Team Lead Occupational Therapist (Neurosurgery)

at  Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

To oversee, coordinate and develop the acute neurosurgery occupational therapy service inclusive of the neuro high dependency unit at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The post holder will provide specialist assessment, consultancy and intervention of patients’ occupational needs within the inpatient wards as clinically indicated. They will carry a caseload of patients with complex health and social care needs using evidence based practise and client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions. They will develop links with other departments and facilitate a multidisciplinary team approach.
The post holder will provide clinical and professional leadership to a team of qualified members of staff and assistants. The post holder will attend relevant meetings as a representative of neurosciences occupational therapy and will advise on service developments in line with government policy development. To lead on implementation of local clinical governance initiatives for the service, evidence-based practice, clinical audit and day-to-day running of the service.
The post requires a flexible approach to working and a commitment to undertake weekend working.

CLINICAL

1. To support the team to identify appropriate referrals, capacity and demand and prioritise workload across the team and other services within occupational therapy, particularly in relation to staff absence.
2. To apply a high level of understanding of the effect of illness/ disability on occupational performance and provide training and advice on adaptations to technique and the patient’s social and physical environment.
3. To have a good physiological and medical knowledge of common conditions and critical care treatments, including ventilation and tracheostomy use in order to treat patients safely within this environment.
4. To assess and treat patients with complex needs who would benefit from a coordinated multidisciplinary assessment, rehabilitation and discharge services.
5. To be competent in the development and implementation of remedial and preventative treatment programmes addressing motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, psychological and occupational areas.
6. To identify risks, complete risk assessments and implement risk management strategies and document this accurately.
7. To recognise any change in the condition of the patient and alter treatment accordingly or escalate to medical teams as required.
   See detailed job description for further information
   King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.
   We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
   King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
8. To work within local policies and procedures, national standards and guidelines and adhere to the Royal College of Occupational Therapy professional standards and ethics.
9. To support patients in setting their own goals, then implementing this and evaluating appropriately.
10. To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with clients and carers, to achieve therapeutic goals.
11. To provide highly skilled interventions and treatments for critically ill patients with support as needed i.e. splinting, oedema management, delirium management
12. To select evidence based techniques as part of a coordinated treatment program.
13. To assess and demonstrate to patients and carers the safe use of equipment and adaptations and recommend provision of equipment to support discharge.
14. To liaise with professionals in onward services to ensure continuity of care.
15. To respect the individuality, values, culture and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs, ensuring equity of service provision.
16. To make appropriate clinical observations and keep accurate electronic records and activity data in accordance with professional and trust standards.
17. To write occupational therapy functional and discharge reports for social services, onward inpatient services and community services.
18. To work as an autonomous practitioner and display appropriate problem solving, analytical and judgement skills.
19. To support occupational therapists and assist with managing their patient caseloads to a high level, offering advice or practical support as required.

TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

1. To monitor and advise in the allocation of students within their respective occupational therapy team.
2. To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
3. To promote development of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, technicians and students according to their training and development needs as identified through supervision and appraisal.
4. To regularly supervise occupational therapy students on practice placement.
5. To co-ordinate supervision and appraisal of senior and junior staff.
6. To contribute to the induction and training of students and other staff both within the Trust and where appropriate externally.
7. To participate in and present on the in-service training, preceptorship programmes, multi-disciplinary trainings and external conferences.
8. To undertake audit projects and take part in research projects, relevant to the service area, disseminating findings at local level.
9. To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them to practice and disseminate findings at a local and / or national level.
10. To demonstrate ongoing personal and professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities.
11. To develop, run and teach on study days/ seminars/ present abstracts and posters at national conferences relevant to the critical care occupational therapy service, locally and nationally.
12. To keep in touch with new developments and changing trends in occupational therapy and participate in wider issues of providing an occupational therapy service i.e. quality assurance, public relations including liaison with the community; planning and policy making.
13. To undertake any other duties commensurate within the grade.
    People Management and Performance
    Lead, coach and manage the performance of the team in line with good people management practices. Ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed.
    Participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure each member of the team has a clear set of objectives and development plans.
    Ensure the team is compliance with all statutory, mandatory training together with any professional training requirements, ensuring they are up to date and fully compliant.
    Manage team absences including sickness in line with Trust policy ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, e-roster is updated and productivity is at keep to the highest possible level.
    Identify and fill any vacancies that arise within the team in line with the Trust’s recruitment policy and process.
    Identify talent and support the internal talent management process in order attract and retain and succession plan for your people.
    Review skills mix at regular intervals in order to identify any potential opportunities to maximise resource utilisation / allocation, ensuring job descriptions are kept up to date.
    Ensure overall wellbeing of the team is maintained. Continuously support in improving the morale of the team and implementing a culture of zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment.

General

• The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.

Please refer the Job description for details