Occupational Therapist (NHS Band 5 equivalent)

What will you be doing?

1. To complete Occupational Therapy assessments with the implementation of safe interventions which promote independence, choice and support people to live well for longer whilst reducing where possible the need for hospitalization or long-term residential care.

2. To gain skills and knowledge in one or more Occupational Therapy discipline such as community, dementia, reablement, manual handling and any other developing professional area.

3. To undertake a person-centred assessment of moving and handling needs and support carers with expert advice and guidance on manual handing cases to improve the quality of care within North Northamptonshire.

4. To take a collaborative approach to care, working with the person and their carers to ensure they receive the right amount of care and therapy in the correct environment, at the right time.

5. To assist with the development and reviews of the Community Occupational Therapy services in North Northamptonshire. Support the growth of an effective Community based Therapy service with a focus on quality and ensuring professional standards are met.

Principle responsibilities

1 To carry out detailed functional assessments of daily living skills, identify

deficits and make appropriate recommendations to address them.

2 Undertake and complete moving and handling assessments for people with a wide range of complex medical conditions, in accordance with all relevant legislation and eligibility criteria.

3 To produce and implement appropriate and safe moving and handling care plans, to achieve outcomes based on the single care approach. This includes making decisions to reduce care packages where it is safe and appropriate to do so.

4 To offer specialist advice on lifestyle changes, coping strategies, to maximise independence and maintain function e.g. grading tasks to manage fatigue in COPD, joint protection for RA.

5 To prescribe standard equipment and minor adaptation work and delegate to Support Staff where appropriate for follow up and ensure at that equipment and adaptations provided are fit for purpose and the individual is safely able to use them.

6 To prescribe major adaptations e.g. level access showers, stair lifts, under the supervision and guidance of a Senior OT or Clinical Lead.

7 Assess for and prescribe equipment and adaptations, applying the legislative framework underpinning Community Occupational Therapy practice and local eligibility criteria to ensure recommendations are safe, proportionate, person-centred and cost-effective

8 To assess for, trial and prescribe non-stock items of equipment from

specialist suppliers and prepare clinically reasoned reports for non-stock specialist equipment under supervision and guidance of Senior OT.

9 To alter and revise planned interventions as a result of changes in an individual’s levels of function or circumstances.

10 To educate and advise clients, families and carers on aspects relevant to the Occupational Therapy intervention.

11 Work as a lone practitioner in client’s homes under indirect supervision and adhering to Therapy lone working policy

12 To demonstrate an awareness of complex issues relating to equality, diversity and individual rights and sensitive information relating to clients. To agree management of such cases in consultation with Senior OT Staff.

13 To gain consent or to persuade/motivate individuals to comply with

recommendations even where there is significant barrier to understanding e.g. deafness, depression, memory loss.

14 To refer individuals with consent, on to other appropriate agencies.

15 To work collaboratively with other agencies and provide factual and professionally presented reports to other agencies as required.

16 To ensure all communication is delivered in a timely and appropriate way using available media of e-mail, telephone, written and face-to-face

17 To develop skills in the management of a screened and allocated caseload,

prioritising tasks, collaborating with colleagues, coordinating leave and covering for sickness to ensure a fair delivery of service across the area.

18 To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.

19 To be familiar with and practice within the relevant national legislation, professional standards of practice and organisational policies and procedures.

20 To contribute to the delivery of the clinical governance agenda and promotion of continuous improvement.

21 To maintain timely clinical records which are organised, factual, clear and accessible to any authorised person.

22 To contribute to service development by implementing agreed change within own practice.

23 To assist in measuring/evaluating the service and contribute towards continuous improvement e.g. by assisting in reviews/audits.

24 To supervise and support other staff members and colleagues. To give, receive and engage in an annual appraisal and a personal development plan which will improve your performance.

25 To maintain a portfolio of CPD evidence which demonstrates the development and maintaining of OT skills relevant to the post.

26 To effectively use clinical supervision to reflect on practice, examine significant events and improve performance.

27 To be aware of own responsibility for self and others under the Health and

Safety at Work Act. To always operate within the organisational and

service health and safety rules.

28 To report all incidents and near misses to senior members of the team.

To also carry out any other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope and purpose of this job description and which are commensurate with the grade of the post.

Safeguarding commitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults. We require you to understand and demonstrate this commitment.

Qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience

Minimum level of qualifications required for this job;

Essential/Desirable

Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy.

Essential

HCPC Registration.

Essential

Basic computer skills-the ability to use e-mail, search for data from a database etc.

Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development – CPD Portfolio.

Desirable

Minimum levels of knowledge, skills and experience required for this job

Essential/Desirable

Relevant experience of assessment and treatment of adults with chronic and deteriorating physical conditions. Gained through student placement or previous work experience.

Knowledge of the symptoms, disease process and likely prognosis of a basic range of physical conditions including

arthritis, problems associated with ageing etc.

Awareness of a basic range of assistive equipment and minor adaptation work. e.g. bathing equipment, grab rails etc.

Experience of problems associated with more specialist physical conditions e.g. MS, MND.

Knowledge of manual handling techniques and safe systems of work for people moving and handling

Knowledge of the legislative framework which informs Community OT practice. e.g. Care Act 2014, Housing legislation etc.

Essential/Desirable

Ability to prioritise and manage a screened caseload under direct and regular supervision from a Senior/Lead OT.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, excellent

interpersonal skills and an awareness of complex and sensitive issues with consideration for equality/diversity/rights etc.

Ability to recognise gaps in own knowledge and skills and to negotiate ways to address these via appraisal and CPD.

Evidence of relevant CPD activity.

Car driver with a full drivers licence, access to a vehicle or suitable transport during working hours.

Awareness of collaborative working across/between agencies to achieve outcomes for individuals. e.g. discharge, rehousing etc.

Desirable

Knowledge of the roles within the Adult Social Care team and collaborating organisations.

Essential/Desirable

Proven experience and knowledge of the customer group sufficient to lead, direct and train staff

Essential

Student placement or previous work experience of working with individuals with physical need.

Including recent experience of OT delivered within an adult/community setting.

Desirable

Experience of working with and

delegating to OT Support staff.

Essential/Desirable

Demonstrate an understanding of the safe working practices that apply to this role.

Essential

Ability to work in a way that promotes the safety and well-being of children and young people/vulnerable adults.

Disclosure Level

What disclosure level is required for this post?

Enhanced

Enhanced with barred list checks

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.

You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:

Trustworthy

Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

Our Employment and Disability Service provides bespoke support to individuals facing barriers to employment, helping them work towards their goals to start, stay and succeed in employment. For further information please click here The Employment and Disability Service (EADS) | North Northamptonshire Council

The council obtained the Gold status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).

Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)