Senior Specialist Occupational Therapist Critical Care

To be responsible for providing individualised and client-centred assessments to critical care and managing the most complex cases, addressing occupational performance skills, patterns, context and activity demands, in collaboration with patients and carers, as an autonomous practitioner.

To provide occupational therapy input within the critical care environment which is occupation-focused. This practice will be justice-led and champion equity, diversity and belonging for the critical care caseload, including awareness to the religious, sexual-orientation, cultural and values-based practice of occupational therapy practice.

To demonstrate a good understanding of physical disability and long-term condition management, including common conditions and treatments in the critical care environment. To demonstrate a sound understanding of ventilation and tracheostomies in critically ill patients, in order to safely treat, rehabilitate, goal-set, and plan for onward referrals/discharges.

To undertake occupational therapy specialist multi-needs assessments, using complex and advanced clinical-reasoning, demonstrating critical thinking, reflection and analysis, to develop meaningful occupation-focused treatment plans.

To carry out specialist complex physical and functional assessments, and interventions, including the use of standardised assessments and interventions, to treat critically ill caseload including but not limited to: neurological assessment; visual assessment; and upper limb assessment and management, including splinting and oedema management.

To provide advanced assessment, interventions and advice for critically ill caseload who present with delirium and cognitive impairment, including evidenced-based assessment, intervention and management.

Prepare and disseminate reports, data and onwards referrals, that can include highly sensitive information regarding clinical examination, assessment, and prognostic indicators for functional performance. This may include recommendations for end of life care, disability management, and inpatient rehabilitation referrals.

To provide clinical leadership and act as a source of clinical expertise and advice within the critical care and Lane Fox team, and as a resource for other teams as appropriate.

To develop collaborative treatment plans and goal-setting with patients, carers and colleagues, both in the hospital and patients' home environment, demonstrating ethical clinical-reasoning and problem-solving techniques, to determine agreed outcomes, across health and social care.

To maintain high professional standards, continuously promoting and developing quality improvements initiatives appropriate to the needs of the occupational therapy service and profession.

To be responsible for the clinical and managerial needs of the caseload, ensuring clinical governance, quality assurance and occupational therapy professional standards are met.

To undertake complex risk assessments, and to advise others in determining appropriate management, specifically relating to moving and handling, safe use of equipment, pre-discharge access assessments, and home assessments, ensuring safety during occupational therapy interventions, both in hospital and the patients' home.

To understand and apply national guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care in occupational therapy practice.

To take a lead in developing and implementing clinical training programmes and in-service training for occupational therapy staff and other professionals.

To lead the occupational therapy critical care follow-up clinic service through the provision of occupational therapy assessment, interventions and social-prescribing, including: onwards referrals; specialist condition management; cognitive assessment; and vocation rehabilitation advice for caseload.

To operationally lead and manage designated occupational therapy staff within the critical care teams, including delegation for the clinical specialist occupational therapist. This includes providing effective guidance, supervision and performance management, including the education and management of students on practice placements.

To comply with relevant legislation such as Health and Safety, Medical Devices and Data Protection Act, in particular relation to provision of hoists, related accessories, and manual handling equipment.

To support the clinical specialist and occupational therapy critical care team (and wider occupational therapy department) to champion staff wellbeing, encourage reporting of areas of concern, and promote access to trust support structures where required.

To contribute to the Trusts, Directorates and Teams Clinical Governance and Quality assurance programmes, setting and monitoring practice standards within the occupational therapy service, and in liaison with interdisciplinary colleagues.

To inform the occupational therapy service of changes in clinical practice which may influence occupational therapy service delivery, business planning and strategic reviews, to support the delivery of the annual occupational therapy plan, meeting agreed objectives.

To ensure accurate and up-to-date records of all professional judgements, decisions taken, and related statistical information, are kept and reported in accordance with occupational therapy policies for both inpatient and outpatient services (critical care clinic).

To participate, as required, in the recruitment selection and induction of junior occupational therapy staff.

To participate in the operational planning and implementation of policy and service development within occupational therapy, and critical care, leading on delegated projects.

To undertake any other duties not listed, commensurate within the Band 7 grade.

To articulate and work to the value-base and principles which underpin occupational therapy practice, representing the unique role of occupational therapy in relation to interdisciplinary working.

To understand and effectively communicate at an advanced level, the emerging role of occupational therapy in critical care, and promote the benefits of the role, including latest evidence-base and guidelines, to the wider MDT.

To use advances interpersonal skills to communicate challenging and sensitive information, with regards to prognosis and recovery, ensuring additional measures are taken for vulnerable patients, or where there may be barriers to understanding.

Utilise formal and informal reporting mechanisms, including electronic reporting, to ensure effective communication across health and social care, including representation at multidisciplinary collaborative forums and networks.

Use effective interpersonal skills to encourage and to motivate patients and carers active participation in the occupational therapy process.

Use verbal and non-verbal communication to receive and disseminate complex clinical information in all therapeutic, educational programmes and professional contexts, acknowledging sensitivity, and utilising approaches appropriate to the complexity of the context or culture.

Maintain confidentiality consistent with Trust and Service policies.

Act as an advocate on behalf of patients and carers, by adopting a client-centred approach, to support meaningful participation in occupations and life roles.

To maintain professional status and competence at a senior level, taking responsibility for keeping own knowledge and skills up-to-date, by engaging in and directing continuous professional development and lifelong learning, in line with HCPC professional standards.

To actively participate and facilitate internal and external post-registration education programmes.

Use supervision monitoring and performance development plans to promote clinical and personal effectiveness of self and others.

Share expert acquired clinical knowledge and skills with colleagues and peers, both at a local and national level.

To commit to evidence-based practice by undertaking and contributing to audit projects and research opportunities, relevant to occupational therapy within critical care and the follow-up clinic.

To participate in Therapies Directorate research forum and activities, to develop research knowledge and skills base.

To develop designated occupational therapy service audit reporting findings and actions, at local and directorate levels.