Part time Band 6 Falls Occupational Therapist (one year)

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is a community focused provider of local and acute care, providing high quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley. We provide whole-life care and are here to support our communities to live healthier lives as well as taking care of them when they need us the most.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and motivated Occupational Therapist to join Lewisham Community Falls Service. This is a therapist led, multidisciplinary team who provide community falls interventions to older adults that live both at home and in care homes; as well as community-based strength and balance classes and falls prevention training to the local community. The post holder will be expected to work closely with partners in health and social care and contribute to the services public health and education agenda including supporting falls awareness training and health promotion events.

Applicants should have a minimum of 12 months experience at a band 6 level. Excellent communication skills, initiative, flexibility, good problem-solving skills, and an ability to prioritise a large caseload of complex patients are essential. We are particularly keen to hear from applicants who would like to take part in projects and development work to further develop the service.

Job Summary:

• To manage a designated case load with complex needs using evidence based / client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate.
• To regularly supervise O.T. students on practice placements.
• To provide leadership for junior/support staff, through supervision and appraisal.
• To contribute to health promotion and education responsibilities of Community Falls Service.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• To assess and treat a specific caseload of patients of older adults with falls.
• To demonstrate a broad level of knowledge and understanding of clinical conditions.
• To undertake multifactorial falls assessments and home hazard assessments to identify falls risk factors.
• To design / plan individual patient treatment programmes.
• To monitor and evaluate treatment, including the use of outcome measures.
• To work as a lone practitioner with telephone support from a senior Therapist, if required.

Professional Ethics:

• To adhere to the COT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and all other relevant policies and procedures.

Leadership, Supervision and Appraisal:

• To participate in the individual performance review programme.
• To effectively use supervision and appraisal to reflect on own practice and performance.

Training Staff and Students:

• To participate in the planning and implementing of the induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting.

Service Development and Delivery:

• To work with other staff within the department to ensure that equipment is maintained and stock monitored.
• To manage the caseload efficiently in order to achieve timely and safe discharges of patients from hospital.

Personal / Professional Development:

• To participate in internal and external training opportunities.

Clinical Governance:

• To comply with all Trust Policies and procedures.

Research & Practice Development:

• To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply to practice and disseminate findings at local level.