Highly Specialist Neuro-Oncology Occupational Therapist

• Cancer care is a rapidly developing area of expertise within Occupational Therapy.
• This Band 7 Occupational Therapist will jointly lead the Neuro-Oncology service with Physiotherapy colleagues across both sites of the Trust. They will treat inpatients and manage and prioritise outpatient referrals, co-ordinate outpatient appointments, assess patients, provide and develop the neuro-oncology service to this patient group including the use of supported self-management strategies and onward referral.

• The Band 7 Occupational Therapist is responsible for the provision of a high quality and evidence-based service. The post holder is a skilled practitioner, who will act as a source of knowledge and expertise for patients, families and other members of the health care team. The post holder takes a lead role in planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating the occupational therapy service within areas of advanced clinical practice.
• Provide a holistic and advanced assessment of patients with primary Central Nervous System tumours. These patients may present with complex physical, emotional and psychological needs as a result of their cancer diagnosis and its treatment with surgery, radiotherapy, protons and systemic anti-cancer therapy.

• Working autonomously in ward (including CCU) and outpatient settings to provide complex clinical assessment of the physical, biomechanical, sensory, psychological, cognitive, perceptual, and interpersonal deficits affecting the functioning of individuals with neuro-oncology diagnosis and neurological problems arising from cancer; as well as support their families and carers through the use of advanced clinical reasoning.
• Developing and implementing individual specialised therapeutic rehabilitation programmes specific to patients needs based on activity analysis using a client-centred, problem solving approach.

• Leading the collection and collation of data and publication of evidence through approved research and audit e.g. publishing articles in recognized professional journals.
• Contributing to the development and implementation of education programmes within the Royal Marsden School of Cancer Nursing & Rehabilitation e.g. teaching on modules of the AHP post-graduate diploma/Masters courses, nursing and AHP diploma/degree courses and specific study days and conferences.

Essential

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy.
• State Registration with Healthcare Professions Council (HCPC) for Occupational Therapy.
• Evidence of experience in clinical supervision and appraisal.
• Evidence of experience in leadership, project management, audit, outcomes measurement and clinical governance.
• Evidence of experience in presentation and teaching skills.
• Post-grad study days/courses in oncology/neuro-oncology/palliative care.
• Significant post graduate clinical experience with a minimum of two years' experience in oncology and neuro-oncology.

Desirable

• Membership of a clinical interest group in occupational therapy.
• Approved fieldwork supervisor course.
• Accredited wheelchair course.
• Accredited splinting and hand therapy course.

Essential

• Advanced knowledge of functional assessment and treatment techniques for oncology, neuro-oncology and palliative care patients, including physical, cognitive, psychosocial functional assessments and treatment, as well as specific symptom and lifestyle management techniques (e.g. relaxation, anxiety, breathlessness and fatigue management).
• Risk assessment: Ability to carry out risk assessments concerning patients and staff safety, including Manual Handling. Ability to assess risks associated with lone working, take responsibility for reporting to colleagues and ensuring self and patient are safe at all times. Ability to assess potential risks with regard to patients' discharge from hospital.
• Expertise in group dynamics, planning, facilitating, running and evaluating therapeutic groups.
• Advanced clinical reasoning as well as analytical and creative problems solving skills.
• Communication skills: Advanced communication skills with particular ability to work with complex/sensitive situations with patients, carers, OT colleagues and the wider MDT; Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills as required in an oncology and palliative care setting; Ability to deal with imparting bad news.
• Written and documentation skills: Ability to produce professional and accurate notes and records including management reports, service development proposals, multi-professional care plans, letters, assessments for hospital and external agencies.
• Reflective Skills: Ability to reflect on and make positive changes to own and departmental clinical practices.
• Team skills: Ability to facilitate supportive team working to maintain efficacy, efficiency and morale.
• Autonomous working: Ability to work in a highly motivated self-directed manner on clinical and departmental activities.
• Organisational skills: Ability to prioritise workload and organise time effectively to manage multiple priorities.
• Supervisory skills: Ability to fulfil supervisory and mentor role for junior staff and undergraduate students.
• Educational skills: Ability to teach both patients and carers in areas relating to rehabilitation; Proven ability to prepare and deliver presentations and education sessions to health care colleagues and members of public.
• IT skills: Ability to enter data, prepare reports, formal written documentation and multi-media presentations. Confident in the use of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Power Point and Excel.
• NHS/Trust: Sound understanding of current NHS and the Trust's issues.

Essential

• Significant post graduate clinical experience with a minimum of two years' experience in oncology and neuro-oncology.
• Evidence of experience in clinical supervision and appraisal.
• Evidence of experience in leadership, project management, audit, outcomes measurement and clinical governance.
• Evidence of experience in presentation and teaching skills.