Specialist Occupational Therapist

at  Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Following an opportunity to review the skill mix within the team we are looking for three dynamic Occupational Therapists with experience of working within neurological or stroke rehabilitation to join our enthusiastic, innovative and supportive team.
This is an excellent opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge at a recognised centre of excellence with a varied and complex neurological caseload gaining experience treating conditions such as traumatic brain injury, stroke MS, FND and GBS.
The OT department has excellent resources with a woodwork workshop and leisure service, a range of standardised assessments, including several Perceive Recall Plan Perform Assessment -PRPP (A) trained OTs and a PRPP (A) instructor.
The OCE is committed to investing in staff development through regular supervision, joint sessions with our Clinical Specialist OT, access to regular in-service Occupational Therapy/ Interdisciplinary training. Plus access to CPD funds for external training. We support flexible working and to ensure staff wellbeing have a departmental wellbeing champion.
You will require knowledge and experience of the assessment and treatment approaches used within neurological rehabilitation. Good supervisory skills to support junior staff and students. Evidence of continuing professional development and of participation in quality improvement projects.
To provide specialised Occupational Therapy assessment and treatment to in and outpatients with highly complex neurological conditions as an autonomous practitioner, within the Oxford Centre for Enablement and when clinically indicated in patients homes, workplaces and other community settings.
To clinically supervise junior Occupational Therapy staff, assistants, technical instructors and students.
To assist the Lead OT and Highly Specialist OTs in the provision, monitoring and ongoing development of the service to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the service users and responds to government and trust initiatives.
You will have the opportunity to work with a strong interdisciplinary team to provide inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation programmes.
You will have scope to lead on quality improvement projects, audits and involvement in poster presentations and research is actively encouraged. The post will provide you with the opportunity to expand your teaching and presentation skills both at the centre and externally.
You will have the opportunity to work with patients individually and in groups such as the Arm group, MS Fatigue Management Group, and Creative Discovery group.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training, and research. Find out more here www.ouh.nhs.uk
The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital , Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Clinical
To undertake specialist assessment and treatment of adults with a variety of complex and diverse neurological conditions as inpatients, outpatients/day hospital setting and in specialist clinics
To carry out complex standardised and non-standardised assessments of functional ability, cognition, home situation and psychological issues liaising with senior staff as required for highly complex patients
To respect client’s dignity, privacy, culture and wishes during treatment with a commitment to equal access to Occupational therapy
To use specialist clinical reasoning skills and knowledge of evidence-based practise to analyse and interpret clinical information to formulate occupational therapy treatment and appropriate outcome measures and to form an accurate diagnosis of patients conditions with guidance from Highly Specialist Occupational Therapists (OTs) as required
To provide specialist evidenced based OT treatment using a wide range of treatment skills and options relevant to neurological rehabilitation
To provide advanced recommendations/advice/instruction/teaching regarding OT management of each patient, according to the individual needs of each patient, to the IDT team, other relevant health and social care professionals, carers/relatives and other relevant non healthcare professionals
To monitor, review and modify treatment plans /goals to measure progress and to ensure effective outcomes
Prioritise and organise own patient caseload and develop individualised treatment interventions under the supervision of the Highly Specialist OTs
To work as part of the interdisciplinary team providing specialist neurological rehabilitation individually and in groups
To agree and set IDT rehabilitation goals, with the treating team within goal planning meetings
To manage a complex caseload as an autonomous practitioner evidencing clinical reasoning skills, problem solving and independence of judgement
To be able to identify own professional limitations and seek senior advice when appropriate
To carry out discharge home visits in liaison with health and social care agencies to identify equipment and care needs for discharge and identify and refer to appropriate onward services
To risk assess and undertake complex manual handling techniques involving patients and or equipment following appropriate training in line with organisational manual handling policies
To demonstrate physical ability to carry out assessment and interventions including manual handling and therapeutic techniques
To act as keyworker for designated patients and chair goal planning/discharge meetings as required
Plan and allocate work to assistant and technical staff
Communication
To liaise with all members of the inter-disciplinary team, patients, carers, Health and Community Services, relevant external agencies, OCE and OUH staff to ensure a co-ordinated, consistent approach to service delivery
To communicate and negotiate with individual patients and those involved in the patients care to gain consent and understanding of treatment programmes to ensure OT intervention is effective. This will frequently be with patients who have complex emotional, physical and psychological conditions e.g aphasia and cognitive problems and will need expert use of verbal and non verbal communication tool, or with patients from different cultural/ethnic backgrounds where English is not their primary language.
To be able to provide and receive complex sensitive and contentious information such as discussing limitations associated with diagnosis/procedures/prognosis, managing complex discharges and providing appropriate emotional support where persuasion motivation and reassurance skills are required
To be able to assess a patients understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment
To keep accurate written records of assessment and treatment in accordance with the trust, NHS and professional OT standards including comprehensive discharge/home and progress reports to medical and therapy referrers
. To attend and contribute to relevant service-related meetings.
To promote understanding of the aims of Occupational therapy intervention within the IDT team and with external agencies involved in the patient’s care
. To assist the Lead Occupational Therapist in communicating relevant information efficiently and effectively to occupational therapy staff within the Oxford Centre for Enablement.
Management
1. To assist the Lead Occupational Therapist in the co-ordination and management of the neurological occupational therapy service provided to the Enablement Directorate.
2. To be actively involved in the development of new models of service delivery and care within the Enablement Directorate under the direction and supervision of the Head Occupational Therapist, Highly Specialist and Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapists
To achieve and maintain a level of skill in information technology relevant to the post
To be responsible for ensuring that all equipment in the occupational therapy department is stored safely and maintained in safe working order.
To assist the Lead Occupational Therapist in the management of change and to ensure cost-effective use of available resources.
To be responsible for the recording and collation of departmental statistics and other information as required by the Head of Therapy Services both written and on the IT system.
To be aware of and assist the occupational therapy team to adhere to all OUH and NHS health and safety and personnel policies and procedures, including carrying out risk assessments.
To be actively involved in the development of clinical audit and quality assurance strategies to ensure that a clinically effective occupational therapy service is delivered.
To be involved in the supervision and appraisal of junior occupational therapy staff and or assistant/technical instructor staff
To assist the Lead OT and Highly specialist OTs in the recruitment and retention process
Education, Training and Research
To have an awareness of current trends in treatment techniques and professional issues and to participate in active learning, including participating in research or study in relevant areas
To be responsible for acquiring the clinical and professional skills, with the support of the highly specialist OTs, required for the clinical area i.e. fabrication of specialised hand splints administering standardised cognitive assessments, implementation of specialised postural management strategies
To be involved in the orientation and induction programmes of new Occupational Therapy staff and students
. To participate in regular supervision, the staff review process , in-service/IDT training, action learning and maintain a professional portfolio to ensure professional registration is maintained
To assist in providing fieldwork placements for undergraduate Occupational Therapy students, including the maintenance of standards expected of an accredited fieldwork placement.
To contribute and participate in educational programmes and courses organised within the occupational therapy service.
To keep up to date with relevant research and issues relevant to the clinical area to provide evidence based care

Please refer the Job description for details