Specialist Occupational Therapist - Community Stroke

We are looking for an Occupational Therapist with a keen interest in stroke rehabilitation to join our Community Stroke Team in Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS.

Our service aims to provide high quality and goal-orientated specialist rehabilitation for individuals with stroke living in Lambeth and Southwark. We are a multi-disciplinary service consisting of Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Physiotherapists, Rehab Support Workers, Clinical Psychologist, Stroke Nurse, Stroke Care Advisor and Stroke Reviewer. We provide early intensive intervention and rehabilitation to adults following a stroke, who live in the community.

We have several community working bases across Brixton, Bermondsey and Oval. The position is permanent and based across Lambeth and Southwark boroughs. We support agile working and each staff member is provided with their own mobile devices.

Main duties of the job

You will be an Occupational Therapist with postgraduate experience working with adults with stroke and acquired neurological impairments (physical, sensory, cognitive, and communication). The position will suit individuals keen to enhance their specialism in stroke rehabilitation for example in cognitive rehab, pre-vocational rehab input and complex rehab needs. Ideally, you will have some community neurological rehabilitation experience. You will also be expected to contribute to multidisciplinary service improvement initiatives through audit and quality improvement projects.

About us

We have a strong team ethos of personal & professional development and we value sharing our knowledge & skills within the MDT. You will be well-supported through supervision and appraisal and will have access to a planned programme of in-service training within the wider community neuro rehabilitation team of over 15 OTs as well as the wider GSTT OT community. You will also have access to the benefits of belonging to Guys and St Thomas' NHS and Kings Health Partners, an Academic Health Science Centre.

Work-related travel:

Please note you do not need to be able to drive for the community posts. If you do drive there are pool cars available or you can use your own car. You would otherwise use public transport, own bicycle, or walk. Travel expenses are reimbursed.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will:

• Provide a comprehensive assessment, treatment and management service to a caseload of individuals who have had a stroke and potentially a wide variety of other comorbidities, following local operational policies and agreed standards and guidelines.
• Provide specialist interventions based on clinical reasoning and evidence based practice, occupational analysis and risk evaluation, using graded activities to address therapeutic goals and optimise functional independence.
• Consider and address occupational performance components and their impact on the individuals occupations. For example reviewing arm care cognitive assessment and rehabilitation fatigue management or pre-vocational rehab.
• Monitor the effectiveness of interventions through goal setting, outcome measurement and evaluation of practice.
• Be responsible for prioritising and managing own caseload.
• Work collaboratively with individuals and carers, members of the MDT and external agencies to ensure a coordinated approach to service delivery.
• Educate individuals, carers and family members of the impact of their stroke on physical, cognitive and psychological wellbeing and actively promoting healthy lifestyle.
• Empower individuals to take responsibility for self-management during the treatment period and following discharge.
• Respect the individuals dignity, privacy, culture and wishes during treatment with a commitment to equal access to occupational therapy.
• Maintain and develop close links with colleagues in the acute sector, local authority services, voluntary organisations and other members of primary health care services.
• Be responsible for delegating appropriate tasks to junior staff and OT students as well as being accountable for own professional practice and that of the support staff / students delegated to.
• Participate in the service supervision structure which includes regular supervision with a senior OT, joint sessions and supervision of junior staff and OT students where appropriate.
• Attend all appropriate team, professional and other meetings related to clinical caseload.
• Participate in the Trust staff appraisal scheme.
• Be responsible for safekeeping, cleanliness and maintenance of equipment as necessary.
• Participate in ongoing review of service delivery and any ensuing service developments.
• Deputise for Senior Specialist OT.

If you wish to discuss details of this vacancy, please contact Sinead Matthewson, Senior Specialist Occupational Therapist on 07879 698903

Georgia Riga, Senior Specialist Occupational Therapist on 07880 059214

Interviews will likely be held week commencing 10th July 2023, date to be confirmed.

Person Specification

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

• Graduate Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
• State registration with HCPC

Desirable

• Evidence of attendance of relevant post registration courses
• Member of relevant Specialist Interest Group
• Knowledge of current policies and publications relevant to neurological conditions
• Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists

Experience

Essential

• Significant broad based post registration experience at B5 level or above
• Experience of a variety of clinical specialties including neurological and stroke rehabilitation
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team (MDT)

Desirable

• Experience of working within a community setting
• Participation in service development or project work
• Experience of working within a ward based rehabilitation setting

Skills

Essential

• Knowledge, understanding and application of Occupational Therapy process relating to client-centred practice
• Demonstrable skills in assessing individuals with stroke and other complex conditions, identifying the problems and selecting and implementing the relevant treatment / management programme
• Developed skills in rehabilitation
• Excellent communication skills and ability to communicate sensitive and complex information within different settings good negotiation skills
• Good IT skills
• Knowledge and use of relevant assessment tools and outcome measures
• Ability to work with a diverse workforce to deliver a quality service to people from different backgrounds by including and embracing their varied needs
• Good organisational, delegation, time management and prioritisation skills
• Knowledge and understanding of clinical governance and evidence based practice
• Able to supervise junior staff and support workers including demonstrating skill sharing
• Able to manage own caseload and work autonomously in all therapeutic settings
• Ability to analyse and understand complex information and communicate appropriately
• Able to cope with change and work flexibly including accommodating a 7-day working pattern if the service requires

Desirable

• Able to supervise junior staff and support workers
• Good presentation and teaching skills. Good ability to devise appropriate training and information packages
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of the implications of neurological conditions on people's lives
• Ability to work innovatively in order to integrate interventions into the individual's home, work or educational environment

Physical Requirements

Essential

• Fit for active, physical workload and resilient under reasonable pressure at work
• Able to travel around Southwark and Lambeth boroughs with equipment and mobile devices

Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Pulross Centre

47a Pulross Road, Brixton

London

SW9 8AE

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

196-LIS7504-A