Senior Occupational Therapist in Leeds

We have an exciting opportunity to recruit a dedicated, enthusiastic and self‑motivated Occupational Therapist to work in our Hands & Plastics Therapy Team based at Leeds General Infirmary. This post is based within a large Hand Therapy Team which provides Specialist Therapy provision for Hand and Upper Limb Conditions to patients from across the Region. The team includes a Clinical Specialist, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Senior Support Worker Staff and has strong links across the Hand Unit MDT and Therapy is highly regarded within the wider Service.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for an Occupational Therapist who can demonstrate sound clinical reasoning and experience in treating hand and upper limb conditions and is willing to develop and expand their clinical skills and experience working within this varied and rewarding speciality area. The successful candidate will be required to independently manage a varied clinical caseload and will play an essential role in the day‑to‑day work of the therapy team. You will work closely alongside the MDT during daily trauma clinics and will have opportunities to work within a range of more specialised, often Regional Clinics. These clinics include Major Nerve injuries, Spasticity, Hand Transplant and Children’s specialty. The caseload includes working with both Adults and Children, and you will have the opportunity to work with Paediatric conditions such as brachial plexus birth palsy and congenital hand conditions. You will be offered regular teaching and supervision and will be expected to be involved with team and service development. Part of this role requires offering help and support to more junior team members and taking an active role in student education. The team works variable hours to support clinic cover and there would be an expectation to participate in this within this band 6 role.

About us

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is committed to delivering the highest quality and safest treatment and care to every patient, every time. Our vision is to provide the highest quality specialist and integrated care. We will do this through delivery of our multi‑year goals and strategic priorities, which you can read about on this page. Central to it all is The Leeds Way our values and behaviours that are at the heart of everything we do.

Job responsibilities

• To work within the Occupational Therapy Service, providing effective Occupational Therapy intervention to various clinical areas.
• To manage autonomously a clinical workload at a specialist level: assessing and treating patients and maintain associated records.
• To develop and apply specialist knowledge, gained from past experience, on the job experience and specialist training.
• To provide a patient‑focused service following the Occupational Therapy process (screen referrals, assess and plan treatment programmes, implement and evaluate treatment programmes, monitor and discharge) and using Occupational Therapy core skills.
• To supervise and support Occupational Therapists.
• To delegate work to, supervise and support Occupational Therapy support staff.
• To supervise and educate Occupational Therapy students.
• To act as a specialist Occupational Therapy resource for colleagues, carers and patients.
• To be actively involved in team and service developments including audit and research.

The trust acknowledges and supports the statements laid down by the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (College of Occupational Therapy). The post holder will be professionally accountable to the Health Professions Council, and accountable contractually to their employer and to the law for their actions.

Job Dimensions

Clinical Responsibilities

• This post holder will be responsible for providing complex occupational therapy intervention in a specific clinical speciality.
• The post holder will work as an autonomous practitioner addressing occupational therapy performance skills, social context and activity demands in collaboration with patients, carers and colleagues.
• Clinical intervention may take place in a variety of settings including wards, therapy department clinics, people’s homes, work places, community facilities, child care and educational establishments.
• The work involves close liaison with the multi‑disciplinary team and community based health and social care providers.
• The post holder is responsible for financial and physical resources, for example, use of equipment store systems such as Leeds Equipment Service, petty cash.

Team Responsibilities

• Management, supervision and support of Occupational Therapists, Support Staff and Students.
• Deputising for Band 7.
• Routine organisation and maintenance of the department/section.
• Participation in projects and long‑term team developments.
• To offer continuity to Head Occupational Therapist and colleagues in the team.
• Leading and participating in in‑service training.
• To attend bi‑monthly seniors meetings to evaluate and develop the service.

Professional Responsibilities

• Trust objectives and business plan.
• Service objectives and business plan.
• Modernisation agenda / government initiatives.
• Membership in COT specialist sections relevant to the post.
• Awareness of COT initiatives.
• Continuing professional development.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

• Occupational Therapy Process – screen referrals, assess and plan treatment programmes, implement and evaluate treatment programmes, monitor and plan discharge.
• Apply relevant theory and models of Occupational Therapy.
• Assess motor, perceptual, cognitive, emotional and psycho‑social components of occupational performance.
• Awareness of Risk Assessment and Management.
• Understanding of functional implications of illness and disability.
• Disability Rights and Legislation.
• Awareness of the matrix of agencies involved in the delivery of services.
• Awareness of the facets of clinical governance.
• Organisational Awareness.
• Diversity Awareness.
• Relevant national and professional guidelines, standards and frameworks.
• Relevant clinical conditions and prognosis.
• Specialised treatment techniques.
• Relevant standardised assessment.
• Provision and fitting of adaptive equipment.

Principal Duties & Areas of Responsibility

Clinical

• To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients.
• To deliver a service using the Occupational Therapy process and core skills.
• To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
• To establish individual patients, plan and carry out effective Occupational Therapy intervention to a specialist level, in the most appropriate environment taking into account each patient’s individual physical, social and emotional needs.
• To work autonomously, with mostly indirect supervision.
• To interpret and analyse at an advanced level clinical and non‑clinical information across a range of conditions.
• To use advanced investigative and analytical skills.
• To use clinical reasoning, critical thinking and analysis to develop individual goals and interventions which optimise functional ability.
• To plan and prioritise clinical work.
• To delegate work to support staff and obtain feedback from delegated tasks.
• To use a range of verbal and non‑verbal communication tools/strategies to communicate complex information effectively to patients/carers, including those who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating.
• To utilise strategies of persuasion and motivation to ensure patients engage in intervention.
• To adopt a key role in complex discharge management, communicating appropriate information and acting as an advocate for patient/carers.
• All recommendations should focus on occupational performance and risk management in the patient’s own environment.
• To refer to internal and external agencies relevant to the patient’s needs using designated referral systems.
• To liaise with and work in collaboration with internal and external agencies.
• To act as a specialist resource for information and support to patients, carers and others.
• To ensure safe use of equipment by self and others.
• To be able to work in a stressful environment.
• To be able to impart difficult and unwelcome information regarding rehabilitation outcomes and support services.
• To be able to deal effectively with emotional and/or aggressive patients/carers.
• To participate in ward rounds, case conferences and meetings as required.
• To record interventions accurately and timely using team/trust documentation complying with Occupational Therapy guidelines and legislative requirements.
• To complete activity data using team/trust documentation and outcome measures.
• To provide written reports complying with Occupational Therapy guidelines and legislative requirements.
• To promote Occupational Therapy as a treatment medium and ensure a high Occupational Therapy profile.
• To occasionally lead and participate in clinical governance and quality assurance programmes to ensure the delivery of a high quality and evidence‑based service.
• To occasionally lead and participate in the measurement and evaluation of work and current practices through the use of audit and outcome measures, either individually or as part of a clinical team.
• To initiate and participate in specialist research.
• To promote and initiate changes to policies, procedures and practices with the specialist clinical area.

Leadership

• To participate in supervision and appraisal processes in line with Occupational Therapy and Trust Guidelines.
• To manage, supervise and support designated Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy support staff.
• To comply with professional codes of practice, departmental and trust policies, procedures and guidelines.
• To carry out administrative and housekeeping duties connected with the day‑to‑day running of the department.
• To communicate all relevant information regarding the service and individual patients to the Head Occupational Therapist/Supervisor.
• To initiate policy and service developments as required.
• To demonstrate an awareness of Risk management and apply it to the working environment and clinical intervention.
• To evaluate and prioritise clinical and non‑clinical responsibilities.
• To comply at all times with The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust policies and procedures.
• To undertake any other duties delegated and appropriate to the grade.
• To be aware of the boundaries of the role and not work outside these responsibilities.

Qualifications

Written and Verbal Skills Ability to maintain clear lines of appropriate communication.

Experience

Analytical Skills Analytical Skills.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.