Senior Occupational Therapist in Medicine
As a Band 6 Occupational Therapist, join our Medical Therapies team at St Peter’s Hospital. This static post, created from recent remodelling, attracts either an existing Band 6 OT or a Band 5 OT with considerable experience seeking a development role.
The Medical Therapy Team covers Geriatrics, General and Specialist Medicine wards. The role requires clinical knowledge and experience in managing unwell patients with acute and chronic problems. The varied and complex caseload will broaden your rehabilitation skills, reduce hospital‑acquired deconditioning and enhance discharge planning.
Working closely with occupational therapists, physiotherapists and therapy technicians, you will refine your clinical skills and develop others, following a robust supervision, appraisal and in‑house training programme. The trust is moving to 7‑day working; you will provide Occupational Therapy services across the week, including extended hours and weekend duty.
Interviews will be conducted in person.
Main duties of the job
* Static Occupational Therapist at Band 6 level in a range of clinical areas within General and Specialist Medicine Services
* Perform advanced assessments, clinical diagnosis, treatment and safe discharge planning for patients with acute and sub‑acute conditions, including complex and chronic presentations
* Work autonomously on a significant specialist caseload without direct supervision
* Supervise and teach occupational therapists, therapy support staff and students within the clinical speciality, and participate in multi‑disciplinary team teaching
* Demonstrate leadership skills, contribute to service development and monitor standards of practice, and develop multidisciplinary management of patients
About us
Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people in North‑West Surrey, Hounslow and beyond.
Our workforce of over 3,700 highly trained professionals provides a wide range of services across our two hospital sites and community clinics. We are expanding our theatres at Ashford Hospital and aiming to become a dedicated elective centre.
We offer the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and, in addition:
* Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
* On‑site nurseries
* On‑site staff cafés
* On‑site parking
* Salary Sacrifice schemes including wage‑stream, lease cars, Cycle‑to‑Work schemes and home electronics
Adverts may close early, so applicants are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
For more information about a career at ASPH please visit: www.asph-careers.org
Job responsibilities
Please read the attached job description and person specification for a full description of the role.
Clinical and technical
* Undertake comprehensive assessments of patients, including those with diverse or complex presentations, multiple pathologies
* Use investigative and analytical skills to assess complex patients and support junior staff as required
* Devise individualised occupational therapy management and/or treatment plans, using clinical reasoning skills and evidence‑based practice
* Apply manual assessment techniques and diagnostic procedures to formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best courses of intervention
* Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required
* Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of professional activities, adhering to codes of practice and professional guidelines
* Act as an autonomous practitioner, handling a significant specialist caseload
* Use verbal and non‑verbal communication tools to engage patients, including those who are deaf, blind or have limited English
* Keep up to date with developments, analyse current research and implement changes to clinical practice
* Facilitate and participate in clinical reasoning and problem patient sessions
Leadership and Managerial
* Document personal development, participating in journal clubs, quality governance meetings and internal/external training
* Take part in appraisal as appraisee and appraiser
* Train and develop occupational therapists and other team members as facilitator and recipient
* Supervise Band 5 occupational therapists on rotation, students and support staff
* Support Band 7 team leaders with appraisals of Band 5 occupational therapists and support staff
* Assume a leadership role for therapists in the absence of a Band 7 to prioritise work
Information and Reporting
* Participate in and lead appropriate work‑related research/evaluation projects, keeping abreast of relevant research
* Engage in clinical audit and evaluation of clinical effectiveness in line with Trust policies
* Present relevant evidence‑based projects
Service improvement
* Make recommendations that lead to practice changes and service improvement
* Implement policy and service development changes
* Actively participate in special interest groups to share and disseminate knowledge
Communications and engagement
* Communicate complex information sensitively to obtain patient cooperation and valid consent
* Use persuading and influencing skills to encourage patient self‑management
* Communicate effectively with all disciplines involved in patient care, within and outside the organisation, ensuring efficient multidisciplinary working
* Manage high‑stress or emotional situations empathetically
* Maintain accurate records in line with the Royal College of Occupational Therapy, Trust and service standards, and ensure managed staff records also comply
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Occupational therapy degree
* Post‑registration training evidence to clinical speciality
* Involvement in RCOT or special interest groups
Experience
* Working as an OT in acute NHS or similar setting
* Experience contributing to and working within a team
* Experience prioritising and delegating
* Supervision of students and staff
* Experience in audit and quality improvement
* Experience within frailty or geriatric services
Other
* Holds a valid driver’s licence
Skills
* Effective verbal and non‑verbal communication skills
* Competent to assess, treat and manage patients with a wide variety of conditions and presentations
* Work with MDT to develop safe discharge plans
Knowledge
* Knowledge of a range of assessment and treatment approaches and evidence base
* Knowledge of the impact of multiple comorbidities in patients
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) will be required to check for any previous convictions.
Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
£41,957 to £50,387 a year per annum inc. HCAS
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