Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

• To interpret referrals, and assess the capacities and limitations of the patients/clients, being responsible for the efficient organisation of own caseload, under supervision.
•  To plan and implement appropriate treatment plans, involving patients/clients whenever possible.  Treatment should be delivered in the most appropriate location for the client, e.g. hospital, community location or patient’s own home.
•  To ensure methods of treatment, its frequency and review are appropriate to the diagnosis/problem of the patient and within the priorities of the Service.
•  Carry out assessments and treatments of patients with varying degrees of disability on a daily basis, using moderate physical effort. This may involve moving and handling patients and equipment, as well as administering physiotherapy manual techniques
•  Frequent concentration is required to analyse patient documentation and carry out patient assessments and treatments
•  Frequent exposure to highly unpleasant working conditions on a regular/daily basis (bodily fluids, particularly sputum when taking samples and encouraging expectoration; urine, faeces, blood and vomit) and maybe exposed to verbal and physical aggression
• On occasions working alone in environment (on-call/evening late shifts

Professional

• To ensure that all client intervention is documented in a timely, objective and confidential manner via Multi-disciplinary Care Plan, Medical Notes and specific Therapy reports, according to departmental and Trust Policy.
• To ensure all necessary Therapy intervention is undertaken in accordance with departmental policy, and advises the Team Leader or Senior Therapist of an inability to do so.
• To participate within peer review and Individual Performance Review being responsible for the production of a development action plan, ensuring standards are realistic and achievable.
• To be responsible for keeping knowledge updated and to be prepared to undertake further professional/training/research projects for self-development, related to specific areas of expertise.
• To assist in the organisation and supervision of the work of Therapy Assistants/Technical Instructors.
• To participate in the clinical education and supervision of student Occupational Therapists, having undertaken a Practice Educators course.
• To participate within training programmes for Occupational/ Physiotherapy staff, students and other professionals, when applicable.
• To promote the status, credibility and professional image of therapy services to other disciplines, to enable them to understand the contribution and effective use of the Service
• To abide by the British Association of Occupational Therapist’s Code of Professional Conduct.
• To act in accordance with Trust and Therapy Service policies and procedures.
• To deliver an effective service within resources, whilst promoting high professional standards, ensuring service users receive a positive image of Therapy services.  The post holder must inform the Therapy Services Manager of an inability to do so.

Communication

• To ensure a beneficial and positive communication with clients, their families/carers and other professionals involved, respecting individual needs and promoting user involvement/decision making.
• To deal sensitively with patients who have high levels of anxiety and occasional aggression caused by frustration, trauma, disability, pain or impaired ability to understand or communicate and to enable patients to come to terms with chronic disability, on a frequent basis.
• To deal with frequent exposure to distressing circumstances e.g (patient death and stress of ITU) and seek out support to help deal with distressing situation

Organisational

• To comply with the Health & Safety at Work Act and Safety Executive guidance regulations, bringing any defects in equipment/hazards to the attention of the responsible person.
• All employees are subject to the Access to Records & Data Protection Act, and must maintain strict confidentiality in respect of client records.
• To undertake, as directed, the collection of activity data to enable the Trust to monitor its performance
• To undertake any other duties delegated by the Therapy Services Manager/Professional Team lead commensurate with the grade and experience of the post holder.
• The above duties and responsibilities are intended to represent the current priorities and not meant to be a conclusive list, as the role will inevitably vary and develop over time. The post-holder may, from time to time, be asked to undertake other reasonable duties. Any changes will be made in discussion with the post holder in the light of service need

Relationships

Internal:  Medical staff, Rehabilitation staff, Nursing staff, Administrative staff, Estates, Domestic Services

External: GP’s, community nurses and AHP’s, nursing homes and Social Services

Special Requirements

The post holder will be expected to participate in the departmental 24 hour on call rota, as well as weekend working

For a full comprehensive list of main responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to job description and personal specification attached.