Rotational Occupational Therapist (Fixed Term), Band 5

The post holder will have no budget or managerial responsibilities. They will be expected to progress to supervise and appraise less experienced therapists, support workers and undergraduates, with the support of the team leader.

There will also be progression to taking on increasing responsibility for the day to day management of the clinical area, in the absence of more senior staff.

The post holder is supervised by a named therapist, although they may not be present at all times.

Clinical and professional supervision is in the form of regular clinical reasoning sessions, observed practice, peer review and formal training. Access to advice and support from specialist therapists isavailable as required

1. To use clinical reasoning skills and techniques to assess, diagnose, plan and offer a range of treatment options; deliver, evaluate and amend the treatment plan. This will include patients with diverse or complex presentations/multi-pathologies in individual or group therapy sessions.

Working as an autonomous practitioner with access to guidance from specialist therapists when necessary, including working as a lone practitioner in the community.

2. To maintain clear, accurate and concise patient records in line with departmental and professional standards and include relevant outcome measures. This will include writing patient reports for e.g. medical practitioners and solicitors requests.

3. To work with senior staff undertaking audit and research projects, to further own and teams clinical practice within each rotation. To be involved in making recommendations for changes to practice and procedures for the relevant clinical area, and the implementation of these changes.

4. To contribute to the Clinical Governance and Quality agenda by active participation in service initiatives, health and safety and risk management.

5. To participate in the out of hours service at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and/or Cheltenham General Hospital after appropriate induction and training as required.*

6. To comply with Trust and Departmental policies and procedures e.g. Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Manual Handling, clinical equipment competency, risk management, Data Protection Acts and patient confidentiality at all times. This will include demonstrating compliance with the terms of all safeguarding policies and processes relevant to the safeguarding of adults and children in the care of GHNHSFT and to undergo regular mandatory training concerned with safeguarding matters.

Leadership and management

7. To be responsible for the organisation of own caseload and appropriately delegate to support workers or other staff members in order to ensure effective time management. To assist the team in the day to day running of the clinical area.

8. To communicate with the multi disciplinary team (MDT) to aid effective patient care, which will include taking an active role in team meetings, joint treatment sessions, case conferences and specialist interest group meetings. Either working alone or as part of the multi-disciplinary team, to make recommendations for appropriate and timely discharge/transfer from hospital

Education and training

9. To consolidate and learn new skills and competencies to provide holistic care using the Therapy Competency Framework. To develop clinical reasoning and treatment techniques through the activeparticipation in training and development. To consolidate knowledge and skills learned through this process with the direction of senior staff, and deliver research based presentations as part of in-service training. This will involve facilitating own learning opportunities, reflecting on practice and learning through this process.

10. To participate in the supervision, caseload monitoring and clinical education of support workers, progressing to supervising undergraduates and less experienced staff with support of senior staff, as required. Providing support, guidance, training, and assessing and evaluating competence, in order to fulfil clinical governance requirements and retain a skilled workforce. To progress to participating in the undergraduate education process, as a clinical educator for undergraduates from the University of the West of England. This involves the assessment of students competency to practice and contributes to their BSc honours award

Professional values

To deliver therapeutic interventions, using the principles of Occupational Therapy in an integrated and client-centred way supported by the Therapy Competency Framework.

To work within the Therapy team providing an effective and evidence based service through assessing, planning and implementing treatment programmes.

Communication and interpersonal skills

To communicate effectively with patients and carers potentially complex, sensitive or distressing information; in order to provide patient centred care, to encourage self-management, maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of the condition. Patients may have communication, perceptual or cognitive/understanding difficulties.

To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing, other allied health professions and other colleagues to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service.

Leadership, management and team working

To take on increasing responsibility for personal development and supporting the development and supervision of others by CPD (continuing professional development), linked to appraisal.

Weekend working as per weekend rota

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust operates hospitals on our two main sites in

Cheltenham and Gloucester, and we're one of the largest NHS trusts in the country.

Our workforce of almost 9,000 staff provide high quality emergency, elective and specialist care across a range of clinical areas

Qualifications

Essential: - Degree/ Diploma in Occupational Therapy; - Registered with the Health & Care Professions Council

Experience

Essential: - Experience of working in the NHS in the UK

Knowledge / Skills