Senior Occupational Therapist

County Durham & Darlington Nhs Foundation Trust; North East; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Band 6 Occupational Therapist for the Frailty Rehabilitation Unit across Bishop Auckland and Darlington Memorial Hospital. You will lead assessments, deliver rehab programmes, and manage complex discharge planning to support independence and safe hospital transitions.

You will supervise junior OTs and OT assistants, contribute to service development, and participate in education and training for students, while maintaining

Qualifications

• Degree in Occupational Therapy with HCPC registration.
• CPD including recent post-graduate courses relevant to inpatient OT practice.
• Practice educator qualification or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Deliver occupational therapy assessments and interventions with patients individually or in group settings.
• Carry out planned interventions, set goals, and use outcome measures.
• Delegate tasks to others to support group and individual sessions.
• Complete timely and accurate documentation using EPR.

Skills

Discharge planning

Cognition assessment

Education supervision

Communication skills

Moving and handling knowledge

Clinical governance

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy

CPD attendance/post-graduate courses

Practice educator qualification

Tools

EPR system

Job description

Job summary

Join our friendly and supportive Frailty Rehabilitation Unit, where you will have the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of older adults. Working as part of a dedicated multidisciplinary team, across two sites, Bishop Auckland Hospital and Darlington Memorial Hospital, you will provide person-centred assessment, rehabilitation, and discharge planning to help patients regain confidence, maximise their independence, and achieve their goals.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 6 Occupational Therapist on our Frailty Rehabilitation Unit, you will support older adults to regain independence and achieve their rehabilitation goals following illness or functional decline. Working as part of a dedicated multidisciplinary team, you will provide comprehensive assessment, deliver person-centred rehabilitation programmes, and lead on complex discharge planning to ensure safe transitions from hospital. You will also contribute to the development of the service, support junior staff and students, and play a key role in creating positive outcomes for patients and their families.

About us

If you require any futher information with regards to this post, please contact Clinical Team Lead- Jeanette Mason 01388 455438

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Job responsibilities

As a successful candidate you will be expected to work as a member of the Adult Occupational Therapy team. To contribute to team development and providing high quality care to patients. To support and supervise junior Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy assistants and to educate and mentor Student Occupational therapists through their placements. To deliver Occupational therapy assessments and interventions with patients on an individual or group basis and in a variety of settings.

To carry out planned interventions of care by identifying goals and using outcome measures. To delegate appropriately to others to assist in the planning and running of groups and individual treatment sessions.

To complete timely and accurate documentation using the EPR electronic system.

To work flexibly and autonomously across different sites if service demand requires and provide a seven day service.

The post holder will provide administrative support and advice to the team and they will actively participate in any service training/developments deemed appropriate to the role.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of a Junior rotational post in the NHS-in an acute/rehabilitation setting.
• Experience of completing a range of cognitive assessments with the ability to interpret results and plan relevant treatments programs to improve cognitive function.
• Considerable experience of discharge planning, working collaboratively to facilitate the safe discharge of patients, including those with complex needs.
• Experience of managing a vast and complex caseload in a fast paced setting autonomously.
• Experience of providing supervision and support for support staff and less experienced staff members.
• Experience as a practice educator, supporting the education and training of occupational therapy students.

Desirable

• Evidence of working on strategic planning and development
• Experience of developing links with and supporting educational institutes to provide education and development opportunities for students.
• Experience of completing appraisals for support staff or less experienced staff members.
• Experience of completing Trusted Assessments.

Statutory Registration

Essential

• HCPC Registration

Desirable

• Member of RCOT

Special Requirements

Essential

• A proactive ability to represent the profession and the Trust with positive enthusiasm, commitment, motivation.
• Ability to travel across the Trust area to meet the requirements of the post with the willingness to work flexibly.
• Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and to carry out concurrent activities.
• Ability to cover working pattern across a 7 day service.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Occupational Therapy
• Evidence of CPD including attendance at recent post-graduate courses relevant to occupational therapy practice with inpatients.
• Practice educators qualification

Desirable

• Additional Leadership/supervisor or teaching qualification/training.
• Approved wheelchair referrer.
• Member of relevant special interest group.

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and application of a range of assessments and interventions used with complex patients.
• Comprehensive knowledge of a variety of equipment and adaptations including moving and handling equipment.
• Able to demonstrate up to date knowledge and skills in relevant areas of practice, demonstrating use of evidence based practice.
• Applied knowledge of current legislation related to healthcare and occupational therapy practice, with the ability to explain how this affects practice.
• Ability to work safely at all times including selection of appropriate hazard control and risk management techniques, in accordance with health and safety legislation.
• Good understanding of clinical governance and its implications for services, with experience of participation in clinical governance activities.
• Ability to keep accurate and comprehensive electronic patient records, fulfilling all requirements of the trusts record keeping policy and regulatory bodies.
• Substantial knowledge and understanding of professional competence and conduct with the ability to apply this in all areas of practice and to promote the same from others.
• Ability to demonstrate effective and appropriate communication skills with the ability to adapt styles to overcome communication differences.
• Ability to reflect on and review own practice using various methods.
• Ability to organise and prioritise a complex caseload taking into account organisational pressures. To demonstrate the ability to work efficiently prioritising and delegating appropriately to support patient flow.

Desirable

• Evidence of participation in research.
• Participation in events or activities to promote the role of occupational therapy.
• Evidence of ability to plan and organise appropriate professional development activities to benefit the service.
• An understanding of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, its culture, strategic direction, achievements and NHS standing.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).