trust and Departmental policies and procedures e.g. Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Manual Handling, clinical equipment competency, risk management, Data Protection Acts and patient confidentiality at all times. This will include demonstrating compliance with the terms of all safeguarding policies and processes relevant to the safeguarding of adults and children in the care of GHNHSFT and to undergo regular mandatory training concerned with safeguarding matters

Please refer the Job description for details