Job Description

Clinical To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of a caseload of patients in your care To select and apply specialist OT assessment of patients for a designated caseload To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of a caseload of patients in your care. To provide a lead role within the multi-agency team in facilitating and making recommendations regarding the safe management of patients within the community. To plan and implement client-centred individual interventions, using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals. To monitor and evaluate treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention and alter treatment programmes as required.



To apply a basic level of understanding of the effect of disability and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes for patients and carers, and adaptations to the patients physical and social environment. To assess the occupational needs of patients in the community and establish and evaluate appropriate treatment programmes. To advise on suitable equipment and adaptations, making recommendations and referrals onto other community services as necessary. To have the physical ability to carry out the necessary therapeutic handling and dexterity for assessment and manual treatment of patients.



To take responsibility for the fitting and demonstration of the safe use of items of equipment for patients and family members. Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. To impart complex information to patients, carers, and other members of the multidisciplinary team in a way that is informative and at a level that is understandable by the individual. Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes if required.



To manage clinical risk within own caseload and have a working knowledge of clinical governance. To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to patients, carers, relatives and other professionals to promote the understanding of occupational therapy. When working on any of the out of hours services, undertake the assessment and treatment of acutely ill patients who may have a complex presentation, provide advice and information to the multidisciplinary team, and maintain appropriate records as an autonomous practitioner, often without direct supervision. Represent the ICT service at multidisciplinary team meetings to ensure the delivery of a coordinated service.



To provide support for therapy assistant staff working in the specified area. To delegate some relevant treatment and or assessments to therapy assistant members of staff, following completion of the competency framework. In line with local guidelines, review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and personal development review. To contribute to the training of occupational therapy staff and students on placement in the specified area.



To provide teaching and supervision of work experience students on placement. To supervise student and assistant documentation in accordance with Trust and department standards. Professional: To use sound analytical and judgement skills to ensure continuity of therapy for both the patient and their carers throughout the period of their treatment. To take responsibility for ensuring and maintaining skills and knowledge in order to establish professional competence, and fitness to practice.



To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with professional and Trust guidelines, and provide reports on specialist occupational therapy intervention, relevant to this setting. To comply with Royal College of Occupational Therapy (RCOT) and HCPC code of ethics and professional conduct, and national and local guidelines and procedures. To uphold the vision and values of the Trust providing safe, caring and effective services at all times. To support the service/senior staff in provision of student placements.



To be an active member in the in-service training programme by attendance at, and participation in in-service training programmes, tutorials, journal club, external courses and reflective practice. To participate in the appraisal scheme as an appraise. Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence-based practice in the areas of each rotation, developing specialist knowledge of particular conditions and patient types. Undertake measurement and evaluation of your work through evidence-based projects, audit, and outcome measures under the direction and supervision of more senior staff.



Communication To provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information from a number of sources. To use empathetic, motivational or reassurance skills during intervention. To liaise effectively with patient, family and carers and colleagues within the multi-disciplinary team on a day-to-day basis. To liaise effectively with colleagues in social services and primary care, voluntary sector and other external agencies.



To promote awareness of the role of occupational therapy within the local and wider team. Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients and carers to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who have difficulties in understanding or communicating, or who may be unable to accept diagnosis. Organisational/Service Delivery To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent, reliable attendance.



To ensure the effective and efficient use of occupational therapy resources. To be responsible for maintaining stock, advising on resources to carry out the job and requesting replacement stock when issued to patient. To coordinate and prioritise the day-to-day activities and own caseload within the specified area. To maintain up to date mandatory training in line with job role and Trust policy.



Report any near misses via the Trust incident reporting system DATIX. Be responsible for organising own caseload to meet service and patient priorities. Assist the team in the daily supervision and coordination of assistants and students. Contribute to team developments, practice change or policies through ideas and actions.



To liaise closely with the therapy lead and clinical team leaders to ensure that adequate occupational therapy staffing levels and skill mixes are maintained. To participate in the operational planning and implementation of policy and service development, for the specified area. To participate in the delivery of the occupational therapy development objectives to ensure continued development of the service. To contribute to the Trust, Directorate and department clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda, including setting and monitoring of practice standards.



To implement national guidelines/legislation relating to health and social care. To be able to commute around the Dudley Borough, to be able to attend to patients' within their homes within the National 2hr urgent care response times. Education and life-long learning To keep abreast of modern trends within in the specified area applying related evidence-based practice. To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio.



To participate in the induction and the training of students and other staff both within and external to the Trust. To maintain a professional portfolio which meets the standards required for HCPC registration. To be an active member in the in-service training programme by attendance at, and participation in in-service training programmes, tutorials, journal club, external courses and reflective practice. To participate in research and/or audit projects relevant to occupational therapy and/or service area, disseminating findings at local level.