JOB DESCRIPTION
POSITION:
Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist
REPORTS TO:
Responsible to the Service Manager and clinically
to the Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist.
Receives clinical supervision from a very senior
Occupational Therapist who may be external to the
organisation.
LOCATION:
Chalkdown House, Swindon
MAIN PURPOSE:
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To provide a highly specialised Occupational Therapy service managing
and prioritising a caseload of service users with highly complex mental
health, physical and behavioral needs, using evidence based service
user centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate
intervention, aimed at promoting and maintaining health and
independence of adults following a brain injury within a residential and
community setting.
MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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To professionally lead, clinically supervise and support junior colleagues
e.g. basic and/or senior grade OT, rehabilitation coordinator, vocational
rehabilitation worker and programme planner.
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To perform a specialist occupational therapy role within an
interdisciplinary team for brain injured service users who have complex
cognitive, functional, social, behavioral and health care needs.
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To receive and process complex and sensitive information about the
brain injured person from clinicians and managers that will enable the
formulation of highly specialised OT intervention and treatment planning
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To holistically assess the needs of service users and to identify the
impact of neurological, cognitive and behavioural effects of brain injury
on the functioning of service users in a range of environments, identifying
social; emotional vocational leisure and environmental barriers or
influences on functioning and rehabilitation
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To provide a specialist response in highly complex cases and in
conjunction with the service user, formulate and implement intervention
plans, identifying meaningful and realistic goals aimed at reducing the
impact of cognitive impairment on their self-care, social, vocational and
functional ability
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To manage a defined caseload of complex and highly complex cases as
an autonomous practitioner, demonstrating high level problem solving
and reasoning skills and independence of judgement
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To assess for and monitor the provision of adaptations and equipment
when appropriate
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To be committed to continuous professional development
To accept and provide practice placements for Occupational Therapy
students and those completing NVQ training, ensuring appropriate
supervision of learning and clinical needs, liaising with the issuing
university or educational facility as required and monitor general
provision of service.
To initiate, plan, develop and evaluate projects for the Occupational
Therapy Service within the designated clinical speciality, holding
responsibility for defined projects
To provide carers, relatives, assistants, junior staff, students and other
health professionals with education, training, monitoring and emotional
support as required to promote optimal rehabilitation outcomes for
service users.
Clinical
To work as an independent clinician taking responsibility and a lead role
for the delivery of an Occupational Therapy service to service users with
traumatic / acquired brain injury and resulting challenging behaviours
To work with individuals, groups, parents/carers and families providing
highly specialist assessment, treatment, support and advice in the most
appropriate environment, a hospital, community unit, service user’s
home and local community promoting a consistent approach to care.
To work as a member of a highly specialised, interdisciplinary team,
contributing to the overall treatment objectives agreed in the
rehabilitation plan
To manage a caseload of service users with complex needs, which may
include physical, mental health, emotional, developmental, relationship,
behavioural and social care needs
To work with service users who present with challenging behaviours, i.e.
verbal and or physical aggression, suicidal ideation, social and sexual
disinhibition
To have an in depth understanding of the neurobehavioural approach to
brain injury, demonstrating knowledge of current research findings, and
best practice in the field
To have knowledge of potential secondary effects of acquired brain injury
and their impact and the knowledge and skills to implement appropriate
interventions
To promote specialist cognitive and behavioural rehabilitation with
groups and individuals in a variety of settings.
Demonstrate an extensive knowledge and understanding of a range of
specialist equipment, along with the assessment of moving and handling,
fitting and reviewing of equipment, acting as a resource and signpost for
the provision of such equipment
To demonstrate knowledge and appropriate use of standardised
assessment tools as required, to diagnose level of functional and
cognitive performance
Knowledge of housing and environmental adaptations to promote access
and independence
To carry out and actively engage the service user in complex risk
assessments relating to the service user treatment, the environment, and
any possible risk to others, formulating an agreed plan of action prior to
and at the point of discharge
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To act as key worker and/or lead clinician where appropriate
To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress
and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
To provide training and advice on changes and adaptations to the
service user/carers life style considering the environmental, emotional,
physical, spiritual and social needs
To assess occupational performance and skill deficits enabling the
patient/service user in areas of self-maintenance, productivity, education
and leisure
To work collaboratively with the service user and relevant others to
establish agreed therapeutic goals for intervention
To act as a resource for the team/and service users in providing
information on local statutory and non statutory services in the
community, signposting staff/service users to other resources
To produce and verbally present reports, which reflect specialist
knowledge, regarding service user’s needs, and summarising findings,
providing recommendations and referral when appropriate
To maintain and produce accurate, professional up-to-date
interdisciplinary documentation, records of assessment and treatment
ensuring effective reporting is complete and consistent with legal and
organisational standards
To adapt practice to meet individual service users’ circumstances,
including due regard for cultural differences
To ensure that service users provide written or verbal consent to all
interventions
To develop negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a
range of situations
To act in ways which acknowledge people’s rights and choices to make
their own decisions and recognise their responsibilities in intervention
plans
To refer on to other professionals or direct towards other agencies as
appropriate
To respect service user confidentiality at all times and not divulge service
user information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role
To have due regard for you own personal safety and that of service
user/carers, in particular to have regard to moving and handling
regulations, breakaway, non-violent crisis interventions or restraining
policies and ensure the safe positioning of self and others
To be responsible for ensuring the effective and safe selection and use
of all Occupational Therapy treatment resources and equipment
To be responsible for equipment used in the carrying out of Occupational
duties and to write and adhere to departmental policies including
competence to use the equipment and to ensure the safe use of
equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of
practices e.g. wheelchairs, walking aids, bath lifts, hoists etc
To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines in order
to deal appropriately with conditions related to service user contact as
they arise: for example exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions,
encountered on a regular basis
To contribute to clinical teams, interdisciplinary and interagency by
discussing own and others input around service users needs, ensuring a
well coordinated rehabilitation plan
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To communicate in a sensitive manner, complex condition related
information from assessment to service users, carers, families and
members of the multidisciplinary and interagency teams/other
professions
To demonstrate empathy with service users, carers, families and
colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved,
particularly where barriers to understanding exist
To provide emotional support to distressed service users and their
families
To safely deal with verbal/physical aggression as required within
guidelines and with support as needed.
To motivate service users and/or carers to engage in the therapeutic
process
To represent the Trust externally (locally and regionally) regarding
occupational therapy services provided to service users in the
community, at meetings and training events
To work as a lone practitioner with a high degree of autonomy and
effective time management, without the support of occupational therapy
colleagues. Supervision is largely self-driven through seeking the advice
of peers and through annual appraisal process
To effectively manage time and caseload, prioritizing workload within a
potentially pressurised and restrictive environment
To identify unmet needs and gaps in interdisciplinary service provision
and highlight these at organisational meetings
To overcome barriers to communication using a range of verbal, nonverbal and listening skills. This will include service users with dysphasia,
hearing difficulties, partially sighted memory loss and confusion,
behavioural problems, limited/English and those unable to accept
diagnosis
To act as a resource for occupational therapists and other colleagues
across BIRT/DT on the basis of highly developed clinical skills,
experience and knowledge.
Policy of Service
To be aware of and adhere to the policies and procedures of the Brain
Injury Rehabilitation Trust, the Disabilities Trust and local policies and
procedures
To be aware of and adhere to the Health and Safety Policies, current
legislation and to ensure local implementation in order to maintain safe
environments and working practices
To attend mandatory training and ensure self and encourage junior
members of staff remain updated
To contribute to the Occupational Therapy and clinical specialities
governance arrangements and quality agenda, including the setting and
monitoring of standards
To apply guidelines/legislation relating to clinical practice
To undertake research and/or audit projects relevant to Occupational
Therapy disseminating findings at local land regional level
To contribute to the evaluation of the service through the use of audit,
outcome measure and in-service research projects and where
appropriate take a lead in implement these
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To adhere to the BAOT/College of Occupational Therapist Code of
Ethics and Professional Conduct and national and local policy and
procedures
To be committed to a non-discriminatory approach to service delivery.
Co-workers, service users, relatives, carers and visitors must be treated
equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual
orientation, religion etc
To implement College of Occupational Therapy Clinical Guidelines and
practice and any other evidence based research i.e. National Service
Frameworks, SSNP standards
To be aware of current critically appraised research for the promotion
and maintenance of good practice
To take on other tasks/projects appropriate to the grade, as requested by
your manager/team lead and reviewed through the supervision/PDR
process
To design, develop and update information leaflets giving information to
relevant professionals, carers and others
To ensure that clinical work meets the organisational standards and
requirements as directed by the Clinical Executive of the Brain Injury
Rehabilitation Trust
Identify and implement local policies and guidelines i.e. risk assessment
and therapeutic handling protocols
Service Development and Organisation
To participate in the operational planning and implementation of policy
and service development within clinical speciality, leading on delegated
projects
To participate in the delivery of the Occupational Therapy development
plan
To be responsible for the implementation of clinical recommendations
based on government polices and guidelines
Financial and Physical Resource
To keep records of requisitions and transactions in order to monitor
resources
To take responsibility for the monitoring and maintenance of stock levels
in relation to therapeutic activities and the prescribing of equipment
To identify and prioritise future resource requirements for the service and
advise the Service Manager and the Consultant Clinical
Neuropsychologist
Leadership, Supervision and Appraisal
To maintain own clinical professional development. Be aware of the
latest evidence based practice and new developments. Maintain your
registration with the Health Professional Council and comply with their
requirements in complying your portfolio
To clinically manage the provision of the OT Service into designated
specialist clinical area
To represent the Occupational Therapy Service and clinical speciality at
management meetings where clinical decisions are required which may
affect service delivery
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To actively participate in supervision and personal development plans
using reflection and analysis to inform practice, identifying training needs
within Personal Development Review and maintaining Continuous
Professional Development
To provide leadership and effective guidance, supervision and appraisal
to junior members of staff e.g. Basic and Senior OTs, Rehabilitation
Support Workers and Programme Planner, including the completion of
personal development plans
Through an understanding of the core philosophy and principles of a
range of professional groups in brain injury, provide clarity of role,
responsibilities and the purpose of patient care
To be aware of and supportive of multi professional programmes of
training in line with the National institute for Mental Health in England
(NIMHE) recommendations where appropriate
To oversee those supervising and be responsible for the supervision and
written assessment of Occupational Therapy students on placement
To apply specialist skills and knowledge in order to establish professional
competence and fitness to practice as a clinical specialist Occupational
Therapist
To provide training and education in the clinical area to junior members
of staff and staff of other disciplines
To demonstrate on going personal and professional development
through participation in internal and external development opportunities,
demonstrating an understanding of Clinical Governance and risk
management
To lead in the design and implementation of core OT training to other
professionals, service users and carers, raising awareness of the
importance of occupational balance and the potential for occupational
deprivation
To participate in the recruitment, induction, training and clinical
supervisions of junior members of staff within the interdisciplinary team.
Providing first line management including delegation of tasks,
management of clinical workload, maintenance of clinical systems and
procedures and providing appropriate support to facilitate the personal
and professional development of the post holder
Participate and contribute to OT service development via attendance of
OT meetings, smaller working party groups involving presenting
information as necessary to other OT staff
To develop and maintain a high national profile in the field of
Occupational Therapy through presentations at conferences,
involvement in research and involvement with groups such as NANOT.
Information Resources
To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data
are maintained in accordance with professional and BIRT standards
To provide specialist Occupational Therapy reports within the local
Service as well as to other BIRT units as requested, detailing
assessments and intervention relevant to practice settings
To ensure statistical information is provided on request
Communications and Working Relationships
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To establish robust communication networks with colleagues, health and
social workers and other agencies
To ensure the service users views are central to the planning of
Occupational Therapy interventions within the overall care plan
To communicate difficult and complex information to the service user in
easily understood terms.
To engage with service users whose behaviour may be challenging due
their emotional, physical or mental health problems
To contact and liaise with families and carers in order to involve, inform
and support the process of rehabilitation
To promote awareness of the role of Occupational Therapy within the
clinical speciality, negotiating priorities where appropriate
To liaise closely with the clinical lead/manager for clinical speciality and
other clinical teams with regard to service user needs
To record and report unmet needs within the service delivery
To undertake, any reasonable travelling requirements, in order to fulfil the
tasks and responsibilities of the role.
To include driving The Disabilities Trust’s and service user vehicles, ensuring
service user activities/appointments are fulfilled.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, SUPERVISION AND TRAINING
 Participate in regular support and supervision from line management
 Continuously develop professional knowledge and expertise, attending
and participating in learning and development events, meetings,
conferences, and events (as requested/approved by line management)
to ensure up to date knowledge relevant to the role
 Attend and participate in regular team and other meetings, both internal
and external
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
 The post holder will be expected, at all times, to be familiar and comply
with the written policies, procedures and guidelines for good practice,
issued by The Disabilities Trust
 Ensure the Health & Safety policy and procedures are adhered to at all
times
 Take personal responsibility for own health and safety and report
incidents and potential hazards as necessary.
The Disabilities Trust operates in a constantly changing environment and as
such work priorities and objectives may change. The Trust reserves the right
to make reasonable changes to the job purpose and accountabilities.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
All staff are required to respect the confidentiality of all matters they may learn
relating to their employment, other members of staff and the general public.
This job description is intended to be a dynamic document, subject to agreed
alteration and development in line with the evolution of the role.