Specialty Occupational Therapist – Oncology & Haematology

• To deliver high-quality, safe and effective occupational therapy services primarily to oncology and haematology patients as part of a cohesive multidisciplinary team, with flexibility to support other clinical areas in response to service need.
• To provide occupational therapy services across inpatient wards and contribute to targeted community follow-up for patients who meet defined clinical criteria, supporting safe discharge, continuity of care, ongoing rehabilitation and the reduction of avoidable readmissions.
• To work collaboratively with patients and their carers to undertake comprehensive assessment, goal setting, intervention planning and rehabilitation, with the aim of maximising independence, function and quality of life.
• To provide clinical supervision, teaching and support to junior occupational therapists, therapy support workers and students, contributing to workforce development and learning.
• To actively contribute to service development through participation in quality improvement initiatives, clinical audit, research activities and the ongoing development of rehabilitation pathways across inpatient, outpatient and community settings.

• To consistently deploy effective communication and engagement skills enabling effective working relationships with all members of the multi-professional team.
• To effectively communicate with patients and their carers/family members, including the sensitive management of complex or contentious issues.
• To communicate effectively with patients suffering from conditions that may lead to psychological distress including anxiety, depression, and aggressive behaviour
• To overcome barriers to effective communication, such as those caused by pathological impairment or language differences, by deploying effective mitigating strategies.
• To engage and build relationships with external agencies and providers to enhance patient care continuity and outcomes.
• Be able to write complex reports accurately describing patients clinical status and ensuring that the information provided aids effective continuing care and clinical management.

• To enact the professional and legal responsibilities for all aspects of the post-holders own clinical practice.
• To carry out comprehensive assessments of patients following hospital admission and surgery, including those with complex presentations, and form treatment and rehabilitation plans in partnership with the patient and their carers/family.
• To interpret and analyse multiple sources of clinical information to form accurate occupational therapy assessments and clinical reasoning, seeking guidance from senior occupational therapists when appropriate.
• To formulate and deliver comprehensive treatment, rehabilitation and discharge plans, based on clinical skills, evidence-based practice, and patient preferences.
• To evaluate patient progress against agreed treatment goals and be able to modify plans accordingly.
• To determine a patients mental capacity to understand and to gain informed consent for treatment. To work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent and are deprived of their liberty.
• To maintain accurate written records using an electronic patient record system and maintain fidelity to professional standards.
• To determine and mitigate for risk of patient and staff harm using the agreed risk assessment frameworks and the Trusts manual handling policy.
• To demonstrate physical ability to carry out occupational therapy assessments and interventions, including functional assessments, therapeutic handling and equipment provision.

• To be responsible for the competent use and maintenance of rehabilitation equipment and support others in the effective and safe use of this equipment.
• To assist in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of junior staff and assistants.
• To undertake delegated tasks and roles from the team lead and be able to deputise for them on occasions.
• To effectively plan and organise own time, patient caseload, meetings, training and be able to adjust plans as required according to staffing levels and unpredictable factors.
• To assist in the planning of junior staff, students and assistant timetables and deputise for senior staff in organisational duties.

• To organise and contribute to the teams training and post-registration education programme.
• To contribute to the education of multidisciplinary groups, patients, families and carers as appropriate.
• To be responsible for individual undergraduate student occupational therapists supervision and practice-based learning.
• To adopt a proactive approach in learning from others within, and outside of the occupational therapy profession.
• To be responsible for continuing professional development and maintain a portfolio record to evidence this.

• To actively participate in the departments quality improvement and clinical audit programme through the completion of authorised projects
• To implement and maintain evidence-based occupational therapy practice through continuing professional development.
• To ensure good working knowledge and application of national and local clinical standards
• To participate in local and national clinical interest groups appropriate to the clinical field, and to demonstrate the ability to share and disseminate knowledge with colleagues working in the team.

• To be able to undertake episodes of moderate physical effort for several short periods during a shift.
• To be able to effectively maintain concentration at work despite frequent interruptions and, at times, an unpredictable working pattern.
• To tolerate and manage frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances and maintain a high level of professionalism.

Essential

• Broad range of experience at Band 5 level including core areas, such as general medicine, orthopaedics, neurology, older adults.
• Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience of working with students and support workers.
• Competence in OT assessment, rehabilitation and the models and theory underpinning practice.