Occupational Therapist - Frailty Service Band 7 10 Research & Practice Development

You will work closely with the AHP team and the wider MDT on the Frailty Unit. You will have excellent peer support from our established AHP lead workforce including OT leads within all acute specialities.
This post is suitable for a new or developing band 7 as well as those with experience looking for a change.
We are looking for an innovative and an enthusiastic team player in to maximise the potential of the service and direct the team in its ongoing development. We are keen for a leader who is passionate about service development and innovation.
7-day working for Therapies is under development within the Trust and the postholder may be required to undertake a different working pattern, including weekends., It is an exciting time to join us at University Hospital Lewisham at a time of expansion but also a point where there is lots of innovation (within therapies but also trust wide) .
Applicants should be committed to delivering a high quality service based on your knowledge of evidence based practice and clinical governance.
Staff development is actively encouraged with access to a large training fund, including for externally provided courses. Learning and personal development is encouraged and we have a well-established appraisal system and funding for relevant external and internal courses.
The successful applicant will be supervised by the Lead OT to ensure they are supported in their role and professional development. Peer support is encouraged with a trust wide band 7 support group and strong links with equivalent post at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich,
As part of the senior clinical Occupational Therapy team on the UHL site, the post holder will deputise for the Occupational Therapy Site Lead, as required. With development and insight into operational leadership encouraged for the postholder.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
INTERNAL INCLUDE: Therapy Managers and Therapy leads, own Teams, referring clinicians, MDTs, HR, Divisional and Trust Boards.
EXTERNAL INCLUDE: GPs, Community Services, LA, AHP managers and leads, Voluntary services, RCOT, HCPC DoH Networks, NHSE, HEEs, Colleges and Schools

Working for our organisation
The University Hospital Lewisham therapy team is renowned for being a supportive, friendly and inclusive team. The hospital is well connected to Central London via the overground network as well as the DLR.
We recognise that our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:
1. Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
3. Improving the experience of staff with disability
4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
5. Making equalities mainstream
Please see the videos below about what it is like to work for the trust:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owQliCbXe2w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKDaYIwUhfo, · To manage a designated case load with complex needs using evidence based/client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
· To lead and manage the O.T. team, ensuring a responsive service supporting the Trust's objectives.
· Maintain records which fulfil legal requirements.
· To regularly provide clinical and non clinical supervision to team members and the wider OT team.
· To provide leadership for junior staff, through supervision and appraisal
· To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of O.T. services within a designated clinical area.
· To lead on service development in specialist area.
· To contribute to the maintenance and development of the Trust O.T. Service
Key Result Areas & Performance:
1 Clinical
1.1 To assess and treat a specific caseload of patients with complex needs, prioritising efficiently to help prevent re-admissions.
1.2 To apply a high level of knowledge and understanding of the particular clinical area.
1.3 To undertake individual initial screens to identify patient need including areas affecting functional ability, followed by agreed assessment plans.
1.4 To design / plan individual patient programmes to implement oneself or to delegate as appropriate.
1.5 To assess and treat the patient's personal and domestic daily living functional activity level to maximise independence.
1.6 To select and conduct standardised cognitive and perceptual testing to identify areas affecting functional ability and indicate need for further assessment / treatment.
1.7 To carry out an initial risk assessment where necessary and monitor ongoing risk.
1.8 To assess need and risk factors for hoist and wheelchair provision.
1.9 To carry out home visits with or without the patient to assess environmental risks and functional ability at home.
1.10 To advise on, recommend, make provision for the installation of appropriate aids and adaptations to the patient's social and physical environment.
1.11 To monitor and evaluate treatment, including using outcome measures, in order to measure progress
and ensure effectiveness of the intervention.
1.12 To undertake discharge planning and co-ordination of complex patients.
1.13 To take a lead in the decisions regarding placement after discharge.
1.14 To refer onto appropriate agencies for :- the continuation of treatment, reassessment, monitoring and
provision of further adaptations.
1.15 To carry out joint working with others from the Trust and across other agencies.
1.16 To participate in the weekend Occupational Therapy service.

2 Communication
2.1 To communicate effectively with patients and carers, O.T colleagues, multidisciplinary team members
and other agencies.
2.2 To participate (and take a lead as needed) in the multidisciplinary team meetings and case conferences,
with regard to patient care programmes.
2.3 To advise and educate patients and carers regarding aids and equipment in the home and outside
Community.
2.4 To participate in staff meetings and other meetings (taking a lead as needed) as directed by the Lead OT.
2.5 To promote the OT role within the Trust and to other agencies.

3 Documentation
3.1 To maintain up to date activity data and activity records in accordance with Professional and
Trust standards.
3.2 To provide reports on home visits.
3.3 To provide specific reports to other agencies as appropriate.

4 Professional Ethics
4.1 To adhere to the COT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and all other relevant policies
and procedures. These include maintaining confidentiality and respecting the patient's dignity,
privacy culture and wishes
4.2 To provide guidance to junior / support staff on ethical issues.

5 Leadership, Supervision and Appraisal
5.1 To lead and manage the OT team within a specialist area if required by the service.
5.2 To undertake the supervision and appraisal (IPR / KSF) of junior / support staff as delegated by the
Lead OT.
5.3 To provide specialist training on an individual basis.
5.4 To provide advice to junior/support staff and students on a day to day basis as required.
5.5 To deputise for the Lead OT in an absence.

6 Training Staff and Students
6.1 To participate in the planning and implementing (taking a lead as needed) of the induction, training
and education of students and other staff in this setting.
6.2 To be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of OT students on practice placement
on a regular basis.
6.3 To give presentations / training on specialist topics.
6.4 To organise and implement training programmes in specialist area.
6.5 To participate in the organisation and implementation of the basic grade development programme.

7 Service Development and Delivery
7.1 To work with other staff within the department to ensure that equipment is maintained and stock
monitored.
7.2 To manage own caseload efficiently, including methods of prioritisation in order to achieve timely
and safe discharges of patients from hospital and to help prevent admissions / readmissions.
7.3 To facilitate, co-ordinate and monitor the workloads of the OT team members.
7.4 To participate in the operational planning and implementation of policies within the department
7.5 To participate in the delivery of the OT strategy.
7.6 Assist with the recruitment and appointment of O.T. staff.
7.7 To represent OT on Trust wide (and linked agencies) working parties and groups as delegated by the
Lead OT.
7.8 To take a lead on specific projects as delegated by the Lead OT.

8 Personal / Professional Development
8.1 To participate in internal and external training opportunities including mandatory and statutory training
to meet identified objectives and demonstrate ongoing development.
8.2 To apply specialist skills and knowledge in order to maintain professional competence and fitness to
practise as a senior OT.
8.3 To maintain a professional portfolio for CPD.

9 Clinical Governance
9.1 To comply with all Trust Policies and Procedures, (including Infection Control), the Health & Safety at Work Act and the Data Protection Act.
9.2 To report on complaints, accidents and any deficits in equipment to the Lead OT as soon as possible.
9.3 To be familiar with and comply with local fire procedures.
9.4 To be familiar with all Trust and Therapy emergency procedures, on and off site and to respond as
necessary eg. emergency resuscitation, hydrotherapy etc.
9.5 To assess for and advise on risk factors in given situations.
9.6 To contribute to the Trust and Therapies clinical governance and quality agenda including the
setting and monitoring of practice standards.
9.7 To participate in the evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within the
clinical area.
9.8 To apply national guidelines/legislation relating to health care.

10 Research & Practice Development
10.1 To undertake audit projects relevant to the OT service needs and disseminate findings at local level.
10.2 To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects.
· The postholder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the Lead OT / Inpatient Therapy Manager
· This job description will be reviewed in the light of changing service requirements. Any such changes will be discussed with the post holder.
We reserve the right to close the post before the stated closing date, please apply early. We do not contact applicants with the outcome of the shortlisting. If you have been shortlisted, you will receive an invite to an assessment day or interview.
As a local employer and anchor institution we work closely with our community to recruit locally and we welcome applications from the widest variety of people to ensure our workforce are reflective of the local communities which we serve. We encourage all suitable candidates to apply including if you are Black, Asian or other ethnic minorities, live with a disability (visible or not) or are LGBT+. We have a number of active staff networks including Disability, LGBT+, Multicultural Inclusion and Women's staff networks to bring staff together and celebrate diversity across our whole workforce.
Please note, not all roles will meet the criteria for a skilled worker visa.

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, (LGT), is a community-focused provider of local and acute care, delivering high-quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich, and Bexley. We provide whole-life care and are here to support our communities to live healthier lives as well as taking care of them when they need us the most.
Employing almost 7,500 colleagues, affectionately known as Team LGT, we provide services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, University Hospital Lewisham, and at over a dozen community settings in Lewisham. We also provide some services at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup.
We have recently launched our new vision and values to mark the LGT10 - the tenth anniversary of our Trust forming in 2013. Our trust vision is to be exceptional. In the quality of our patient care; our support for colleagues; and in the difference we make through our partnerships and in our communities.
To achieve this we value Respect, Compassion, and Inclusion; Being accountable over staying comfortable; Listening over always knowing best; and Succeeding together over achieving alone. You can read more about our visions and values here
Our hospitals and community sites provide a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, as well as emergency and planned care. The Trust is rated as "good" or "outstanding" in over three-quarters of the services inspected by the Care Quality Commission.
Every year our work includes performing 10,000 procedures in our theatres; bringing seven and a half thousand new lives into the world; carrying out 570,000 visits to patients in their homes or communities and providing emergency care for more than 300,000 patients arriving in our busy Urgent and Emergency Departments.
LGT is a centre for the education and training of medical students enrolled with King's College London's GKT School of Medical Education. We are a training centre for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. We are pioneering new roles that will support the changing needs of our patients and are one of the largest employers of physician associates in the country.
We are committed to working with our partners to deliver the best outcomes for our local communities. This means playing an active role in the South East London Integrated Care System (ICS), and in formal partnerships including the South East London Acute Provider Collaborative, provider partnerships with our local mental health trusts and borough-based boards of the ICS in Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham.