Specialist Occupational Therapist / Physiotherapist in Nuneaton

Undertake assessments, clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients with a wide range of problems within the specialist area. These patients often have complex and/or chronic presentations. To work as an autonomous practitioner to undertake a significant specialist clinical caseload, working without direct supervision. To take a role in supervision and teaching of junior qualified therapists and assistants within clinical specialty. To take a role in supervision and teaching of undergraduate students. To demonstrate leadership skills and contribute to service development and monitoring of standards of practice. To work flexibly over a 7-day period, as the service requires.

Clinical duties include:

• To abide by relevant Profession's Code of Professional Conduct.
• Carry out assessments and treatments of patients with varying degrees of disability on a daily basis, using moderate physical effort.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments including activities of daily living assessments and cognitive assessments.
• Ensure methods of treatment, its frequency and review are appropriate to specialist area and within the priorities of the Service.
• Plan and implement therapy intervention with the involvement of patients/carers, to facilitate independence, and liaise closely with the wider MDT in planning discharge from A&E.
• Prescribe and instruct patients/carers in the safe use of equipment following assessment.
• Prescribe and organise minor adaptations to patients' homes following assessment.
• Arrange for the supply of equipment and identify the need for major adaptations as defined under the Disabled Facilities Grant legislation, liaising with the Social Services Department.
• Frequent exposure to highly unpleasant working conditions on a regular/daily basis, e.g. bodily fluids, urine, faeces, blood and vomit and occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression.
• Frequent concentration is required to analyse patient documentation and carry outpatient assessments and treatments.

Professional responsibilities include:

• Assist in the supervision and co-ordination of the Therapy Team on a day-to-day basis.
• Be professionally responsible for the efficient organisation of own caseload providing a high standard of clinical care.
• Represent Therapy interests at meetings as agreed with the Therapy Service Manager.
• Contribute to the Therapy Services Clinical Governance Strategy to ensure the quality of service delivered, including Evidence Based Practice, audit, risk management and patient focussed care.
• Ensure that all client intervention is documented in a timely, objective and confidential manner via Multi-disciplinary Care Plan, Medical Notes and specific Occupational Therapy reports, according to departmental and Trust Policy.
• Attend multi-disciplinary case conferences/planning meetings to give feedback regarding Therapy intervention.
• Undertake an active role in the maintenance and development of fieldwork education placements for Therapy students, and supervise students on placement.
• Carry out the supervision and appraisal of Therapy Support staff.
• Undertake education of other disciplines about Occupational Therapy, as required.
• Be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development.
• Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence-based practice and incorporate new developments into your specialist area of work.
• Accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients and organise this effectively, efficiently and autonomously with regard to clinical priorities and time availability.
• Attend and participate in in-service training programmes, individual training sessions and external courses as expected and/or identified at Individual Performance Review, and undertake reflective practice.
• Have specialist knowledge and skills in the use and application of relevant equipment and be responsible for your own safe and competent use of all that equipment, aids and appliances.
• Ensure that your own practice meets the required professional standards of physiotherapy practice.

Organisational duties include:

• Undertake, as directed, the collection of activity data to enable the Trust to monitor its performance.
• Ensure safe systems of work and compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act, Safety Executive regulations and Therapy Service policies by staff.
• Maintain and review current policies and procedures within the department including the development of new policies in conjunction with the Therapy Service Manager and senior colleagues.
• Work with the Therapy Service Manager and senior colleagues to undertake regular review of service provision, implementation of appropriate change and the formulation and delivery of strategies for the further development of the Therapy Team.
• Undertake any other duties delegated by the Therapy Services Manager/Professional Team lead commensurate with the grade and experience of the post holder.

Communication responsibilities include:

• Deal sensitively with patients and relatives who have high levels of anxiety and occasional aggression caused by frustration, trauma, disability, pain or impaired ability to understand or communicate.
• Ensure beneficial and positive communication with clients, their families/carers and other professionals involved, respecting individual needs and promoting user involvement/decision making.
• Use a range of highly developed verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes.
• Deliver presentations and training at Therapy and multi-disciplinary training events and on an individual basis.

Relationships include:

• Internal: Patients and Carers, Multi-Disciplinary Team Members, Occupational Therapy Team Colleagues, Physiotherapy Colleagues.
• External: Social Services Colleagues, Statutory and Voluntary Agencies, Ambulance services, Primary Care/GPs.

For a full comprehensive list of main responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to job description and personal specification attached.