Band 6 - Occupational Therapist - Stroke, Inpatient Therapies in Watford

We have an opportunity for a motivated occupational therapist to join a well-established team in the Inpatient Therapy department at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust at Watford Hospital. This is a full-time post, focusing on excellent care in a fast-paced environment, and we would welcome existing Band 6 Occupational therapists who are looking to specialise in Stroke care and those experienced Band 5’s who are looking for the next step in their career. This post is based on acute hospital wards and NHS experience is essential.

Main duties of the job

• As part of the Stroke therapy team you will clinically manage a caseload, completing detailed assessment & treatments in stroke, with patients who have complex needs.
• You should have a caring, committed and quality focused approach to the provision of patient care.
• The stroke team is a collaborative working team with integrated working with the Physiotherapists, with a chance to advance your skills through upskilling.
• Discharge planning skills are key to this post, and you will need to be able to make timely decisions regarding transfer to community services and managing referrals to specialist units.
• Your development will be supported by Band 7 therapists.
• You will need to be a dynamic team player with excellent communication skills and the opportunity to teach, supervise and appraise more junior staff, assistants and students.
• The team is 7 day working and this post would be included in that rota (frequency of 1:6 weekends) with rest days in the following week.

Working for our organisation

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive.

Person specification

• Education and qualifications: Occupational Therapy degree qualification or equivalent & NHS experience. Registration with the Health Care Professions Council. Evidence of Continued Professional Development and reflective practice. Membership of BAOT/COT. Membership of special interest group. Experience on a broad band 5 or band 6 rotational scheme. Attendance at post-graduate course(s) in relevant field. Attendance at Student supervisors’ course.
• Knowledge: Understanding of Occupational Therapy structure in NHS. Understanding of Occupational Therapy models of practice. Standards – HCPC/COT/Local Legislation and litigation related to Occupational Therapy. Professional ethics and their application in practice. Policies and procedures (local e.g. Health and Safety). Ability to search and review the evidence base. Understanding of clinical governance and the implications for the service. Commitment to lifelong learning. Application of specific assessment techniques. Evidence of written projects/audits. Relevant Standardised assessments. Relevant outcome measures.
• Experience: NHS experience. Clinical problem-solving ability. Highly developed physical skills, dexterity, co-ordination and sensory skills for assessment and treatment of patients. Ability to assess patient conditions, establish a diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan, from a range of OT modalities. Physical fitness to move and handle patients and equipment. Previous experience of working in the acute hospital setting (qualified or as a student).

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute healthcare services to a core catchment population of approximately half a million people living in west Hertfordshire and the surrounding area. The Trust also provides a range of more specialist services to a wider population, serving residents of North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Hertfordshire. As an employer of nearly 6,000 people the Trust is one of the biggest employers in the area and sees nearly a million patients each year.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.