Band 6 Occupational Therapist

The Senior OT contributes to the provision, co-ordination and development of OT services for their specific section. Assists in training and supervising junior staff and students and participates in administrative functions of the OT Department.

KEY TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Clinical

1. Take responsibility for managing an acute patient caseload and following the OT process

2. Diagnosis of specific complex conditions in relation to the OT process

3. Provide functional treatment for both in-patients, out-patients, community-based patients, individuals and groups

4. Plan treatment programmes covering all aspects of functional rehabilitation

5. Assess patients' activities of daily living, interpret the assessment results, and modify the treatment

6. Take responsibility for the clinical decision in relation to provision of wheelchairs and specialist seating and their follow-up treatment

7. Carry out and interpret results of specialist cognitive and perceptual assessments for the delivery of future treatment

8. Work single-handedly in providing training in daily living skills for patients and following them up at home or into the community where appropriate

9. Make complex clinical decisions regarding patient care

10. Provide clinical advice to the OT team on their given speciality

11. Identify and complete the referral process to other disciplines as required

12. Identify the need for and carry out standardised tests with the patients, interpret the findings and plan treatment

13. Take responsibility for planning, undertaking and completing home assessments when required

14. Assess, recommend and organise provision of adaptive equipment, minor adaptations, wheelchairs and services as appropriate to individual patients.

15. Demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical risk and reporting untoward incidents both verbally and in writing

16. Demonstrate a physical ability to carry out OT interventions and therapeutic handling. (There is a frequent requirement to exert moderate physical effort for several short periods during a day)

17. Responsible for the safe use of equipment used in carrying out OT duties, adhering to the department's Medical Devices Policy - this includes competency and accuracy to use equipment

18. Frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions e.g., bodily fluids, including urine and faeces, unpleasant smells and occasional exposure to hostility in the form of verbal and physical aggression. There may also be exposure to vermin and parasites especially on home assessments

19. Exposure to distressing circumstances e.g., patients with chronic disease and those receiving palliative care

Communication

1. Communicate relevant information on patients' conditions and performance to the multi-disciplinary team (MDT)

2. Liaise with other hospital disciplines, as appropriate, and with community MDTs regarding care and progress

3. Instruct and guide staff in the use of therapeutic activities in relation to their given caseload

4. Instruct and guide individuals and groups of patients in the use of therapeutic activities, equipment and services

5. Train and educate patients and carers in the use of therapeutic equipment, health promotion, and lifestyle skills

6. Provide relevant information, written and oral, for documents relating to patients' progress

7. Liaise with patients' relatives regarding on-going progress and discharge plans.

8. Liaise and negotiate with internal and external agencies in the provision and follow-up of equipment, minor adaptations wheelchairs and services

9. Communicate with palliative care patients and their relatives regarding their changing ability

10. Use interpreters when required to ensure effective communication occurs with patients who are hard of hearing or do not understand / speak enough English for the purpose of consent and co-operation for treatment

11. Liaise with other hospital disciplines regarding the OT staffing of their area to facilitate efficient working

Documentation

1. Maintain and organise records of patients' treatments in line with Trust, departments and Royal College of Occupational Therapists' (RCOT) guidelines

2. Write patient related reports

3. Report OT treatment and progress in medical notes

4. Undertake the appropriate paperwork for onward referral

5. Gather and record statistical data according to department requirements

Professional Ethics

1. Adhere to the RCOT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for qualified staff and all other relevant policies and procedures

Leadership, Supervision & Appraisal

1. Supervise junior members of the team both clinically and managerially.

2. Undertake appraisal with specified junior member of staff

3. Review and re