Senior Occupational Therapist – Older Person’s Team – Band 6
Location: Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust – Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead.
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, 08:00 – 17:00 shift with weekend and bank holiday rota.
Job Overview
We have an exciting opportunity to join the Gateshead Occupational Therapy Department as part of the Older Person’s Team. This role is suited to an existing or emerging Band 6 who has a passion for supporting older people to manage functional decline, to support skill maintenance and proactively plan hospital discharges.
The aim of the role is to support patients to return home from hospital through the delivery of timely assessment and intervention. We are seeking an enthusiastic and flexible therapist who has sound clinical reasoning and risk management skills.
You will have excellent development opportunities including service improvement. You will be supported by the clinical MDTs as well as the Occupational Therapy Department, with regular clinical and professional supervision, peer support and access to CPD opportunities.
Main Duties of the Job
* Act as an experienced autonomous practitioner, providing specialised occupational therapy assessment and treatment plans for patients with complex acute and/or chronic medical conditions to prevent hospital admission or support discharge.
* Independently manage a caseload, using evidence‑based and holistic principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
* Work as a key member of the MDT.
* Deliver care within a variety of clinical settings, including the patient’s own home.
* Support and supervise qualified and non‑qualified staff within the department.
* Contribute to service development and the learning culture within the department.
* Work across a range of clinical settings, including loan working.
* Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work, including patient management.
* Report to a Band 7 Occupational Therapy Team Lead.
* Collaborate with MDT members from health, social services and voluntary agencies to provide an integrated, patient‑centred approach.
* Ensure patients are identified for prompt discharge and handover to community services as required.
* Provide leadership for junior staff, as agreed with senior staff.
* Support the Band 7 Team Lead in planning, coordinating, and delivering the service and in developing service provision.
* Deputise for the Band 7 Team Lead as required.
* Supervise other qualified and non‑qualified staff and Occupational Therapy students on clinical placements.
* Participate in CPD and develop skills through in‑service training.
* Maintain accurate records as an autonomous practitioner.
* Actively participate in the weekend working rota.
Person Specification
Experience
* Experience of MDT working to deliver a holistic, patient‑centred approach.
* Experience supervising students and support staff.
* Enthusiasm and experience working with frail older people or those medically unwell.
* Experience working across complex health systems (acute and community).
* Experience working in acute front‑of‑house services and inpatient wards.
Qualifications and Training
* Qualified Occupational Therapist with HCPC registration.
* Maintain HCPC registration.
* Evidence of knowledge and skills in assessment and management of complex frail elderly patients or those with complex medical conditions, using a holistic approach.
* Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
* Understanding of NHS organisation.
Skills
* Full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle for work purposes.
#J-18808-Ljbffr