Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced occupational therapist with a passion for neurology to join the Band 6 neuro rotation at King's College Hospital. This unique post offers extensive variety across the neuro patient pathway, from hyper-acute settings to community care, including specialist areas like critical care, major trauma, and neuropsychiatry.



The role provides the chance to work within well-established specialist teams, supporting the development of both clinical and leadership skills. As a rotational post, it offers broad exposure and the ability to build specialist expertise across multiple areas of neurological occupational therapy.



Rotations span 7-9 months and are not sequential. They include:



Southwark & Lambeth Community Neuro RehabilitationTeam

Critical Care

Neuro Major Trauma

Neuro Major Trauma Rehabilitation Coordination (split clinical/non-clinical)

Rapid Access to Acute Rehab

Orpington Hospital Neuro Rehab

Neurosurgery

Neurology

Paediatrics

Stroke

Neuropsychiatry (Lishman Unit at the Bethlam Hospital, planning to move to Maudsley Hospital)



The postholder will benefit from a strong OT and AHP leadership framework, rich peer support, and a wide range of learning resources. Ongoing development is actively encouraged.



Applicants must hold a degree in Occupational Therapy (or equivalent) and be HCPC registered. Proven experience in managing patients with complex physical needs is essential.



The post holder will ensure that within each rotation they are proactive in their learning, knowing when to seek support from colleagues. They will be expected to carry a caseload of patients with complex neurological health and social care needs using evidence based practice and client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions. The post holder will need to be able to communicate in a clear and accessible way with patients and their carers/ families, adapting as necessary. The postholder will develop links with other departments and will facilitate a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach including advocating for patients during decision making in team meetings.



The post requires a flexible approach to working and requires the post holder to work across various services, in different locations and undertake weekend commitments as required, in some teams.



King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of 1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and around 14,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in Bromley.



King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for all via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.



The trust-wide strategy Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we can take Team King's to another level.



Main Duties and Responsibilities



Clinical Responsibilities



1. To identify, prioritise and manage patients presenting with neurological impairments, who require occupational therapy input. Including education of the MDT to promote appropriate referrals for both discharge planning and rehabilitation.



2. To assess and treat patients with neurological disabilities and complex needs who would benefit from a coordinated multidisciplinary assessment, rehabilitation and discharge services.



3. To be competent in the administration of specific neurological occupational therapy assessments of motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual deficits, psychosocial needs and occupational performance.



4. To be competent in the development and implementation of remedial, compensatory and preventative treatment programmes addressing motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, psychosocial and occupational areas.



5. To provide specialist occupational therapy input to neurological wards, critical care units, acute services, rehabilitation services, outpatients and clinics.



6. To support patients and carers in setting their own goals, then implementing this and evaluating appropriately.



7. To select evidence based techniques as part of a coordinated treatment program.



8. To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with clients and carers, to achieve therapeutic goals.



9. To identify risks, complete risk assessments and implement risk management strategies including the use of Therapeutic Manual Handling techniques and the Lone Working Policy and document this accurately.



10. To recognise any change in the condition of the patient and alter treatment accordingly or escalate to medical teams as required.



11. To work within local policies and procedures, national standards and guidelines and adhere to the Royal College of Occupational Therapy professional standards and ethics.



12. To assess and demonstrate to patients and carers the safe use of equipment and adaptations and recommend provision of equipment to support discharge.



13. To liaise with professionals in onward services to ensure continuity of care.



14. To respect the individuality, values, culture and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs, ensuring equity of service provision.



15. To make appropriate clinical observations and keep accurate electronic records and activity data in accordance with professional and trust standards.



16. To write occupational therapy functional and discharge reports for social services, onward inpatient services and community services detailing functional status, discharge recommendations and recommendations regarding ongoing occupational therapy interventions. To contribute to multidisciplinary functional and discharge reports detailing occupational therapy interventions and recommendations as required.



17. To work as an autonomous practitioner and display appropriate problem solving, analytical and judgement skills.



18. To assist with planning and prioritisation of the team and departments' workload in the event of staff absence to ensure the occupational therapy priority services are maintained.



19. To comply with all relevant trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to equal opportunities, health and safety and confidentiality of information.



COMMUNICATION



1. To communicate complex information to patients and family/ carers who may have barriers to understanding.



2. To actively participate in team meetings within occupational therapy and with the MDT, including weekly MDT meetings, case conferences and best interest meetings and to delegate for specialist or team lead occupational therapist as required.



3. To be skilled in communicating reasoning and motivating patients to participate in sessions.



4. To communicate professionally in person and by telephone with families/ carers and other professionals.



5. To manage differences of opinions and difficult conversations within the team, MDT and with patients, families/ carers.



Administrative Responsibilities



1. To supervise, provide support and complete appraisals with occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and technicians and students.



2. To be aware of the importance of staff wellbeing, accessing trust support as required and raising any concerns with supervisors or senior staff.



3. To contribute to the hospital's clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda.



4. To assist in developing services and standards according to the Occupational Therapy objectives.



5. To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within the neurological occupational therapy services with a view to measuring efficiency and ensuring high quality standards.



6. To be responsible for competent use and maintenance of equipment, raising any concerns and reporting when further resources are needed.



7. To carry out administrative duties as required e.g. assisting in ordering, receiving and maintaining stock and managing petty cash.



8. To have good IT skills and use a variety of IT systems to input patient and staff data as required.



Education and Training and Research



1. To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.



2. To promote development of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, technicians and students according to their training and development needs as identified through supervision and appraisal.



3. To regularly supervise occupational therapy students on practice placement.



4. To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them to practice and disseminate findings at a local level.



5. To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects.



6. To demonstrate ongoing personal and professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording outcomes in a portfolio.



7. To keep in touch with new developments and changing trends in Occupational Therapy and participate in wider issues of providing an Occupational Therapy service i.e. quality assurance, public relations including liaison with the community; planning and policy making.



8. To demonstrate leadership skills through the management of designated projects.



9. To participate in and present on the neurology in-service training programmes, multi-disciplinary trainings and external conferences.



10. To undertake any other duties commensurate within the grade.



People Management and Performance



Lead, coach and manage the performance of the team in line with good people management practices. Ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed.

Participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure each member of the team has a clear set of objectives and development plans.

Ensure the team is compliance with all statutory, mandatory training together with any professional training requirements, ensuring they are up to date and fully compliant.

Manage team absences including sickness in line with Trust policy ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, e-roster is updated and productivity is at keep to the highest possible level.

Identify and fill any vacancies that arise within the team in line with the Trust's recruitment policy and process.

Identify talent and support the internal talent management process in order attract and retain and succession plan for your people.

Review skills mix at regular intervals in order to identify any potential opportunities to maximise resource utilisation / allocation, ensuring job descriptions are kept up to date.

Ensure overall wellbeing of the team is maintained. Continuously support in improving the morale of the team and implementing a culture of zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment.



General



The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.

We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.

At King's we are a kind, respectful team:

Kind . We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work



Respectful . We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed



Team . We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional



To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.

To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.

This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.

All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.

Everyone is responsible for promoting inclusion no matter their role or team. At King's, we want to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and welcomed