Senior Occupational Therapist - Rapid Access Services
- Employer
- Central & North West London NHS Foundation Trust
- Location
- London
- Salary
- £47,154 to £52,936 a year per annum inc HCAS (pro rata if P/T)
- Closing date
- 29 Jun 2022
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12 month contract - Maternity Cover
Rapid Access Services is a 7-day community service comprising of three pathways (Rapid Response, Discharge to Assess and Virtual Ward). Our OTs work together alongside physiotherapists, nurses, paramedics, social workers and support staff to prevent admission to hospital for unwell patients or facilitate early discharge from the local hospitals for patients both medically fit and add-those not yet medically optimised.
The caseload is varied and we work closely with our community neuro and respiratory teams, GPs, ambulance service and acute hospitals to provide an urgent response and risk assessment for people in their own homes. There is a key focus on being able to identify a deteriorating patient, and escalating appropriately for joint working with nurses and paramedics when required. There may be many barriers to treatment in the community, requiring complex problem solving and working with other external agencies to enable to the best outcome for these people.
We have recently also started a new role of urgent responder for falls in the community. We are working closely with the ambulance service and other external agencies to respond within 2 hours to people who have fallen and are non-injured. Our therapists have the experience of using specialist equipment to aid transfers from the floor, and carrying out detailed assessments and interventions in the home with the aim of managing them safely.
Main duties of the job
Experience of working autonomously is essential as our team is often faced with some challenging situations which present themselves in the home environment, but as an occupational therapist, this truly is the best place to assess someone's functional performance. You will have an interest in working as part of a high functioning team to provide high quality and patient centred intervention.
The main OT role as part of the D2A and CADS/Virtual ward pathway, is to support timely discharges from acute hospitals. These are variable in complexity, consisting of simple risk assessments for those below their usual functional ability, but also for those with a new ongoing delirium, non-weight bearing, or those with a specialist brace due to a spinal fracture. It is crucial that they have an immediate assessment in their own home environment to ensure their safety and optimal function upon discharge.
Within the Rapid Response pathway, the key is to provide OT assessment, treatment and interventions in people's home in order to prevent hospital admissions. This can also consist of supporting same day discharges from A&E. There is opportunity to work alongside our physio, nursing and paramedic colleagues and social workers in order to provide an MDT approach to meet people's wishes to remain at home. This is the best place for recovery where possible, and also reduces ambulance and acute hospital pressures.
About us
Come and join us and be one of the friendly and supportive 300 Occupational Therapists in CNWL. We work in many different teams, both physical and mental health, as well as a number of specialist areas. You could have a career for life with us and maintain your dual skills.
OT in CNWL is very fortunate in having a long established professional structure and this includes an AHP director, Trust wide Professional Head of OT, borough and specialist Head OTs. This has the huge benefit of ensuring representation of our profession at all levels - both strategically and operationally.
Personal and professional development is a high priority for the profession and is underpinned by our OT R&D strategy, R& D specialist groups and OT clinical networks. This enables us to invest in the development of our staff by providing excellent internal training as well as commissioning specialised external training and providing quality supervision.
As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
Job description Job responsibilities
As a senior member of the Rapid Access Service, you will be expected to be a highly skilled occupational therapist who is an excellent communicator, is flexible and able to adapt to the needs of both patients and service.
This is a challenging and highly rewarding role within a fast-paced, and ever evolving primary care team. This will enable you to develop your skills in the holistic treatment within a variety of areas. These include knowledge of medications and their impact on function; being competent in taking observations and completing NEWS2 scores on patients, interpreting these scores and identifying and escalating when a patient is unwell; being exposed to an array of medical and long-term conditions in people over the age of 18; identifying the need for a GP or specialist review as part of diagnostics, and being competent in liaising directly with the appropriate specialist community teams to ensure seamless care.
Due to a 7-day working pattern, you will have a have a shared team caseload. You will provide complex assessments and interventions and will make high impact clinical decisions. You will be expected to work autonomously whilst being very well supported by a dynamic and approachable team, who will encourage growth and leadership in your role. You will have the opportunity to develop skills in managing people and identifying and participating in service development through supervisory roles and QI projects.
As part of your role you will also have the opportunity to be Clinician of The Day (COD). This consists of screening all referrals for all pathways. This is a key leadership role in which the COD is required to challenge where necessary the appropriateness of referrals, and ensure all the relevant information is gained to ensure safety for all parties. The COD co-ordinates and oversees the therapists caseload on that given day, and allocates new referrals as they are discharged from hospital. This is a balancing skill in order to ensure the team have capacity and the discharge is well co-ordinated in line with the integrated discharge teams.
There is much scope for development of both clinical and non-clinical duties within this role and our team has a proud history of a high staff retention rate and have experience of developing and promoting therapists within the team.
Person Specification Education and Qualifications Essential
Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
333-G-CC-VX-1065
Rapid Access Services is a 7-day community service comprising of three pathways (Rapid Response, Discharge to Assess and Virtual Ward). Our OTs work together alongside physiotherapists, nurses, paramedics, social workers and support staff to prevent admission to hospital for unwell patients or facilitate early discharge from the local hospitals for patients both medically fit and add-those not yet medically optimised.
The caseload is varied and we work closely with our community neuro and respiratory teams, GPs, ambulance service and acute hospitals to provide an urgent response and risk assessment for people in their own homes. There is a key focus on being able to identify a deteriorating patient, and escalating appropriately for joint working with nurses and paramedics when required. There may be many barriers to treatment in the community, requiring complex problem solving and working with other external agencies to enable to the best outcome for these people.
We have recently also started a new role of urgent responder for falls in the community. We are working closely with the ambulance service and other external agencies to respond within 2 hours to people who have fallen and are non-injured. Our therapists have the experience of using specialist equipment to aid transfers from the floor, and carrying out detailed assessments and interventions in the home with the aim of managing them safely.
Main duties of the job
Experience of working autonomously is essential as our team is often faced with some challenging situations which present themselves in the home environment, but as an occupational therapist, this truly is the best place to assess someone's functional performance. You will have an interest in working as part of a high functioning team to provide high quality and patient centred intervention.
The main OT role as part of the D2A and CADS/Virtual ward pathway, is to support timely discharges from acute hospitals. These are variable in complexity, consisting of simple risk assessments for those below their usual functional ability, but also for those with a new ongoing delirium, non-weight bearing, or those with a specialist brace due to a spinal fracture. It is crucial that they have an immediate assessment in their own home environment to ensure their safety and optimal function upon discharge.
Within the Rapid Response pathway, the key is to provide OT assessment, treatment and interventions in people's home in order to prevent hospital admissions. This can also consist of supporting same day discharges from A&E. There is opportunity to work alongside our physio, nursing and paramedic colleagues and social workers in order to provide an MDT approach to meet people's wishes to remain at home. This is the best place for recovery where possible, and also reduces ambulance and acute hospital pressures.
About us
Come and join us and be one of the friendly and supportive 300 Occupational Therapists in CNWL. We work in many different teams, both physical and mental health, as well as a number of specialist areas. You could have a career for life with us and maintain your dual skills.
OT in CNWL is very fortunate in having a long established professional structure and this includes an AHP director, Trust wide Professional Head of OT, borough and specialist Head OTs. This has the huge benefit of ensuring representation of our profession at all levels - both strategically and operationally.
Personal and professional development is a high priority for the profession and is underpinned by our OT R&D strategy, R& D specialist groups and OT clinical networks. This enables us to invest in the development of our staff by providing excellent internal training as well as commissioning specialised external training and providing quality supervision.
As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
Job description Job responsibilities
As a senior member of the Rapid Access Service, you will be expected to be a highly skilled occupational therapist who is an excellent communicator, is flexible and able to adapt to the needs of both patients and service.
This is a challenging and highly rewarding role within a fast-paced, and ever evolving primary care team. This will enable you to develop your skills in the holistic treatment within a variety of areas. These include knowledge of medications and their impact on function; being competent in taking observations and completing NEWS2 scores on patients, interpreting these scores and identifying and escalating when a patient is unwell; being exposed to an array of medical and long-term conditions in people over the age of 18; identifying the need for a GP or specialist review as part of diagnostics, and being competent in liaising directly with the appropriate specialist community teams to ensure seamless care.
Due to a 7-day working pattern, you will have a have a shared team caseload. You will provide complex assessments and interventions and will make high impact clinical decisions. You will be expected to work autonomously whilst being very well supported by a dynamic and approachable team, who will encourage growth and leadership in your role. You will have the opportunity to develop skills in managing people and identifying and participating in service development through supervisory roles and QI projects.
As part of your role you will also have the opportunity to be Clinician of The Day (COD). This consists of screening all referrals for all pathways. This is a key leadership role in which the COD is required to challenge where necessary the appropriateness of referrals, and ensure all the relevant information is gained to ensure safety for all parties. The COD co-ordinates and oversees the therapists caseload on that given day, and allocates new referrals as they are discharged from hospital. This is a balancing skill in order to ensure the team have capacity and the discharge is well co-ordinated in line with the integrated discharge teams.
There is much scope for development of both clinical and non-clinical duties within this role and our team has a proud history of a high staff retention rate and have experience of developing and promoting therapists within the team.
Person Specification Education and Qualifications Essential
- Degree / Diploma Occupational Therapy
- Registration with HCPC as an Occupational Therapist
- Post Registration courses
- Member of BAOT
- Post-Graduate degree
- Membership and/or involvement in special interest group
- Previous experience of working in the UK or a similar health economy as an occupational therapist
- Previous general experience at Band 5/6 to include Older people/elderly rehab,Medicine & general surgery, Orthopaedics , falls, community working, pain management, neurology, dementia
- Previous experience of working with students
- Experience of teaching juniors, assistants and students
- Previous general experience to include respiratory, group work
- Valid UK driving licence
- Able to demonstrate an understanding of the application of Health and Safety
- Able to demonstrate insight into the problems of disability and its effects
- Demonstrates a commitment to working with older people
- Able to demonstrate a good understanding of role of the OT in rehabilitation as well as the role of other professionals in MDT
- Demonstration of knowledge of standards of practice, evidence and best practice guidelines.
- Awareness of developments in NHS and service delivery
- Understanding of the problems of disability and its effects
- Understanding the principles of Multi-Disciplinary Teamwork
- Able to demonstrate clinical and professional development
- Demonstrates flexibility, problem solving, initiative and leadership skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent IT skills including Outlook, Word, Excel, databases etc
- Able to prioritise, delegate and manage own time.
- To be flexible, to be able to motivate self and others
- Personally and professionally responsible
Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
333-G-CC-VX-1065
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