Community Occupational Therapist

NHS Jobs; Norwich; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust is seeking an Occupational Therapist to join the integrated community health team. You will assess and treat patients with long-term conditions, frail elderly, palliative and rehabilitation needs, aiming to maximise independence and quality of life.

Work alongside GPs, social services and other agencies to plan care, conduct home visits, and contribute to discharge planning.

Qualifications

• OT occupational therapy assessment and treatment skills.
• Ability to work within an integrated team and community setting.
• Capacity to plan and prioritise workload to meet service targets.

Responsibilities

• Undertake comprehensive OT assessments of patients, including complex presentations, using clinical reasoning to plan treatment.
• Formulate and execute individualized OT treatment plans with the team and other agencies.
• Assess functional ability and safety at home to identify care and equipment needs.
• Plan and teach patients to use techniques and equipment to maximise function.
• Be aware of Assistive Technology and make referrals as required.
• Communicate sensitive information to patients and carers about assessment and treatment.
• Liaise with GPs, Social Services and inpatient teams to coordinate care.

Job description

Key Areas of Responsibility

To assess and prescribe care packages for patients with long term conditions,the frail & elderly, palliative care and rehabilitation needs for example, toachieve quality of life and independence where possible. To work within the integrated team to facilitate early discharge from hospital. To work within the integrated team to prevent unnecessary admission tohospital. To work with all health care professionals, and statutory/non statutoryagencies to provide a seamless, integrated service to our service users. ResponsibilitiesClinicalThe post holder will:

1. Undertake comprehensive occupational therapy assessments of patients including those with a complex presentation, using investigative, analytical and clinical reasoning skills, and formulate a graded treatment plan.
2. Formulate and execute individualised occupational therapy treatment plans of patients including those with complex presentation, in collaboration with the integrated team, other agencies and the patient, utilising a wide range of treatment skills.
3. To provide assessment of functional ability and safety of patients in the community,to identify care, equipment, adaptation and therapy needs.
4. Assess & plan treatment including teaching patients to utilise techniques & equipment to maximise their functional ability.
5. Be aware of Assistive Technology and make referrals for this as required.
6. Assess patients holistic needs, communicating complex and sensitive information to patients and carers as to their assessment, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan.
7. To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation and treatment potential, and to aid motivation and understanding throughout the treatment process.
8. Where there are barriers to understanding, such as hearing impairment, mental capacity impairment and other difficulties in comprehension, explanations require adjustments in order to gain understanding, consent and concordance.
9. Be required to use tact and persuasive skills in order to gain the patients cooperation in their treatment plan.
10. Liaise with GPs, Social Services, inpatient teams, other allied health careprofessionals and the voluntary sector to ensure identified needs are met and care co-ordinated appropriately
11. To participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate, e.g. Gold Standard Framework.
12. Be responsible for ensuring workload for self and others is planned and prioritised according to service targets ands needs.
13. Ensure patient held records are completed for each visit, and that SystmOne inputting is completed on a daily basis.
14. Plan and organise specialist services within the integrated team.
15. Demonstrate dexterity and co-ordination when using specialist equipment and fine tools, manual and mobilising skills.
16. Order equipment and supplies via electronic ordering systems for use within the team.
17. Be aware of budget and ensure all effort is made to work within this.
18. Ensure informed consent is obtained prior to initiating interventions.
19. Will be exposed to bodily fluids, infected material, blood products on a daily basis, therefore must utilise universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies.

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust