Rotational Occupational Therapist

NHS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK healthcare provider in Greater London is seeking a Rotational Occupational Therapist to join their Clinical Support Division. This permanent role offers the opportunity to work across multiple departments, including Medical Rehabilitation and Stroke/Neurology. The ideal candidate will have a BSc in Occupational Therapy and HCPC registration, alongside a proven ability to manage their clinical caseload autonomously. The position involves full-time hours, including weekends and Bank Holidays, with a starting salary ranging from £37,259 to £45,356 annually.

Qualifications

• Experience in the NHS as a qualified OT or OT student/therapy assistant.
• Evidence of working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to adapt practices in varying hospital settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide occupational therapy assessment and treatment.
• Manage a designated caseload of patients.
• Participate in departmental research projects.

Skills

Clinical reasoning

Reflective practice

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

BSc or Diploma in Occupational Therapy

HCPC Registration

Job description

Job Summary

Job summary

Job title

Rotational Occupational Therapist

Band

Band 5

Division

Clinical Support Division

Responsible to

Band 7 Therapists / Clinical Lead Therapist

Accountable to

Therapy Services Manager

Type of contract

Permanent

Hours per week

37.5 - includes weekend and Bank Holiday working

Location

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Main Duties

To work as an autonomous practitioner in providing occupational therapy assessment and treatment to own designated caseload of patients and to maintain up-to-date occupational therapy records.

To use evidence-based principles/current best practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.

To gain experience through 6‑month rotations in Medical Rehabilitation, Stroke/Neurology, Trauma and Orthopaedics, and Emergency Department/Acute Assessment Unit.

To consolidate and develop knowledge and skills through participation in CPD and in‑service training.

To have opportunity to participate in a departmental research project.

We are currently working in seven‑day working patterns, which includes weekend working and some Bank Holiday cover.

Please note:

This role may require working on either site as the service requires (Chelsea & Westminster Hospital site, West Middlesex University Hospital site).

About Us

Our Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites – Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital – along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid.

We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan. In line with Greener NHS ambitions, we aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Achieving this requires collective effort. We encourage staff to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution wherever possible. Every action counts to create a healthier, more sustainable future.

We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.

If you haven't heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six‑month probation.

Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.

Contract and Salary

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£37,259 to £45,356 a year per annum incl. HCAS

Working pattern

Full‑time

Reference

Reference number 289‑CS‑270

Job Responsibilities

Clinical

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

To be able to carry and prioritise your own designated clinical caseload, working as an autonomous practitioner, with regular supervision from your supervisor.

To undertake competent occupational therapy assessments in line with department and professional standards to establish the patient's level of function.

To carry out appropriate and effective occupational therapy assessments e.g. observation, kitchen assessments, washing and dressing assessments, functional assessments, cognitive assessments, home environment assessments and access assessments.

To be responsible for organising, and undertaking access visits and patient assessment and follow‑up home visits and on occasion to work as a lone practitioner in the domiciliary setting.

To use problem‑orientated medical records to aid the clinical reasoning process in the assessment and treatment of all patients.

To use good communication skills to identify occupational therapy goals with individual patients.

To use clinical reasoning, understanding of the medical diagnosis, knowledge of treatment options and assessment results to plan and implement individual therapy programmes.

To make use of treatment options such as provision of disability equipment, group therapy, neurology techniques, graded activity programmes, relaxation and anxiety management programmes, advice and education and therapeutic handling.

To monitor and evaluate treatment to measure progress and to ensure effectiveness of the intervention. To be able to identify problems and modify treatments in routine cases but with support of senior in more complex cases.

To provide comprehensive written occupational therapy records of assessment and treatment according to departmental standards.

To determine the patient's understanding of the occupational therapy intervention in order to gain valid, informed consent and to be able to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To use a range of verbal and non‑verbal communication tools when communicating with patients/carers to maximise the patient's rehabilitation potential. This will include communication with people with complex communication difficulties such as dysphasia, deafness, and dementia, mental health problems or speak English as a second language or who have difficulty accepting their diagnosis.

To attend multi‑disciplinary team meetings such as case conferences, ward rounds and discharge planning meetings to communicate information about individual patient progress and to assist MDT decision making, e.g. regarding discharge plans.

To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all adaptive equipment in line with departmental standards.

To be responsible for the safe and appropriate provision of adaptive equipment to patients according to the Integrated Community Equipment Store, social services and departmental guidelines.

Leadership and Management

To demonstrate good time management and organisational skills during daily management of own workload and to be able to adapt flexibly to sudden changes in workload.

To carry an identified bleep/mobile as required by each clinical area and be able to respond to frequent interruptions.

To ensure accurate and timely communication of assessment findings, treatment and outcomes to other involved disciplines through the provision of social services reports, discharge letters etc.

To make appropriate and timely referrals to other occupational therapists, other members of the multi‑disciplinary team and community partners when required.

To keep accurate and up‑to‑date patient records and statistics at all times in line with departmental, professional and legal standards.

To delegate specific tasks to therapy assistants in line with departmental and professional guidelines.

To understand and apply clinical governance principles to your own caseload and to be involved in departmental clinical governance sessions.

To contribute to service and policy developments.

To develop and maintain effective communication and working relationships with other professional groups, and staff generally within the Division and the Trust.

To assist in the delivery of induction / orientation of new staff.

To provide clinical support and guidance to staff and to act as a resource for clinical knowledge to staff.

Education and Research

To participate in and contribute to in‑service training programmes.

To be responsible for the teaching and assessment of graduate level therapeutic skills and knowledge to occupational therapy students and therapy assistants.

To provide clinical supervision to students and therapy assistants.

To be involved in data collection during any research and audits being undertaken in each area and to be able to monitor and implement change.

To have the opportunity to be involved in audit and research projects.

Professional Development

To comply with the College of Occupational Therapy and the Health and Care Professions Council codes of professional conduct at all times.

To maintain professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.

To be responsible for personal continuous professional development by the use of self‑education, reflective practice, active participation in the in‑service training program including giving presentations and attendance at postgraduate courses as agreed in your personal development plan and to maintain an up to date CPD portfolio.

To further develop understanding and use of evidence based practise, occupational therapy techniques therapeutic handling skills and detailed knowledge of particular conditions, pertinent to the area of each rotation.

To ensure that all mandatory training is completed within the required timescales.

To carry out an evidence‑based project during each rotation, communicate findings to other therapists in that team and make recommendations for change.

To have an awareness of current professional and clinical developments within your area of practice and promote this to others.

To participate in the appraisal system as appraisee during each rotation and be responsible for fulfilling your agreed objectives and personal development plan.

To ensure adherence to Trust policy and guidelines at all times.

To role model Trust values at all times.

General

This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and his/her manager.

All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure. You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledge level. If you are unsure you must seek clarification from a more senior member of staff.

Person Specification

Trust Values (Essential)

• Putting Patients First, Responsive to patients and staff, Open and honest, Unfailingly kind, Determined to develop

Education and Qualifications (Essential)

• BSc or Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration

Desirable

• Member of special interest group

Experience (Essential)

• Experience in the NHS as a qualified OT or OT student/therapy assistant
• Evidence of experience in an acute hospital setting
• Evidence of a variety of other clinical areas as a qualified OT/student
• Demonstrates experience as working as part of a MDT

Desirable

• Previous related work/voluntary experience

Skills & Knowledge (Essential)

• The ability to clinically reason the application of appropriate assessment and intervention techniques in a variety of clinical settings with a person centred approach
• Identifies challenges of working in varying hospital settings and demonstrates the ability to adapt own practice accordingly
• The ability to use reflective practice and self‑directed learning as a tool for growth and development
• The ability to guide and direct therapy assistants and students in clinical practice
• Excellent communication skills with patients, relatives, staff and external contacts, including in challenging situations, demonstrating respect and kindness
• Understanding of the professional and legal responsibilities of clinical practice

Desirable

• Evidence of specific responsibilities e.g. committee membership
• Evidence of participation in research or audit
• Understanding of appraisal process

Personal Qualities (Essential)

• Effective role model, demonstrating values of safety, respect, kindness and excellence
• Enthusiastic and motivated and an effective team member
• Able to remain calm under pressure and an effective communicator
• Approachable, respectful, supportive, adaptable and assertive

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer Details

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Chelsea & Westminster Hospital

369 Fulham Road

London

SW10 9NH

Employer’s Website

https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/