Band 7 Inpatient Occupational Therapy Lead | Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Occupational therapist to become the therapy lead for the inpatient therapy team at St Margaret's Hospital Epping. This is a great opportunity for any aspiring band 6's who are looking to develop their clinical and particularly leadership skills. The post holder will be responsible for a team of OT's, PT's and therapy assistants and will work closely with nursing colleagues and the matron. They will also work alongside peers in community teams across west and with our partner organisations. There are three wards at St Margaret's. The patient groups are varied in condition and pathway. This includes intermediate care and rehabilitation, those requiring ongoing assessment for discharge planning and step up beds from the community.

• To provide highly specialist occupational therapy skills within the Inpatient therapy team
• Undertake advanced specialist therapeutic assessments and treatment for your own caseload of patients with diverse and complex conditions, developing and delivering individualised treatment programmes
• To be an advocate for patient empowerment and promote a rehabilitation ethos in all elements of patient care and activity.
• To lead and empower your team to facilitate discharge and outreach into the community as appropriate; to enable patients to return home at the earliest opportunity.
• To support and empower therapists and the wider MDT to commence supportive conversations with patients and their family relating to returning home at the point of assessment and throughout their inpatient stay.
• To maintain own records as an autonomous practitioner, If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.
• To effectively communicate verbally and non-verbally with patients and carers in a range of situations. This will include overcoming frequent barriers to communication experienced by patients with complex emotional, physical and psychological barriers, e.g. confusional states, expressive and receptive dysphasia, depression, hearing and visual impairment, altered state of consciousness or patients with significant perceptual and cognitive impairment
• To communicate effectively to provide advice regarding therapeutic management of patients to the MDT and work collaboratively with the MDT to deliver patient-centred services. This includes regular active participation in ward rounds, board rounds, multi-disciplinary meetings and discharge planning.
• To facilitate safe discharge at the optimum point of care, including assessing risk, ordering equipment and providing appropriate advice for patients/ carers.
• To ensure appropriate arrangements are made for the transfer of care, including transfer to inpatients or other care facilities
• To provide transfer/discharge reports on the patient's management to relevant agencies
• To support both Therapists and other members of the MDT in developing skills to deal with complex cases, by providing specialist knowledge and practical skills through supervision, provision of and in-service training program and formal appraisal
• To deputise for the Area Therapy Lead as required
• To be an active member of the band 7 inpatient leadership team.
• To work in various community locations, as agreed with the line manager, as per patient needs and service requirements
• To submit accurate and timely statistical information on patient activity as required by the service/ Trust
• To participate in the collection of data, undertake literature searches and reviews etc in support of evidence based clinical audit in the relevant field of interest
• To contribute to interprofessional working by teaching, learning & practicing interprofessional skills & techniques as defined by an agreed competency framework or training scheme. Where appropriate to take responsibility for the application of those new skills e.g. - equipment provision, cognitive assessments and environmental assessments
• To maintain excellent clinical practice through the CPD process, and maintain a Professional Portfolio. This may include seeking peer and senior support from senior colleagues working in other areas of the Trust
• To be aware of professional issues pertaining to your specific profession.
• To promote the value of AHPs and act as a resource for patients, carers and fellow health professionals.
• Act as a Professional Leader and Role Model for AHPs and other professionals within the Division and the wider Trust, developing knowledge of ideas and work practice, promoting this through appropriate attitudes and behaviour
• To manage time and stress and seek support where necessary.
• To be professionally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own and your team's work including the management of patients care. To include taking responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of patients and others, including the care and use of equipment. In some circumstances take the lead responsibility for care provision coordination
• To provide proposed models of care that seek to fully integrate therapy services with other healthcare providers and thereby maximise efficiencies within revised pathways of care
• As an effective team leader, to provide a visible, accessible and authoritative presence within your team to ensure services continue to remain efficient and effective
• To provide clinical expertise at clinical governance forums including Serious incidents and identify learning points and actions
• Using a standardised approach but with a high degree of professional autonomy and accountability, work across Inpatients, the Integrated Intermediate Care, Voluntary and other health providers and agencies, to support a defined group of patients with complex long-term needs using evidence-based practice.
• Analyse complex patient situations establishing a therapeutic relationship in which they are able to utilize communication skills to assist the individual to adjust to their illness and care.
• To work proactively alongside the Area Leads for rehabilitation and therapies , and take an active role in redesign of pathways or services where indicated
• Undertake the investigations of complaints where required, participate in the risk management process, critical incident reporting, evaluation, action planning, dissemination and change in practice
  
  EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer
The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment Join our Staff bank What is Staff Bank? Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times. All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.