Job overview
Would you like to work in a forward thinking Occupational Therapy service? We have an exciting career development opportunity and the added benefit of being in the vibrant and diverse town of Luton.
This is a Band 5 to 6 development post to support an Occupational Therapist to achieve their potential. Moving to a band 6 can feel like a big step and this post offers clear development paths to achieve Band 6 competencies within a 12 month period. You will then continue to develop in the Band 6 role in a supportive team.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a dedicated and self-motivated Band 5, or 6, Occupational Therapist to join our friendly and innovative Complex Medicine team within the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This full time post is permanent and involves late shift and weekend working on a rota basis. You will have the chance to work across our four major ward areas which include Cardiology, Haematology, General Medicine and Elderly care.
In a team that works closely to the values, encourages projects that improve the service for patients and the staff alike and values your input, you will be supported throughout the 12 months to work towards your Band 6 competencies. You will also have the opportunity to support students and apprentices alongside managing Band 5 Therapists and support staff once you feel ready to take this on.
Interviews will be FACE-FACE ONLY
Main duties of the job
1. To perform advanced occupational therapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions, to determine a diagnosis, formulate and deliver an appropriate, individualised treatment programme.
2. To hold responsibility for own caseload and be responsible for a defined area of the service/particular patient group, working without direct supervision. Access to advice and support from a more senior therapist is available if required. Clinical work is evaluated through regular clinical supervision with a specialist occupational therapist but day-to-day clinical work is not routinely reviewed.
3. To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.
4. To plan, supervise, educate and assess the performance of occupational therapy students on placement within the complex medicine wards. To work closely with the university and comply with all the standards required for the degree level qualification.
5. Supported by the specialist occupational therapist, to design and undertake evidence-based audit and research projects to further own and team’s clinical practice and improve service delivery with the specialist therapist. Make recommendations and occasionally implement changes to practice or service protocols, as agreed with the specialist occupational therapist.
6. To deputise for the specialist occupational therapist in their absence, taking the lead role in the day-to-day operational management of the team.
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see job description and person specification provided. If further information is required, please speak to our contact on advert.
Person specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
7. Dip COT or BSc (Hons) in OT
8. HCPC registration
9. Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendances at recent post graduate courses/ in-service trainings relevant to the speciality
Desirable criteria
10. Membership of BAOT/RCOT or similar
11. Experience in wheelchair prescription
Experience
Essential criteria
12. Experience of working in an acute hospital environment
13. Evidence of broad based postgraduate experience to include experience in medicine or elderly care
14. Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team with example
Desirable criteria
15. Knowledge and example of working in liaison with community therapy services and intermediate care services
16. Experience of supervision of staff or students
17. Experience within the NHS
Knowledge & Skills
Essential criteria
18. Examples of organising, prioritising and delegating appropriately
19. Ability to be highly organised and responsive to changing workloads and situations
20. Ability to apply knowledge to achieve high standards of clinical practice / performance
21. Developed working knowledge of broad range of illnesses, injuries and conditions. Particularly those relevant to the clinical setting
Desirable criteria
22. Evidence of use of IT systems to support their work
23. Understanding of resource management eg. equipment provision
24. Knowledge/ use of SOAP notes
Communication
Essential criteria
25. Example of excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills
26. Example of where there may be barriers to understanding
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
If you have problems applying, contact
Address Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust
Lewsey Road
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU4 0DZ
Telephone 01582 497325