Occupational Therapist (Crt) Development

Duties and Responsibilities To act as a source of knowledge on the management of current caseloads and provide an advisory service to patients, relatives, other healthcare professionals and students. To take a role in the assessment and treatment of patients within the Community React Team. To provide Occupational Therapy interventions and to maintain records as an autonomous practitioner. To hold responsibility for own case load and be responsible for a defined area of the service or a particular patient type, working with direct supervision. Supervision takes the form of regular formal training and clinical reasoning sessions. Access to advice and support from a senior therapist is available if required, clinical work is routinely evaluated. To assist the team, in planning, co-ordination, delivering and evaluating the Community React Team. To participate in the education and training of Occupational Therapists, other health professionals and Occupational Therapy students in the management of conditions as appropriate. Key results from the job holder To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients in your care. To ensure high standards of clinical care for the patients under your management, and support therapy assistants to do likewise. Post holders are required to work independently, guided by defined clinical & professional guidelines. Access to a more senior member therapist is available when necessary. Clinical work is evaluated on a regular basis. To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnosis and prognosis in a wide range of conditions, to recommend the best course of intervention, and to develop comprehensive discharge plans. To take delegated responsibility from a senior therapist for managing patients with conditions and be responsible for providing generic and Occupational Therapy assessments and treatment plans. Formulate and deliver an individual Occupational Therapy treatment programme based on a sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and to organise this effectively and efficiently regarding clinical priorities and use of time. To accept partial responsibility for any tasks delegated to unqualified staff. To assist the team in developing policy changes within therapy. To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of Occupational Therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care. To contribute to the provision of advice, teaching, and training to other members of the MDT regarding the management of patients within community services. To assess capacity, gain valid consent and can work within a legal framework with patients who lack consent to treatment. Planning and Organisational Duties To be responsible for a designated area of work, as agreed with the team leader, and to plan and organise efficiently and effectively regarding patients management and use of time. To maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in form of reports and letters. To be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics. To undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by the team leader or the Operational Manager and Clinical Quality Lead. Communications and Key Working Relationships To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure basic understanding of condition. Use communication skills such as persuasion, motivation, explanation to encourage patients to undertake their management programme. To maintain up to date written/electronic records and statistical data, documenting/registering these in line with professional and Trust requirements. To appropriately refer on to other health care professionals. The post holder is required to overcome barriers to communication using a range of verbal, non-verbal and listening skills. This will include patients with hearing difficulties, visual difficulties, memory loss and confusion, behavioural problems, limited English and patients/carers unable to accept diagnosis. To use communication skills to motivate and encourage the patient to be responsible for their own health and wellbeing. Responsibility for Health & SafetyCompliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Work Circumstances & on-callThe Community React Team is a 7 day service that operates from 08:00-20:00. There are no on-call responsibilities for this role.