Community Occupational Therapist – Tissue Viability and Skin Integrity

• Engage with mobile working
• Engage with SystmOne Optimisation
• Engage with referral to discharge standard processes
• To be aware of the demand and capacity model which will reflect workload needs at any given time

• To assess and prescribe care packages for patients with long term conditions, palliative care and rehabilitation needs for example, to achieve quality of life and independence where possible.
• To work within the integrated team to facilitate early discharge from hospital.
• To work within the integrated team to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital.
• To work with all health care professionals, and statutory/non statutory agencies to provide a seamless, integrated service to our service users.

• Undertake comprehensive occupational therapy assessments of patients including those with a complex presentation, using investigative, analytical and clinical reasoning skills, and formulate a graded treatment plan.
• Formulate and execute individualised occupational therapy treatment plans of patients including those with complex presentation, in collaboration with the integrated team, other agencies and the patient, utilising a wide range of treatment skills.
• To provide assessment of functional ability and safety of patients in the community, to identify care, equipment, adaptation and therapy needs.
• Assess & plan treatment including teaching patients to utilise techniques & equipment to maximise their functional ability.
• Be aware of Assistive Technology and make referrals for this as required.
• Assess patients holistic needs, communicating complex and sensitive information to patients and carers as to their assessment, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan.
• To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation and treatment potential, and to aid motivation and understanding throughout the treatment process.
• Where there are barriers to understanding, such as hearing impairment, mental capacity impairment and other difficulties in comprehension, explanations require adjustments in order to gain understanding, consent and concordance.
• Be required to use tact and persuasive skills in order to gain the patients co-operation in their treatment plan.
• Liaise with GPs, Social Services, inpatient teams, other allied health care professionals and the voluntary sector to ensure identified needs are met and care co-ordinated appropriately
• To participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate, e.g. Gold Standard Framework.
• Be responsible for ensuring workload for self and others is planned and prioritised according to service targets ands needs.
• Ensure patient held records are completed for each visit, and that SystmOne inputting is completed on a daily basis.
• Plan and organise specialist services within the integrated team.
• Demonstrate dexterity and co-ordination when using specialist equipment and fine tools, manual and mobilising skills.
• Order equipment and supplies via electronic ordering systems for use within the team.
• Be aware of budget and ensure all effort is made to work within this.
• Ensure informed consent is obtained prior to initiating interventions.
• Will be exposed to bodily fluids, infected material, blood products on a daily basis, therefore must utilise universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies.

• Be required to undertake risk assessments and act upon them appropriately.
• Contribute to the staff rota on a monthly basis.
• Contribute to the supervision of workload within the integrated team.
• Actively contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings and other meetings where appropriate.
• Support all team members within the integrated team, respecting them, their roles and contributions.
• Attend in-house training as required to develop current job role.
• Maintain own continue professional development
• Will be able to make own travel arrangements to patients homes, clinics, base and meetings etc, as required.
• Be responsible for safe use and maintenance of equipment and supplies.
• Remain accountable for own professional actions as determined by the professional bodies.
• May be required to demonstrate own duties to students, new starters and/or less experienced staff.
• Provide mentorship for students undertaking pre/post registration courses.
• Mentor existing staff and provide training in specialist area as appropriate.
• Provide advice/training to less experienced staff and supervise and support band 3, 4 and 5 staff, and students where appropriate, and contribute to the induction process for new staff/students.
• Demonstrate leadership skills within own competence.
• Demonstrate basic IT/standard keyboard skills
• Contribute to the induction process for new staff/students.
• Be accountable for work delegated to others

• Undertake mandatory training as required.
• Participate in a Personal Development Review process.
• Undertake Personal Development Plans for more junior staff members.
• Take part in clinical supervision as per Trust Policy.
• Follow Trust policies, and local procedures, and use discretion in interpreting them according to the setting and circumstances.
• Comment on draft policies.
• Ensure absence reporting is undertaken as determined by Team Leader and Trust Policy.
• Contribute to clinical audit as required.
• Complete the staff survey as required.
• Complete risk assessments and incident forms as required.

Essential

• Evidence of working at band 5 level
• Good observational and reporting skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Concentrate when undertaking patient care & inputting data/patient records
• Work flexibly to accommodate patient/service needs
• Demonstrate good IT and standard keyboard skills

Essential

• Professional appearance
• Be able to kneel, bend & stoop, and work in cramped environments.
• Manoeuvre limbs of around 5-6kg
• Manoeuvre patients using handling aids
• Must have a full UK driving license and have access to a vehicle
• Able to communicate effectively in written and verbal English Language