Band 7 Occupational Therapist

Overview

We are seeking a skilled and enthusiastic Band 7 OT with experience of working with an older person caseload. The ideal candidate will be committed to delivering high quality, patient centred therapy, demonstrating the value of occupational therapy interventions in the acute setting. You will have advanced clinical assessment skills in cognitive, physical and functional assessment and be able to design treatment plans to address limitations identified from the assessments completed. You will support patient flow in the organisation with timely and targeted assessment of patients who need Occupational Therapy, making recommendations for discharge and support other staff in the team to do the same. An integral part of your role will be supporting and developing staff on rotation to the Care of Older person unit and students on placement. We are committed to developing our staff, providing the best opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge, working with senior role models in a nurturing and supportive environment. Our teams of Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists work in integrated teams and in clinical specialities and are well supported by Clinical Leads. You will have access to training and development, and we actively encourage quality improvement and audit to shape and evaluate our services. The Trust also run an AHP fellowship programme for future aspiring leaders.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational and clinical leadership to a therapy team which includes staff of different grades and disciplines.
• Work closely with Physiotherapy Team Leads to support team organisation and prioritisation processes.
• Deputise for the Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist alongside other team leads.
• Demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning skills and undertake assessment of complex patients including cognitive, functional and environmental assessment, and complete treatment/rehabilitation to optimise occupational performance.
• Communicate complex condition related information to patients, relatives and carers and external partners, ensuring patient’s therapy needs are met responsively and appropriately.
• Support the induction, training and development of less experienced staff, students.
• Support new staff through probation and preceptorship and manage any performance concerns in line with Trust Policy and with the support of the Clinical Leads.
• Apply OT expertise in developing clinical services and support the Clinical Lead OT, Clinical Lead PTs and Clinical Manager in implementing service changes across the department.
• Keep up to date with clinical evidence/guidelines and meet the HCPC CPD requirements.
• Work flexibly across seven days as required including weekends and bank holidays, with rostered cover outside core hours up to 20:00.

Qualifications / Skills

• Registered OT with HCPC with experience in an acute setting and older person caseload.
• Advanced clinical assessment skills in cognitive, physical and functional domains and ability to design treatment plans to address identified limitations.
• Strong communication skills to convey complex information to patients, relatives and external partners.
• Ability to support and develop staff, students and provide leadership for a multidisciplinary team.
• Commitment to quality improvement, audit, and service development; willingness to participate in an AHP fellowship programme.
• Flexible to work across seven days including weekends/bank holidays and extended hours as required.

Development & Environment

You will have access to training and development, and the organisation actively encourages quality improvement and audit to shape and evaluate services. The Trust runs an AHP fellowship programme for future aspiring leaders. You will work with Clinical Leads and operate within integrated teams with Physiotherapists and other therapists.

Contact

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Chris Harvey, Job title: Clinical Lead OT – Care of Older People, Email: Christopher.harvey6@nhs.net, Telephone: 0207 288 5562

Location & Other

Southall, London, and other London areas mentioned; role involves working across locations as required. This posting reflects Whittington Health’s commitment to equal opportunity and a diverse workforce.