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Community Specialist Occupational Therapist
The closing date is 19 June 2025
Dorset Healthcare are looking for a Community Specialist Occupational Therapist to join our supportive team based here in Bridport.
The multi-disciplinary team work with adult patients in their own homes, Community Hospital Wards or Care homes to promote independence and improve quality of life by supporting them to remain at home. The role of Community Specialist Occupational Therapist provides specialist assessment, advice and interventions to avoid unnecessary admissions to hospital, support timely discharges from the Hospital and manage longer term rehabilitation for those with a long-term condition or experiencing a period of physical disability.
The role of Community Specialist Occupational Therapist will be required to provide holistic clinical assessment of patients and be able to problem solve and make decisions about their treatment. The role will also provide follow-up rehabilitation and assessment of these patients on your own caseload. We offer opportunities for further training and development. There is also the chance to be involved in Service development projects.
This role is part time and would include some weekend working .
Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.
Main duties of the job
To assess, plan, implement and evaluate specialist treatment and care and/or rehabilitation programs to people on an allocated caseload; promoting independence and autonomy; working within a multi-disciplinary team.
Advance own clinical knowledge, skill and competence based on current evidence through advanced educational programmes.
Provide highly specialist advice to others regarding the management and care of patients/service users
Devise specialist programmes of care for other professionals to deliver and ensure they are delivered appropriately.
To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures.
Plan, implement and review health improvement programmes in a range of settings.
Recognise, assess and manage risk across the immediate and wider working environment and make appropriate decision autonomously ensuring statutory requirements are met.
To be responsible for patient safety through knowledge of systems, legal requirements and understanding of litigation.
To communicate effectively in verbal and written form in the exchange of highly complex, sensitive or contentious information in difficult situations using de-escalation, mediation, resolution and professional Duty of Candour.
To evaluate care, taking appropriate action leading to improvement in quality standards through clinical audit, root cause analysis and dealing with complaints.
About us
At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.
We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.
Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.
Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do
Job responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.
As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net
Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.
Person Specification
Knowledge, skills and training
* Registered practitioner to degree/diploma level supplemented by post registration diploma level specialist training and/or short courses or demonstrable extensive experience in the relevant specialty
* Membership of the relevant Professional Body
* Evidence of recent professional development in an up-to-date portfolio
* Learning and Assessing in Practice Qualification or equivalent practice assessors training
* Non-Medical Prescriber
* Knowledge and understanding of Trust Strategy relevant to role
Job Specific Experience
* Experience at Practitioner Band 5 level
* Demonstrable knowledge of assessment and therapeutic interventions in area of specialism
* Experience of developing specialist programs of care for an individual or groups of patients/clients and of providing highly specialist advice
* Able to demonstrate specialist clinical reasoning skills to assimilate information in order to make a clinical judgement regarding diagnosis and intervention
* Ability to prioritise and organise workload effectively
* Recent previous experience within a comparable role
* Experience of managing change
Finance / Resources
* Able to effectively manage available resources in the pursuit of quality service provision ensuring a safe environment
Managerial/Supervisory Experience
* Experience of providing clinical supervision and mentoring to junior staff
* Experience of devising and delivering training
* Able to analyse data and produce reports using Microsoft Excel and Word
* Experience of using electronic patient / service user record systems
Personal Qualities / Attributes
* Experience of planning and organising complex activities, e.g. organise own time and that of junior staff and learners, planning off duty rotas and undertaking discharge planning involving co-ordination with other agencies.
* Knowledge and understanding of legislation relevant to practice
* Demonstrable ability of using tact and diplomacy
* Demonstrable ability to analyse situations and provide a resolution
* Demonstrable leadership qualities and the ability to perform as a role model
Additional requirements
* Must hold a valid UK Driving Licence
* Have access to a car for work.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
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