Occupational Therapist

These are key points from the Job description. Please see attached document for full details. To work as a member of the clinical team providing a high standard of Occupational Therapy interventions, assessments, and evaluation To assist the team lead and Specialist therapists in planning, coordinating, and delivering Occupational Therapy services on a day-to-day basis. To manage a defined caseload using evidence-based/client-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions and contribute to the service provision. To provide assessment and treatment of service users. To maintain up to date, accurate and complete records of all activity and clinical input (all formats of service user contacts, MDT care plans, assessments, reports), ensuring confidentiality at all times, complying with Livewell SW Health & Corporate Records policy and HCPC requirements for thorough and sufficient records To participate in providing instruction, learning opportunities, work experience and training staff and students from other units/disciplines/schools/colleges and training schemes as agreed with supervising Therapist and Therapy Team Lead. To plan, organise and lead when delegated both formal and informal treatments and health education groups for both service users and formal/informal carers. To educate service users and both formal/informal carers regarding the impact of cognitive, perceptual, and physical deficits that affect service user safety and independence in the hospital and home, leisure and workplace. To assess seating and positioning needs and treat as appropriate including assessment for and prescription of standard wheelchairs and accessories when accredited, referring on to AJM Wheelchair Service as required for assessment of complex and specialist mobility and seating needs. To identify the need for splinting and positioning to prevent and manage deformity and improve function for the upper limb, and subsequently referring to specialist services or colleagues to meet this need. To actively engage in caseload supervision with line manager, taking responsibility for ensuring own personal and professional development and statutory training demonstrating the ability to apply skills / knowledge as defined by identified competencies. To comply with the Lone Working Policy and procedures, utilising safety devices and/or apps, and always informing the department of your whereabouts during work hours. To take responsibility for ensuring own personal and professional development and statutory training demonstrating the ability to apply acquired skills/knowledge and maintaining fitness to practice. To provide written communication with outside agencies and charitable bodies to support the need for services and equipment on discharge or when transferred. To report accidents, incidents, complaints, or faulty equipment in line with Livewell SW policy and procedures. To ensure the service user is aware of the role and philosophy of Occupational Therapy and components of the OT process, utilising all means necessary to enable individuals to understand the nature and purpose of proposed actions or intervention, including explaining any possible risks involved. To respect the individuals values, cultural and religious diversity of service users and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to those needs. To provide education and advice to service users, carers and/or family members regarding the impact of cognitive, perceptual, and physical deficits on service user safety and independence in the home, leisure, and workplace. This can include imparting sensitive information and advice to service users and carers which could have life changing consequences. To provide an opportunity for people and carers to express their feelings whilst encouraging acceptance and adjustment to their new circumstances. To understand and comply with the safeguarding process and understand how and when alerts are required. To contribute to safeguarding investigations with support of other colleagues. To demonstrate a high level of understanding of conditions relevant to the diagnostic area and those service users presenting with multi pathology, using a selection of both standardised and non-standardised assessments to assist and aid diagnosis of sensory, perceptual, behavioural, physical, psychosocial, and social functioning. To carry out baseline medical investigations e.g. temperature, respirations and blood pressure checks to assist with medical diagnoses and identification of most appropriate treatment pathway. To carry out environmental home assessments, pre discharge home assessments discharge home visits and follow up as required. The assessment involves reviewing ergonomic layout of the property to maximise functional ability within the home, assessment of disabled access, equipment needs recommendation for minor and major house adaptations, risk and safety review and referring to other agencies and Social Services as necessary. To ensure continuation of care in the community, or transfer of service users to other hospital settings, by establishing a comprehensive discharge plan and completing onward referrals, with good communication to statutory and voluntary services. To refer to follow up services to ensure treatment programmes are in place to progress functional independence based on identified needs at discharge. Demonstrating to and informing community staff re ongoing service user needs in the community i.e., home carers and reablement assistance. To maintain competence in the use of complex manual handling techniques and equipment including the prescriptions of manual handling equipment for use in the home, demonstrating the use to formal and/or informal carers. To demonstrate leadership skills through the management of designated projects. To actively contribute to service development and contribute to Livewell SWs clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda To use, maintain and be responsible for the security of issued IT equipment in line with Livewells Information Governance & Data Protection policies. To attend and contribute to staff meetings and attend relevant professional meetings appropriate to the clinical setting (ward MDTs, case conferences, clinical meetings). To demonstrate understanding and application of professional, local and national guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care provision. To review and reflect on own practice through effective use of professional and clinical supervision in line with Livewell SW policies, procedures and to maintain an up-to-date CPD portfolio. To be proficient in written and spoken English, e.g. face-to face, email, telephone, letter, presentation.

Communication may be 1

1, or in groups. To work in a person centred way, using a range of verbal and non-verbal communication methods with people, (e.g. instructions, diagrams, pictures, motivational interviewing, problem solving, cognitive behavioural techniques, strength-based goal planning) who may have difficulty in understanding or communicating e.g., service users may be aphasic, low in mood, lack insight, hearing and/or visually impaired or who may be unable to accept diagnosis, or unrealistic expectations of intervention.

Physical Effort

Moderate to intense physical effort on a daily/frequent basis.

Tasks include

Static postures (kneeling/standing). Moving/positioning inert adult limbs, unconscious/semi-conscious patients and patients with altered tone. Supporting patients whilst walking. Assisting patients during transfers. Pushing wheelchairs. Using hoists and other equipment. Moving/adjustment of equipment in patients immediate environment to maximise their independence and safety.

Mental Effort

Dealing with complex patients for long periods on a daily basis e.g. 1-2 hour assessments. Daily requirement for prolonged periods of concentration e.g., assessment and treatment of complex and sometimes unpredictable patients (which could take up to a few hours at any one time). Ensuring good communications with patients who have impaired understanding or communication difficulties. Frequently using complex problem-solving skills, making and dealing with difficult clinical decisions. Daily requirement for multi-tasking e.g., writing notes, communicating with team, telephone calls, with regular interruptions. Writing set goals and plans for the patient. Summarise treatment and outcomes when writing discharge reports.

Emotional Effort

Dealing with patients and families undergoing major changes in their health and social position, e.g., anxious and/or angry carers, family, family breakdown, isolated and depressed patients and carers on a daily basis. Frequently helping patients and carers come to terms with their impairments, disability and handicap. Dealing with death, bereavement, the terminally ill, distressing conditions and treatments. Immediate response to complaints/demands from distressed or anxious carers and other professionals. Occasionally dealing with confrontation and differing professional and ethical opinions regarding case management.

Working Conditions

Clinical contact with patients on the ward, in their own homes and in community locations. Occasional exposure to bodily fluids e.g. vomit and soiled linen. Likely exposure to domesticated pets and working in pet inhabited environments, in the community setting. On rare occasions contact with fleas, lice, and scabies. Occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression, frequently to unpredictable behaviour, particularly when dealing with neurological conditions. Occasional risk of exposure to contagious conditions e.g. diarrhoea and vomiting. Driving of the Livewell SW vehicles. Daily use of VDU. Food handling.