An exciting opportunity has arisen to work for Luton Falls Team to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions following a fall, reduce the risk of further falls and support patients with Falls prevention health promotion. We work closely with the East of England Ambulance Service, other local NHS Services and Luton Borough Council.

We are expanding and we have an opportunity to join us as Band 7 Occupational Therapist Specialist Practitioner in Falls.

Are you a HCPC registered Occupational Therapist?

Would you like the opportunity to join an expanding team and be part of leading on developing new falls pathways and models of care for Luton patients?

(Please note that should we receive a high number of applications, we reserve the right to close the advert earlier than advertised).

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will help lead the Luton Falls Team, providing leadership and clinical support for a falls single point of referral as well as a rapid intervention service for people who have had a fall or are at risk of falling across Luton working collaboratively with our local partners and agencies

You will be one of the lead Occupational therapy clinicians responsible for leading the delivery of the Luton falls service to providing a rapid intervention service for people who have had a fall or are at risk of falling including the development, management and leadership of falls strength and balance classes including education and advice. You will work autonomously managing your own clinical caseload delivering patient centred, evidence based multi-factorial falls assessments and Occupational Therapy interventions.

Experience of a minimum of 3-5 years in a community elderly care or falls specialist team at Band 6 level is essential as well as experience of multi-professional cross organisation working. We are looking for clinicians with a dynamic and innovate approach, with excellent interpersonal and communication skills whom are well organised and enthusiastic. They will also demonstrate self and service development through active participation in continuing professional development as well as be responsible for the leadership and supervision of other staff and students.

About us

Rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.

There's one reason why our services are outstanding - and that's our amazing staff - who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.

If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.

Job description Job responsibilities

Clinical

To be professionally and legally accountable and responsible for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care.

To ensure high standards of clinical care for patients and support more junior members of staff to do likewise. At all times post-holder will work within the Royal College of Occupational therapists and CCS guidelines.

Evaluate and prioritise the referrals received by the service based on clinical need and communicate decision making with the referring party as needed.

To undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with a complex and multiple presentations, using investigative and analytical skills then formulate individualised management and treatment plans using clinical reasoning utilising a wide range of treatment skills and option

Formulate and deliver an appropriate individual, evidence based Occupational Therapy/falls specific treatment programme based on highly specialised knowledge. This necessitates high levels of autonomy and the analysis of information, interpreting results to inform assessment and treatment planning, selecting an appropriate treatment/management programme, often from a range of options, and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment interventions.

To provide advanced and specific Occupational Therapy assessment, and management of patients which requires post-graduate learning and / or experience.

To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnosis and prognoses in a wide range of complex conditions and to recommend the best course of intervention, developing comprehensive discharges plans where appropriate.

To be an expert resource for all staff both within and external to the team and participate in the assessment of competency of other team members.

To actively participate in working groups, clinical governance sessions and to contribute to the development of policy changes within the falls service that will impact on all service users.

To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction and training to relatives, carers, and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of Occupational Therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.

To be competent and safe in the use of adaptive equipment and aids, gym equipment and walking aids.

To maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up to date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements.

Professional

To maintain own clinical professional development by keeping abreast of new developments through self-motivated reading and research and incorporate them as necessary into own work. The post-holder should show evidence of being a reflective practitioner and maintain a CPD portfolio.

In conjunction with the team, identify audit topics and undertake the measurement and evaluation of current practices through the use and application of evidence-based practice, clinical audit, research, and outcome measures.

To attend and contribute to any meetings as required.

Organisational

To attend meetings and report back as required.

In the absence of the lead to chair staff meetings.

To assist the team lead in responsibilities such as annual leave approval and processing, sick leave management, appraisals, recruitment, estates, health and safety, waiting list and rota management, problem solving day to day issues, managing the smooth running of the team and patient enquires and complaints

To ensure that, as a senior member of the team, designated staff implement policy and service changes.

To be aware of Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies, which may be required to improve the safety of your work area, including prompt recording and reporting of accidents to senior staff and ensuring that equipment use is safe.

To be actively involved as required in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the business unit.

To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.

To undertake other duties that may be required or are requested by the service manager.

Communication

To communicate clinical information in an understandable way to patients and to assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain co-operation and valid informed consent for treatment. Effective communication requires use of verbal and non-verbal tools to maximise rehabilitation potential, often with unmotivated patients. This can include patients where there are barriers to effective communication e.g., loss of hearing, altered perception, pain, fear etc.

To communicate effectively with consultants, doctors, nurse practitioners, Occupational therapists and physiotherapists from other trusts and other Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) who have referred patients or are involved with the patients care. This can be direct communication or in the form of discharge / progress reports.

To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service.

Contribute to CCS internal communication strategies ensuring effective two-way communication and engagement within the organisation.

Contribute to CCS external communication strategies working with the Head of Communications to raise awareness and promote the reputation of CCS services

Person Specification Qualifications and Training Essential

• Diploma in Occupational Therapy or BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy or equivalent.
• Relevant post graduate course / qualification.
• Specialist knowledge and application of assessment and interventions in Occupational Therapy care for Falls
• Evidence of relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to underpin clinical reasoning skills and ability to undertake assessment, analysis and treatment of complex falls cases to masters equivalent level.
• Current HCPC Registration

Desirable

• Member of BAOT/ COT or specialist section
• Formal post-graduate training qualification e.g. Accredited Clinical Educator status for Occupational Therapist
• Master's degree level of study or equivalent.

Experience Essential

• Minimum 3-5 years post registration experience in community elderly care/ falls speciality at Band 6 level
• Experience of multi professional and cross-organisational work.
• Mentorship and clinical educator experience.
• Previous experience of supporting with the running and organising of falls group strength and balance programmes

Desirable

• Experience at Band 7 level within the speciality.
• Experience of Human Resource Management with staff management.
• Previous experience of working in a community setting (e.g., community hospitals, patient home visits).
• Previous experience of successfully line managing staff band 6 or below.
• Previous experience of deputising for clinical team lead within current or previous roles

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• Specialist knowledge and application of assessment and interventions in falls specialist Occupational Therapy care.
• Advanced level knowledge and practical experience of conducting falls specific rehabilitation/ strength and balance classes in a community setting.
• Working knowledge of a wide range of approaches to the management of patients with falls.
• Ability to meet a range of competing deadlines and priorities.
• Ability to provide supervision for band 6, band 5 and Occupational Therapists, support staff and Occupational Therapy students.
• Experience of working as a clinical educator for Occupational Therapy students.

Desirable

• Skilled in leading, teaching and presenting to staff and/or patient groups at a local and/or national level.
• Experience of teaching and presenting to other internal and external team / staff / GP surgeries as a part of promoting, advertising and service development

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

448-LCA-5090870