Community Specialist Occupational Therapist - Northwich

Health and care professionals working at the level of specialist should be able to:

• Manage a clinical caseload with autonomy, work without direct supervision.
• Undertake comprehensive physiotherapy assessment, provide a therapeutic diagnosis using investigative and advanced analytical skills, specialist listening, physical and observational skills, interpret clinical findings and documentation, and implement agreed treatment plans if appropriate, including the treatment of complex service users with multiple pathologies in a manner that respects people's privacy, dignity, and individuality.
• Provide individual or group therapy as appropriate to setting.
• Implement monitoring and evaluation of treatment in order to measure progress and outcomes to ensure effectiveness of interventions and service delivery.
• Develop programmes of care to support discharge from service.
• Be responsible for equipment used in carrying out clinical duties, and adhere to policy, including competence to use equipment and ensure safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training, and supervision of practice.
• Record, maintain, and store accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and local requirements.
• Communicate outcomes of assessments/intervention to appropriate disciplines in the form of letters/reports/discharge summaries.
• Arrange appointments (as applicable), work closely with MDT, attend case reviews/case conferences/variety of MDT internal and external meetings/forums.
• Contribute to the safeguarding of our service users/families as appropriate.
• Assess capacity, gain valid informed consent, and have the ability to work within a legal framework with service users, including those service users who lack capacity to consent to treatment, within your organisation's policies.
• Be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of service users under your care.
• Maintain professional registration with HCPC.
• Work within organisation, HCPC, and CSP guidelines.
• Have a working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others' quality of practice against these.
• Work as part of a team to ensure effective communication and delivery of care.
• Provide and receive, with care and integrity, sensitive information about service users from the service user, carer, and other professionals and manage sensitive or contentious information appropriately.
• Work in an empathic manner in partnership with service users, carers, and families, where there are barriers to understanding and differences in the way the service user communicates (e.g. sign language). Alter approaches to a relevant level for the service user to be as actively involved in their own care.
• Communicate effectively with service users and carers/relatives to progress specific rehabilitation and treatment programme.
• Provide and receive complex information using a range of verbal/non-verbal communication skills, persuading/influencing.
• Use appropriate communication skills to overcome significant barriers to acceptance of sensitive information.

Leadership and Management

• Communicate effectively with a range of professionals both within the organisation and with external agencies, including primary care, social service, and voluntary organisations.
• Provide the Band 7 Physiotherapists / Managers with information to assist planning and development of the service, to assist team leader in planning of longer-term strategic plans to develop the therapy service.
• Assist the Managers in achieving the departmental objectives and supporting an open style of leadership.
• Actively participate in the professional development programme of the therapy service.
• Provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching, and instruction to relatives, carers, and other professionals.
• Be involved in the daily management of workload allocation within the specialist area.
• Participate in the operational planning and implementation of policy and service development within your team, leading on delegated projects.
• Undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by senior staff and deputise in their absence as required.
• Be aware of the financial impact of clinical decisions.
• Support therapy team in ensuring adequate levels of stock are available as required in line with your organisation's stock management policy.

Education

• Organise and lead in-service training programmes for Band 5 Therapists and Assistants under the guidance of Band 7 staff when required.
• Critically evaluate current research and apply to practice.
• Demonstrate an understanding and application of national guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care and their impact on service provision.
• Train, supervise, and support less experienced therapy staff, therapy assistants, and students. This may include formal staff appraisals.
• Maintain own competency to practice, through participation in internal and external development opportunities evidenced by a professional portfolio for Continuing Professional Development.
• Demonstrate acquired specialist skills and knowledge of professional practice in order to maintain fitness to practice as a Physiotherapist.
• Work within organisation and department policies and comply with HCPC Code of Conduct.
• Keep up to date with all mandatory training requirements within the organisation.
• Participate in the evaluation of clinical practice and disseminate across relevant areas.

Research, Audit and Governance

• Undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence-based practice projects, audit, and outcome measures.
• Provide representation at local meetings/specific interest groups and attendance at national meetings, under guidance of more experienced staff.
• Make recommendations for change and implement change under supervision.
• Undertake audit and contribute to regional/national level as appropriate.
• Support research activity with the service.
• Disseminate findings from audit and evaluation results to relevant areas.