Occupational Therapist- Frailty Intervention Team

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family.

We are looking for a dynamic, forward thinking, enthusiastic experienced Band 5 or Band 6 Occupational Therapist with a specialist interest in frailty to join our Frailty Intervention team (FIT). FIT are a supportive and friendly integrated Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy team working in the Emergency Department and Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU).

You will need to have solid experience and sound knowledge of a range of common pathologies, aging, falls and frailty and ability to apply your knowledge from several disciplines including neurology, trauma, musculoskeletal and respiratory areas. You will need to have high levels of professionalism and strong communication skills to work effectively in this role as part of the multidisciplinary team.

As part of FIT you will work in a blended role; assessing and identifying needs through comprehensive assessments of older adults and deliver interventions to help with admission avoidance within the Emergency Department and EAU.

You will be actively encouraged to participate in CPD, audit, service development and supervision and teaching of junior staff the wider MDT including students from Coventry and Oxford Brookes Universities. A culture of continuous service development and education for all grades of staff underpins our team ethos. The trust core values of delivering compassionate excellence are integral to the service.

• To provide high quality, safe and effective therapy services to patients in the Emergency Department and Emergency Assessment Unit, including those with highly complex presentations, as part of a multi-professional team.
• To work collaboratively with patients and their carers to effectively assess and implement the rapid deployment of admission avoidance services.
• To supervise and teach recently registered professionals, support workers, therapy students and members of the MDT.
• To actively participate in quality improvement, clinical audit and research projects within the Frailty Intervention Team (FIT).
• To take an active part in the team’s extended hours and seven-day working roster to maximise the access and delivery of the service.

• To consistently deploy effective communication and engagement skills enabling effective working relationships with all members of the multi-professional team.
• To effectively communicate with patients and their carers/family members, including the sensitive management of complex or contentious issues.
• To overcome barriers to effective communication, such as those caused by pathological impairment or language differences, by deploying effective mitigating strategies.
• To engage and build relationships with external agencies and providers to enhance patient care continuity and outcomes.
• To be able to motivate and positively influence others through effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
• Be able to write complex reports accurately describing patients’ clinical status and ensuring that the information provided aids effective continuing care and clinical management.

• To enact the professional and legal responsibilities for all aspects of the post-holder's own clinical practice.
• To carry out comprehensive assessments prior to and following hospital admission, including those with complex presentations, and form treatment and rehabilitation plans in partnership with the patient and their carers/family.
• To interpret and analyse multiple sources of clinical information to form accurate diagnoses in older adult care; drawing on guidance from Team Lead Occupational Therapists when required.
• To formulate and deliver comprehensive treatment, rehabilitation and discharge plans, based on clinical skills, evidence-based practice, and patient preferences.
• To evaluate patient progress against agreed treatment goals and be able to modify plans accordingly.
• To determine a patient’s mental capacity to understand and to gain informed consent for treatment.
• To co-ordinate intervention where there is a need to collaborate across multiple disciplines.
• To maintain accurate written records using an electronic patient record system and maintain fidelity to professional standards.
• To determine and mitigate for risk of patient and staff harm using the agreed risk assessment frameworks and the Trust’s manual handling policy.
• To demonstrate physical ability to carry out assessment and interventions including manual therapy techniques and therapeutic handling.
• To represent Occupational Therapy and/or individual patients at multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensure delivery of co-ordinated care.
• To be an integral part of the team’s extended hours and seven-day service provision.

• To be responsible for the competent use and maintenance of rehabilitation equipment and support others in the effective and safe use of this equipment.
• To assist in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of junior staff and assistants.
• To undertake delegated tasks and roles from the team lead and be able to deputise for them on occasions.
• To effectively plan and organise own time, patient caseload, meetings, training and be able to adjust plans as required according to staffing levels and unpredictable factors.
• To assist in the planning of junior staff, students and assistant timetables and deputise for senior staff in organisational duties.

• To organise and contribute to the team’s training and post-registration education programme.
• To contribute to the education of multidisciplinary groups, patients, families and carers as appropriate.
• To be responsible for individual undergraduate student Occupational Therapists’ supervision and practice-based learning.
• To adopt a proactive approach in learning from others within, and outside of the Occupational Therapy profession.
• To be responsible for continuing professional development and maintain a portfolio record to evidence this.
• To maintain contemporary knowledge to apply and maintain best practice in older adult care and rehabilitation.

• To actively participate in the department’s quality improvement and clinical audit programme through the completion of authorised projects.
• To implement and maintain evidenced-based Occupational Therapy practice through continuing professional development.
• To ensure good working knowledge and application of national and local clinical standards.

• To be able to undertake episodes of moderate physical effort for several short periods during a shift.
• To be able to effectively maintain concentration at work despite frequent interruptions and, at times, an unpredictable working pattern.
• To tolerate and manage frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances and maintain a high level of professionalism.
• To tolerate and professionally manage frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions, such as exposure to bodily fluids and offensive odours.

• Qualifications: Degree in Occupational Therapy, Registered with HCPC.
• Experience: Experience in a number of areas including orthopaedics, neurology and older adults. Experience working with students and support workers. Experience working with frailty. Experience working as part of the MDT.
• Other requirements: Up to date with best practice in Frailty care. Be able to work extended hours 8am until 8pm across 7 days.

COVID-19: The COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. While COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Vacancy Closures: Please note, this vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications are received.

Probation Period: This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period. If you currently hold a contract of employment with the Oxford University Hospitals, this will not apply.

Referencing: When providing employment reference details please provide correct work related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application.

Your first referee will need to be your line manager, supervisor or clinical lead from your current or most recent post or place of study. Please note that if you have previously worked for the Trust we will require a reference from your last Manager, this information is essential if your offer of employment is to be confirmed.

Next Steps: Please make sure that you read the job description and person specification, and that your supporting statement reflects this as your application will be judged against these criteria. Candidates selected for interview will be contacted after the short-listing process, usually within 2 weeks.

No unsolicited recruitment agency telephone calls or emails.