Senior Occupational Therapist

We are looking for an experienced Occupational Therapist to join our Therapies team at the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth. The post holder will work as an autonomous practitioner, within scope of practice and deliver a quality clinical service; meeting the clinical and strategic needs of the hospital and provide specialised assessment and intervention for a varied caseload of inpatients and outpatients including patients who may have complex presentations.

The post holder will support the development of the occupational therapy service, striving to ensure best practice, maximum efficiency and productivity and cost effectiveness, will supervise, initiate and participate in evidence based projects and partake in in-service training sessions as required. The Inpatient Therapies Team provides specialist assessment and treatment to patients admitted to the wards, when clinically indicated. Our aim is to deliver evidence-based, high quality care, which is achieved through a clear governance strategy, service planning, development and multidisciplinary team working.

Located in leafy St John’s Wood on the Jubilee line, minutes from Central London, our independent private Hospital has just been rated the number one in the country for care in the latest Bupa survey. Uniquely, all profits fund our onsite Hospice, St John’s.

Am I the right person for this Occupational Therapist role?

• BSc (hons) degree or diploma in Occupational Therapy or diploma or equivalent Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration for Occupational Therapy
• Evidence of post graduate professional development
• Evidence of study or intending to study at Masters level is desirable
• Member of specialist interest group is desirable
• Evidence of additional specialist knowledge acquired through relevant post-graduate training
• Experience of working with an array of patients in the inpatient occupational therapy setting
• Experience of working in the outpatient occupational therapy setting
• Experience of a wide range of approaches for the management of complex patients is desirable
• Knowledge and experience of audit and research is desirable
• Experience of multidisciplinary team working is desirable
• Experience of working at Band 6 level is desirable
• Experience of teaching to own professional group and MDT is desirable

What are the Responsibilities of Occupational Therapist role?

• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own professional activities in line with the standards of the Hospital, Department, and the professional codes of conduct of the relevant professional body and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• To have overall accountability for the planning and management of own specialised caseload of patients and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regards to clinical priorities and use of time.
• Use specialist knowledge of the clinical area to undertake therapy assessments which include an evaluation of the impact of patients’ diagnoses and stage of disease on their ability to function and maintain quality of life and to make clinical decisions on the most appropriate form of therapy intervention, both short and long term.
• To provide therapeutic advice to patients, carers and clinicians using evidence based practice, or in the absence of a robust evidence base, advanced clinical judgement acquired through professional expertise.
• To use advanced communication and behaviour change skills to facilitate therapy interventions in situations where sensitive information needs to be discussed.
• To continuously assess, evaluate and review objectives and desired outcomes in collaboration with the patient, any carers and multidisciplinary team.
• To make recommendations to colleagues and members of the MDT, based on theoretical and practical knowledge regarding the ongoing management of patients.
• To play an active role in discharge planning of patients in the MDT.
• To produce up to date, clear evidence based resources for patients.
• To be competent in the use of relevant equipment. This may include training of other healthcare professionals in its correct use.
• To provide specialist advice to the MDT in a range of forums for example ward rounds, MDT meetings and family meetings.
• To ensure that patients have consented to assessment and therapeutic interventions in line with hospital policy and professional codes of conduct.
• Maintain patient documentation, records and accurate statistical information to reflect the care provided and to meet professional and hospital standards as well as local and national guidelines.
• To maintain accurate, comprehensive professional case notes for all direct and indirect patient contact.
• To demonstrate flexibility in communication and interpersonal skills to overcome barriers to communication e.g. language and cultural barriers, loss of hearing/sight, distressing information, hostile/emotive situations, altered perception and cognition etc.
• To liaise with and provide feedback to referrers to the service by letter and /or verbal communication.
• To communicate complex patient related information effectively, to ensure collaborative working within the MDT including those external to the hospital.

Why apply for this role?

At our organisation we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our employees a wide range of benefits; from 27 days annual leave, generous private healthcare cover, contributory pension schemes – including continuation of the NHS pension.

When you become part of the HJE Family, these are some of the benefits you will receive:

• Private healthcare scheme worth up to £20,000 per year
• 27 days annual leave
• Blue Light Card discounts
• Interest-free season ticket loans
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free eye check-up vouchers with contribution towards lenses
• Free newspaper and media subscriptions
• Local Business discounts
• Discount in our Hospice Charity shop
• Refer a Friend scheme
• Free Cinema Society Membership offering discounted tickets
• Personal development and training courses
• Annual events and recognition awards
• Career progression and increments
• For employees joining us from the NHS, we can provide continuation of your NHS pension

If you are ready for a new challenge and relish the chance to become part of a successful, forward thinking organisation then we would love to hear from you.