A post has become available within the Essex Community ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Service. This service is well-established and respected. It is a small, friendly multi-disciplinary team which provides a service to patients with CFS, fibromyalgia and other long-term conditions throughout the whole of Essex. The team is based at the Tyrells in Benfleet and the post holder will also be required to work from home on some days, as well as needing to travel to other Essex-wide clinic locations.

We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic band 7 Occupational Therapist (OT) to fill this role. It is an exciting opportunity, and you will need to have experience as a band 6 already, either working in a hospital or working in the community. This is an ideal opportunity for an OT to enhance their skills in managing patients with conditions that require time, support, and guidance as well as those patients with more complex presentations. Our patients are seen 1:1 or in groups, face to face or online.

We recognise that this is a very specialist area of OT and so we are looking for someone with 'transferable skills' and a depth of character suited to working with this patient group. Further training will be provided, as well as support, guidance, and peer supervision from an OT. You will also be able to attend our fortnightly team meeting to ensure that communication, support and discussion about patients and service developments are cascaded and discussed as a team.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will have responsibility for assessing and treating their own caseload of patients and maintaining associated records. As a small team of practitioners, there is some overlap of roles but you will also be encouraged to preserve a very clear OT role with the multi-disciplinary team. For example, you may be responsible for patients requiring fatigue management, well-being advice and lifestyle changes, as well as advice and support regarding employment/ school and college activity as part of their ongoing therapy programme.

You will work 1:1 with patients as well as providing group work to patients alongside your multi-disciplinary colleagues. Both scenarios may be in-person or online.

You will have some experience of working within a health setting as a band 6 OT. There will be a need to work with patients via video link and to be able to work from home, so the post holder will be required to demonstrate some basic computer literacy.

Support and training is also available in conjunction with our CNCC network as well as ongoing supervision and training for the role being provided within the team.

As some travelling is required, a car driver is essential for this role.

About us

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is now one of the largest in the country, with a workforce of approximately 15,000 who serve a population of 1.2 million people.

We work together, and in conjunction with MSE Health and Care Partnership, to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients in a compassionate way, and provide a respectful, but vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

From facilities through to consultant specialists we want to be the best, to achieve this we need to recruit not just those who are the finest in their field but also those who have the potential to be. Yes, experience is important but so is outlook - if you are dynamic, forward-thinking and enthusiastic we want you to join us.

We not only offer you a good working environment with flexible working opportunities, but also the opportunity to develop your career with access to appropriate training for your job and the support to succeed and progress

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description, but some of the responsibilities include

• You will perform advanced occupational therapy assessments of patients with diverse and complex presentations within the ME/CFS Clinic, develop and deliver individualised treatment plans and maintain accurate patient records. Patient contact may be 1:1 or via group work and F2F or online (via AA or MS Teams) as appropriate.
• As an autonomous practitioner you will have responsibility for your own case load and be responsible for a defined area of the service or a particular patient type, working without direct supervision.
• You will be responsible for supervising, educating and assessing the performance of junior and senior occupational therapists and students.
• You will be expected to undertake evidence-based audit and research projects to further own and teams clinical practice, making recommendations to clinical lead/manager.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent in OT
• Registered with HCPC
• Registered with BAOT

Desirable

• MSC or equivalent post grad training

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Experience supervising B5 & B6 therapists, students & assistants
• Experience within NHS or similar health setting
• Excellent clinical assessment & treatment skills
• Able to work independently
• Evidence of CPD
• Excellent communication skills - written & verbal

Employer details

Employer name

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

MSE

Tyrells Health Wing - Seamore Avenue

Benfleet

SS7 4EX

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

390-CSS-SO-1531