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NHS GRAMPIAN
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB REFERENCE DK7616
Job Title:
Band 6 Occupational Therapist
Department:
Specialisms Directorate, Occupational Therapy
Name:
ORGANISATIONAL CHART
Specialisms
Directorate
Service
Manager
Head
Occupational
Therapist
Senior
OT
Band 7
Senior
OT
Band 6
Senior
OT
Band 6
JOB PURPOSE
The postholder will:
Provide a specialist Occupational Therapy service to a delegated caseload, within the mental
health Specialist Rehabilitation Services addressing occupational performance components
(motor, sensory, cognition, psychological and social) and its impact on self-care, domestic,
work and leisure activities.
Autonomously assess patients, plan and implement interventions, maintain associated
records and work in co-operation with the multi-disciplinary team/external agencies, with
appropriate supervision.
Assist senior staff in the development of the Occupational Therapy service within the
Rehabilitation Services NHS Grampian.
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SCOPE AND RANGE
The post covers the Specialist Rehabilitation Service – Dunnottar Ward, a ward for patients
with acquired brain injury, and Fraser Ward continuing care ward. Support to the multidisciplinary team for severe and enduring clients in the community may be required once a
model The provision of Occupational Therapy will be carried out using both individual and
small group models.
Participate in training and student education across disciplines and the multi disciplinary
team.
Provide assessment and treatment for patients encompassing the full range of mental health
diagnosis’ including those with suicidal tendencies and challenging behaviour.
Provide preventative intervention to avoid patient admission to acute mental health wards,
RCH.
Provide treatments to facilitate early patient discharge from acute mental health wards, RCH.
Provide specific assessments and treatments for patients’ mental state and functioning.
Provide therapeutic group work e.g. anxiety management, assertiveness, confidence
building, creative therapies, healthy living and community living skills.
Assess need for individual patient medication to be reviewed.
Maintain up to date knowledge of mental health community resources for potential
appropriate patient referral.
Carry out home visits and community based sessions as required.
Develop close team working with nursing and medical staff, with regular 2 way
communication between other disciplines, services and agencies.
Provide staff training and student education across disciplines and within the multidisciplinary team, including formal assessment of student performance.
Contribute to the professional training and development of new and junior staff.
Participate in the supervision and support of junior staff as required.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
With appropriate supervision the post holder will be expected to:
 Undertake specialist Occupational Therapy assessments for a
Clinical role
delegated caseload to service standards addressing and including
occupational performance and skill deficits, enabling the patient in
areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.
 Work with patients, carers and relatives and any others to identify
goals as part of the overall care plan.
 Plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in
collaboration with the patient, using activity analysis and graded
activity to achieve therapeutic goals.
 Monitor and evaluate treatment in order to measure progress and
ensure effectiveness of the intervention.
 Demonstrate an ability to encourage and motivate patients to
maximise clinical outcome.
 Educate clients in new techniques to compensate for functional and
or emotional problems
 Effectively plan discharge from the OT service.
 Make referrals onto appropriate agencies.
 Liase with other disciplines and other agencies regarding clinical care
using multi-disciplinary team care plan.
 Participate in on going clinical development of junior staff.
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Communication
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Documentation
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Professional
Ethics
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Leadership,
supervision and
appraisal
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Demonstrate and apply a broad level of understanding of the effect of
disability.
Communicate effectively with: patients, carers and relatives,
multi-disciplinary team members,
other Occupational Therapy
colleagues, and
internal/external agencies.
Represent occupational therapy as a member of the multi-disciplinary
team in discussions and decisions with regard to patient care.
Represent occupational therapy as a member of the multi-disciplinary
team in discussions and decisions with regard to discharge planning.
This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and
involvement in discharge planning, and on occasions with those who
may have differing opinions and agendas.
Identify and modify most appropriate communication method
dependent on the requirements of the person(s) being communicated
with e.g. Sensory impairment, those experiencing psychotic
symptoms, barriers to engagement eg lack of motivation, learning
difficulties, language barriers etc.
Take responsibility for dealing with distressed, upset, angry, or
anxious patients/carers and relatives.
Use a range of verbal, non-verbal, written and presentation skills as
required.
Reassure, support, and encourage patients and carers as part of the
rehabilitation/ recuperation process.
Explain the role of occupational therapy to a range of people and
clarify appropriateness or not of intervention and
continuation/discontinuation of treatment.
Convey information in a particularly sensitive manner when it is
contrary to patient, carer and family expectations and desires.
Actively listen to the personal and at times emotionally distressing
and distressed communications of service users/carers during
disclosure.
Communicate using IT resources for effective use of time.
Document accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in
line with professional body standards of practice.
Provide supervision and guidance to junior staff in formal written
communication.
Practice and promote confidentiality at all times.
Adhere to the College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and
Professional conduct and all national and NHS Grampian procedures
regarding patient care.
Respect the individuality, values, and cultural and religious diversity of
patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these
needs.
Review and reflect on own practice and performance through
effective use of professional and operational supervision and
appraisal in line with local guidelines.
Provide guidance and supervision to junior staff as required.
Delegate appropriate workload to junior staff and support staff with
appropriate supervision and provide assistance with complex cases.
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 Provide support and guidance for junior staff in developing clinical
reasoning skills
 Carry out appraisal through effective communication with senior staff.
 Make appropriate use of clinical supervision from Senior staff as well
as peer support from OT and other disciplines as well as line
management from the Head OT.
 Participate in the induction, training and education of students and
Training staff and
other staff in own clinical setting.
students
 Regularly supervise and provide written assessment of the work of
occupational therapy students on practice placements.
 Participate in the learning and development of junior staff
 Contribute to in-service education programmes including delivery of
presentations to internal and external agencies to small/medium sized
groups.
 Participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical
Service
pathways and protocols.
development and  Participate in the delivery of the Occupational Therapy Service
delivery
development plan.
 Take delegated responsibility for developing specific service
components.
 Apply acquired skills and knowledge of professional practice in order
Professional
to develop and maintain competence to practise as an Occupational
development
Therapist.
 Maintain a professional portfolio for Continued Professional
Development recording learning outcomes through participation in
internal and external development opportunities and self-reflection of
professional practice.
 Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research and
apply to practice.
 Participate in research and audit.
 Contribute to NHS Grampian’s clinical governance arrangements and
Clinical
quality agenda.
governance,
 Demonstrate understanding of national guidelines and legislation
quality standards
relating to health and social care and their impact on service
provision.
Resource
 Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent
management
reliable attendance.
 Demonstrate an understanding of the financial implications of running
on an occupational therapy service within finite resources.
 Demonstrate an awareness of available resources, how they should
be most effectively used and economy in the use of supplies and
awareness of stock control systems.
 Maintain up to date knowledge of suitable community resources
during planning and treatment.
 Demonstrate a creative approach to service delivery in the face of
minimal or non-existent community and other resources eg no bus
service.
 Actively participate in the care and maintenance of stock and
equipment.
 Be personally responsible for the maintenance of safe working
Health and
Safety
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practices and compliance with Health and Safety legislation.
Attend training and maintain skills with regard to mandatory Health
and Safety, eg, Fire, manual handling and food hygiene. Prevention
and Management of Violence and Aggression.
Systems and Equipment
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IT Systems:eg, word-processing, internet, e-mail, PowerPoint, digital photography
programmes and any other systems.
Fax, photocopier and telephone systems
Equipment for presentations, eg, overhead projector and screen, PowerPoint etc.
Patient statistics – monthly collation of individual patient statistics – manual recording.
Use of kitchen equipment – cooker, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine, and
waste disposal.
Standardised assessments, eg, memory and cognitive assessments, perceptual
assessments, driving assessments.
Manual/computer patient records
Adherence to the security system for equipment/ notes within the department.
Driving skills
Awareness of stock levels and when re-ordering of equipment is required.
Administrative systems eg mileage, WTD, departmental admin
Small aids- dressing, feeding, personal care and kitchen equipment
Larger equipment/adaptations eg. toilet/bathing aids, kitchen equipment.
Manual handling aids, eg, hoists, turntables, transfer boards, glide sheets – assessment,
practice and monitoring of use.
Specialist seating equipment, eg, wheelchairs, pressure cushions, specialist seating –
assessing for and adjusting equipment using specialist tools and monitoring use.
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Decisions and Judgements
All decisions and judgements are made with regard to patients safety and well being with
regard to national legislation e.g. Mental Health Act, Incapacity Act, Data Protection Act
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Professional clinical judgements regarding assessment, treatment, management of
patients using clinical knowledge, evidence based practice, departmental guidelines and
standards as a basis with supervision, support and guidance from Senior staff.
Decision-making regarding the assessments for, prescription and provision of appropriate
occupational therapy equipment.
Supporting and guiding junior staff in developing clinical reasoning
Clinical judgements regarding the necessity for Occupational therapy intervention and
type of intervention required.
Facilitation of decisions regarding the patient’s future needs, which may include
rehousing, ongoing rehabilitation, resettlement and care needs.
Key role in discharge planning and case conference decision making as part of the multidisciplinary team.
Time management and prioritisation of workload for self and junior staff as required.
Participate in planning, supervising and monitoring students placed within the department
and decision making regarding outcome of placement.
Assess junior staff clinical competencies through formal supervision process.
Has the ability to make autonomous decisions but recognises own limitations and seeks
appropriate guidance from Senior staff as required.
COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS
Clinical
Patients, relatives and carers – highly skilled verbal and non-verbal communication, eg, for
assessment and treatment, teaching of new techniques/equipment, using skills of
encouragement, negotiation, motivation and counselling. Communications with patients with
complex problems, eg, head injury, psychotic illness, communication problems, personality
disorder.
Communication of highly sensitive information with regards to patients including altered
functional status and changing life roles. Communication of highly emotive information,
dealing with episodes of violence and aggression.
Rehabilitation team members – verbal and written communication, eg, negotiation regarding
treatment plans. Dealing with conflict over patients’ care and discharge plans.
External organisations involved in patient care – eg, Social Work Occupational Therapy,
Care Managers, and Voluntary Sector to facilitate discharge and on-going treatment/care of
patients.
Education
Presentation of information to Occupational Therapy colleagues, and staff of other
disciplines, eg, student nurses, medical students for training purposes in small/medium sized
groups.
Promotion of Occupational Therapy profession, eg, schools careers, conventions, work
experience placements.
Students – provision of student training. Liaison with placement co-ordinator or relevant
person regarding student progress and evaluation.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
Therapeutic manual handling of patients to facilitate participation in selected activities carried
out on a regular basis.
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Transporting, fitting and manipulation of equipment, eg, lifting equipment into cars,
transporting equipment around hospital occasionally.
Driving skills – required for home inspection/home assessment for patients. Patients are
present in the car on home assessments.
Daily lengthy patient notes and report writing.
Keyboard skills and use of word processing equipment.
Working in confined and difficult to access spaces, eg, on home assessments, for car
transfers, in ward areas, when using hoisting equipment, adjusting specialist seating on
occasion.
Working in sustained awkward positions while carrying out patient treatments, eg, physical
assessment and treatment sessions.
Physical effort and dexterity required adjusting equipment, eg, specialist seating &
wheelchairs.
Facilitation of patient to undertake community living activities, eg accompanying patient to
use a gym.
Regular exposure to bodily fluids, environmental hazards and unhygienic conditions working
in extremes of temperature, eg, hot ward areas, cold houses on home assessments.
MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
 Managing large numbers of referrals of patients with complex and varied conditions
based on different sites with limited co-working with senior staff. Dealing with conflict
within the multi-disciplinary team with patients and carers regarding patient
care/discharge arrangements.
 Dealing with difficult situations, contentious and highly sensitive information within the
multi-disciplinary team and with patients and carers, while planning and carrying out
patient treatment and acting as the patient’s advocate.
 Dealing with clients and others who may be prone to outburst and violence and
aggression, being alert to the need to risk assess continually.
KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
Degree/Diploma of College of Occupational Therapy
Registration with Health Professions Council
Evidence of continuing professional development
Fieldwork Educator Course
Minimum of 2 years post registration experience in occupational therapy at a basic grade
level in mental health
Prior to employment the post holder will be required to demonstrate the following:
Sound knowledge base with regards to speciality eg acute illness, general and mental health
community resources, solution focused therapy, cognitive behavioural approaches.
Knowledge and understanding of mentorship within clinical practice
Ability to participate in the delivery of presentations and teaching sessions
Knowledge of NHS Grampian policies and procedures relevant to the area.
Manual handling training
Mandatory and statutory training – Food hygiene, Fire Safety, Management of Violence and
Aggression
Experience of Standardised Assessments – eg AMPS, Allan’s Cognitive Assessment desirable
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NHS GRAMPIAN
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The Person Specification should meet the demands of the job and comply with current legislation. Setting
unnecessary standards may, for example, unfairly discriminate against one sex, the disabled or minority racial
groups. Applicants should be assessed in relation to their ability to meet the real requirements of the job as laid
down in the job description. Shortlisted candidates MUST possess all the essential components as detailed below.
POST:
Occupational Therapist
GRADE:
Band 6
LOCATION:
Mental Health Services
WARD/DEPARTMENT:
Occupational Therapy
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
FACTOR
Qualifications &
Experience:
ESSENTIAL
Graduate qualification in Occupational Practice Educator
Therapy BSc., DIPCOT
Registered with HPC.
Assessment, treatment,
communication and discharge
planning skills.
Student and staff supervision.
Circumstance &
Flexibility:
Particular Requirements
Of The Post:
DESIRABLE
Willing to work flexibly including
weekend working.
Car driver and current UK driving
Access to a car for non-community
licence. Access to a car is essential for posts.
community posts.
Training in the management of
violence and aggression
Level Of Disclosure Check Enhanced.
Required:
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KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FRAMEWORK OUTLINE
Core Dimension
Level
Level Narrative
Communication:
3
Develop and maintain
communication with people about
difficult matters and/or in difficult
situations.
Personal & People
Development:
3
Develop oneself and contribute to
the development of others.
Health, Safety & Security:
2
Monitor and maintain health,
safety and security of self and
others.
Service Improvement:
2
Full – contribute to the
improvement of services.
1
Foundation – make changes in
own practice and offer suggestions
for improving services.
Quality:
2
Maintain quality in own work and
encourage others to do so.
Equality & diversity:
2
Support equality and value
diversity.
JOB SPECIFIC DIMENSIONS
Health & Wellbeing 4:
3
Enable and empower people of
any age to address their own
health and well being needs.
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Health & Wellbeing 6:
3
Assess physiological and/or
psychological functioning and
develop, monitor and review
related treatment plans.