Overview
A Vacancy at Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust.
We are looking for a proactive and forward thinking Band 6 Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to join the South Urgent Community Response (UCR) team. You will work in a multi-disciplinary integrated team alongside Registered Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Community Assistant Practitioners and Health Care Assistants. You will contribute to the triage and referral management of admission avoidance referrals through the Rapid Response referral process.
This post provides an exciting opportunity for an applicant looking to build on a broad clinical skill base and learn shared competencies in an admission avoidance response. You should have excellent communication and complex problem solving skills to provide quality outcomes for patients. You will work in an integrated way with partners in health and social care, whilst adhering to the Trust’s Behaviour Framework.
You will be based at Wymondham Health Centre, but you will be required to cover across South Norfolk. The post is suitable for an existing band 6 Occupational Therapist/Physiotherapist or an experienced band 5 seeking a new role. You should be motivated, adaptable and willing to work within a changing environment. Experience with supervision of staff and students is desirable.
The Urgent Community Response South Service operates 7 days per week, including bank holidays between 8am and 8pm. There is a requirement to work weekends and bank holidays.
For further information please contact Jacqui Percival (Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist for Urgent Community Response South) via email: Jacqueline.Percival@nchc.nhs.uk.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
* To work within the Urgent Community Response Team, to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital.
* To make risk assessments, establishing the safety or otherwise of a patient’s ability to stay at home, or return safely from another care setting, providing and arranging as necessary supportive packages of care.
* To work within the Urgent Community Response Team to assess and prescribe care pathways for patients in a crisis situation with long term conditions, the frail and elderly, palliative and end of life care and/or rehabilitation needs, to achieve quality of life and independence where possible.
* To act as the patient’s advocate, facilitating choice and patient empowerment.
* To provide evidence based clinical/therapeutic interventions based on ‘best practice’ in order to improve health outcomes and promote choice.
* To provide in-reach to inpatient units and step up beds where required to support early discharge from hospital.
* To work with all health care professionals, and statutory/non statutory agencies to provide a seamless, integrated service to our service users.
* To triage referrals on a rotational basis for the Urgent Community Response Team.
Clinical
* Undertake comprehensive therapy assessments of patients including those with a complex presentation, using investigative, analytical and clinical reasoning skills, and inform the development of a differential diagnosis.
* Formulate and execute individualised therapy management and treatment plans of patients including those with complex presentation, in collaboration with the Urgent Community Response Team, other agencies and the patient, utilising a range of treatment skills.
* Be aware of Assistive Technology and make referrals for this as required.
* Assess patients’ holistic needs, communicating complex and sensitive information to patients and carers as to their assessment, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan.
* Where there are barriers to understanding (e.g., hearing impairment, mental capacity impairment), provide adjustments to gain understanding, obtain consent and achieve concordance.
* Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients and carers, incorporating motivation, encouragement and confidence building to enable engagement in treatment/care/management plans.
* Liaise with GPs, Social Services, inpatient teams, other allied health professionals and the voluntary sector to ensure identified needs are met and care coordinated appropriately.
* Participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate (e.g., Gold Standard Framework).
* Ensure activity data and clinical information are recorded on SystmOne and completed daily.
* Plan and organise specialist services within the Urgent Community Response Team.
* Demonstrate dexterity, coordination and palpatory senses for assessment and manual treatment, including using specialist equipment and fine tools, manual and mobilising skills.
* Order equipment and contribute to the requisitioning of supplies and equipment through electronic ordering systems.
* Ensure informed consent is obtained prior to initiating interventions.
* Be exposed to bodily fluids and infectious materials daily; utilise universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies.
Professional
* Be responsible for ensuring workload for self and others is planned and prioritised according to the Urgent Community Response service targets and needs.
* Be accountable for work delegated to others.
* Ensure own records are maintained and those of the Team are kept up to date.
* Contribute to the staff rota on a monthly basis as required.
* Actively contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings and other meetings where appropriate.
* Support all team members within the Urgent Community Response Team, respecting their roles and contributions.
* Participate in in-house training as required and maintain continuous professional development.
* Be able to make own travel arrangements to patients’ homes, clinics, base and meetings as required.
* Be responsible for safe use and maintenance of equipment and supplies.
* Remain accountable for own professional actions as determined by the professional bodies.
* Demonstrate duties to students, new starters and/or less experienced staff; provide mentorship for students undertaking pre/post registration courses.
* Mentor existing staff and provide training in specialist areas as appropriate; supervise and support band 3, 4 and 5 staff and students where appropriate, contributing to induction for new staff/students.
* Demonstrate leadership skills within own competence and be mindful of budget constraints.
Organisational
* Undertake mandatory training as required.
* Participate in a Personal Development Review process and undertake Personal Development Plans for more junior staff members.
* Take part in clinical supervision as per Trust Policy and follow Trust policies and local procedures, using discretion in interpretation according to setting and circumstances.
* Contribute to clinical audit as required and complete required surveys and risk assessments.
This advert closes on Sunday 7 Sep 2025.
Note: The selection processes at Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust are in place to recruit candidates with the right values and skills. The use of AI in applications is monitored to prevent misuse and ensure applications reflect actual skills.
#J-18808-Ljbffr