Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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Key Result Areas & Performance:

To be the Lead Occupational Therapist within UHL, advising on OT issues, working closely with the Head of Therapy and representing Occupational Therapy within the Trust and to outside agencies, as required.

To be responsible for maintaining up-to-date knowledge and skills at an advanced level in the practice of Occupational Therapy.

To initiate, develop and implement innovative models of service delivery in collaboration with the Therapy Manager and in partnership with AHP and service managers within the LGT and Social Services.

To be responsible for maintaining  advanced knowledge of relevant  health and social care initiatives and legislation, and to implement improvements in practice to meet these.         .     

To actively participate in meetings with the Head of Therapy and operational meetings with the senior OT staff, in order to advise on all aspects of the UHL OT service.

To deputise for the Head of Therapy in her absence for relevant matters.

To ensure that own practice and service meets agreed local and national standards and clinical governance requirements, including COT Standards for Practice, Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

To undertake regular review of and evaluation of own work through the use and

application of evidence-based practice, audits, research and effective outcome

measures

To lead and participate in clinical work and to promote a high standard of expertise

within the OT department, and to ensure these standards are maintained by all staff.

To be professionally and legally accountable for aspects of Occupational Therapy treatment and care delivered to patients to ensure a high standard of clinical care.

To be responsible for allocating and managing own clinical caseload of clients with highly complex needs.

To act as an expert resource on Occupational Therapy, providing specialist support and advice to the Occupational Therapy team, students, members of the multi-disciplinary team and professionals working in Social Services and voluntary sectors.

To develop, promote and deliver OT services that meet the needs of the local population, ensuring the service is effective, equitable and patient focused.

To identify professional and operational issues that need to be addressed at strategic level, and to alert the Therapy Manager so as to reach appropriate agreed actions.  This may include developing proposals / bids in an attempt to gain additional funding for areas of service development.

To lead on the implementation of multidisciplinary initiatives within the OT team.

To initiate, develop and implement OT guidelines and protocols in collaboration with the Therapy Manager.

To work with the Therapy Manager to ensure that the OT service responds locally to relevant national initiatives and guidelines.

To initiate and lead the departmental audit / research cycle

Work force

To successfully implement changes in work structure and/or work patterns within the OT team, using advanced communication and change management skills.

To lead on the ongoing review and evaluation of the skill mix of the team in order to ensure the department can best respond to the changing needs of clients referred to the service.

To lead the Occupational Therapy Team, ensuring that all team members are practising effectively within agreed local and national standards and competency frameworks.

To be responsible for the allocation and prioritisation of workload for all Occupational Therapy staff in the team, to ensure that resources are matched efficiently and effectively to client needs.  To delegate responsibilities to the staff in keeping with their grade and competency

To ensure that all team members are participating effectively in professional and operational supervision

To lead the appraisal process across the whole team.  In doing so, ensure that all team members are provided with, and are participating effectively in, regular appraisal sessions in line with LGT procedures. 

To be responsible for recruiting to OT staff vacancies up to and including Band 7 level.  This will include creating advertisements, writing job descriptions and person specifications, organising and participating in short-listing, interviewing (including chairing) and selection of applicants.  To act as an assessor for the recruitment of staff in other teams when appropriate.

To lead on the provision of learning and development opportunities for individual therapy staff and the OT team, to ensure that they achieve their work competencies, personal development plans, and meet local and national standards. 

To lead the provision of learning and development opportunities to allied professional and support staff within UHL, where this relates to specialist OT skills and knowledge, in order to support the delivery of effective and cohesive multi-disciplinary services.