Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

1.    To carry and prioritise own patient caseload and other ongoing tasks, allocating appropriate work to technical instructors and students.

2.    To carry out assessments and treatment in the most appropriate setting for the patient’s needs, whether this in the patients home, Residential/Nursing Home, Surrey Downs area, appropriate community setting, or tertiary unit.

3.    To perform specialist occupational therapy assessment of patients with diverse and complex presentations, using advanced clinical reasoning skills to analyse, interpret and make judgements on complex facts or situations.

4.    To develop specialised programmes of care, treatment and advice to patients and their care givers, based on sound knowledge of evidence based practice and the range of treatment options and/or adaptive techniques and/or equipment provision, and/or care services. 

5.    To incorporate the appropriate standard assessment tools and outcome measures with patients, and apply additional relevant skills such as therapeutic handling, moving and handling risk assessment and hand related treatment strategies / equipment for housebound patients.

6.    To communicate sensitively and reassuringly on complex conditions and functional risk/limitation. To gain consent to and co-operation in assessment and treatment, and in giving specialist advice to patients/carers regarding their options for ongoing care needs. 

7.    Being aware at all times of the sensitive nature of some recommendations, and the potential for patients/carers to have special communication needs resulting in barriers to understanding. 

8.    Attend multi-disciplinary meetings as the occupational therapist representative for individual patients, to inform complex discussions, gain a full range of information prior to planning person centred goals, analyse options for meeting goals and participate in the clinical decision making process and development of comprehensive MDT plans for discharge.

9.    To evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required.

10. Work closely with the PCN MDT, patients/carers and wider service providers to ensure effective communication of information and co-ordination to achieve all agreed goals and safe appropriate discharge.  Act as discharge key worker for individual patients.

11. To undertake pre-discharge home risk assessments where appropriate to inform discharge planning.  Make arrangements to reduce risks and maximise potentials at home, including making referrals to statutory and non-statutory agencies for specialist support and services, as appropriate.  Having gained patient consent to sharing information.

12. Liaison with the local Equipment provider for provision of daily living equipment and adaptations for patients homes where appropriate.  To be aware of resource implications when considering options for prescription to meet patient’s needs.

13. To manage clinical risk in relation to your own caseload, seeking guidance and help from senior therapist, as appropriate.

14. To maintain accurate, legible and complete clinical records of all patient related interventions, in line with the Information Governance Policy and Guidelines.  To include the use of EMIS and Systm1 patient record systems.

15. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own professional and clinical work.  Ensuring that assessments and interventions are carried out in accordance with the ESTH/ Surrey Downs policies, College of Occupational Therapy standards and code of conduct, and have a good working knowledge of national and local standards to guide your practice.  Monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate.  Seek guidance as necessary.

16. To deliver competency training for new members of staff, the wider team and support with the ongoing review of competencies within the wider team.

Organisational

1. To undertake delegated responsibility for the triaging, prioritisation and allocation of cases within the clinical area along with the clinical lead.
2. To provide formal monthly supervision of nominated staff, ensuring their practice meets the required professional standards.
3. To provide regular teaching sessions and contribute to the performance assessment of new graduate/rotational therapy staff and rehabilitation assistants.
4. To provide training sessions to staff from other teams and agencies, either on request or on a regular basis.
5. To keep accurate statistical information to assist in the monitoring and management of the service.
6. To participate in ongoing data collection for clinical audit and departmental research, and occasionally lead clinical audit within the occupational therapy department or as part of the MDT. 
7. Undertake literature searches and other research activities to support the development of evidence based services.  Undertake clinical projects/pilots under guidance.
8. Attend relevant team, departmental or other appropriate meetings and actively contribute to the development of policies & procedures for clinical or service provision, and implement as appropriate.
9. To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out occupational therapy duties and to adhere to departmental policies and guidelines to ensure safe use of equipment by self and others.  To report any defects or difficulties to Head Occupational Therapist.
10. To advise the senior therapist of any therapeutic equipment/materials needed for the service.
11. To utilise information management and technology (IM&T) systems to improve the efficiency of the service.
12. To share responsibility for departmental tidiness, maintenance and administration.

Professional

1. To be responsible for teaching student Occupational Therapists to graduate level on therapeutic skills and knowledge within core clinical areas.
2. To promote a culture of providing Occupational Therapy clinical placements, assisting fieldwork educators and NVQ assessors by supervising students/Technical Instructors clinical work and providing training sessions.
3. To actively participate in the in-service training programme by attending and contributing to discussions, and in providing sessions.
4. To maintain and further develop current specialist knowledge, skills and evidenced based practice, incorporating them as appropriate into clinical work.
5. To participate in formal supervision process as a supervisee and supervisor. 
6. To participate in the SDHC appraisal scheme and formulate a personal development plan in line with the knowledge and skills framework.