Team Lead OT Kings Outreach Therapy Service

Job overview

To oversee, coordinate and develop the occupational therapy service in the Kings Outreach Therapy Service (KOTS) and Acute Medical Team. The post holder will work collaboratively to provide timely, patient-focused holistic assessments, risk assessments and interventions for patients in the community & inpatient setting. The advice and support provided enables timely decision-making and, as appropriate, early discharge planning, utilising admission and avoidance services. The post requires the development of links with other professionals and services to facilitate a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide clinical and professional leadership to a team of qualified members of staff and assistants. The post holder will attend relevant meetings as a representative of the medical occupational therapy service and will advise on service developments in line with government policy development. To lead on implementation of local clinical governance initiatives for the service, evidence-based practice, clinical audit and day-to-day running of the service.

The post requires a flexible approach to working and a commitment to undertake weekend working.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL

1. To support the team to identify appropriate referrals, capacity and demand and prioritise workload across the team and other services within occupational therapy, particularly in relation to staff absence.

2. To apply a high level of understanding of the effect of illness/ disability on occupational performance and provide training and advice on adaptations to technique and the patient’s social and physical environment.

3. To assess and treat patients with complex needs who would benefit from a coordinated multidisciplinary assessment, rehabilitation and discharge services.

4. To be competent in the development and implementation of remedial and preventative treatment programmes addressing motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, psychological and occupational areas.

5. To identify risks, complete risk assessments and implement risk management strategies and document this accurately.

6. To recognise any change in the condition of the patient and alter treatment accordingly or escalate to medical teams as required.

7. To work within local policies and procedures, national standards and guidelines and adhere to the Royal College of Occupational Therapy professional standards and ethics.

8. To support patients in setting their own goals, then implementing this and evaluating appropriately.

9. To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with clients and carers, to achieve therapeutic goals.

10. To select evidence based techniques as part of a coordinated treatment program.

11. To assess and demonstrate to patients and carers the safe use of equipment and adaptations and recommend provision of equipment to support discharge.

12. To liaise with professionals in onward services to ensure continuity of care.

13. To respect the individuality, values, culture and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs, ensuring equity of service provision.

14. To make appropriate clinical observations and keep accurate electronic records and activity data in accordance with professional and trust standards.

15. To write occupational therapy functional and discharge reports for social services, onward inpatient services and community services.

16. To work as an autonomous practitioner and display appropriate problem solving, analytical and judgement skills.

17. To support occupational therapists and assists with their managing their patient caseloads to a high level, offering advice or practical support as required.

COMMUNICATION

1. To establish robust communication networks with patients, carers, multidisciplinary members and other agencies.

2. To promote awareness of the role of occupational therapy within the team, negotiating priorities where appropriate.

3. To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with professional and trust standards and provide reports relevant to practice setting.

4. To represent occupational therapy at ward, departmental and service level meetings, including delegation for the clinical lead occupational therapist.

5. To be skilled in managing differences of opinions, conflict and difficult conversations.

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

1. To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of occupational therapy services within a designated area/team, holding responsibility for defined projects.

2. To assist in developing services and standards according to the occupational therapy objectives.

3. Contribute to the trust’s clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda, including the setting and monitoring of practice standards.

4. To apply national guidelines/legislation relating to health and social care in the NHS service provision.

5. To supervise, provide support and appraisal for occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and technicians and students.

6. To be aware of the importance of staff wellbeing, accessing trust support as required and raising any concerns with supervisors or senior staff.

7. To be responsible for competent use and maintenance of equipment, raising any concerns and reporting when further resources are needed.

8. To carry out administrative duties as required e.g. assisting in ordering, receiving and maintaining stock and managing petty cash.

9. To have good IT skills and use a variety of IT systems to input patient and staff data as required.

TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

1. To monitor and advise in the allocation of students across the medical occupational therapy team.

2. To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.

3. To promote development of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, technicians and students according to their training and development needs as identified through supervision and appraisal.

4. To regularly supervise occupational therapy students on practice placement.

5. To co-ordinate supervision and appraisal of senior and junior staff.

6. To contribute to the induction and training of students and other staff both within the Trust and where appropriate externally.

7. To participate in and present on the in-service training, preceptorship programmes, multi-disciplinary trainings and external conferences.

8. To undertake audit projects and take part in research projects, relevant to the service area, disseminating findings at local level.

9. To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them to practice and disseminate findings at a local and / or national level.

10. To demonstrate ongoing personal and professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities.

11. To keep in touch with new developments and changing trends in occupational therapy and participate in wider issues of providing an occupational therapy service i.e. quality assurance, public relations including liaison with the community; planning and policy making.

12. To undertake any other duties commensurate within the grade.

General

The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.

To live and role model the King’s Trust Values and Vision.

To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.

To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.

This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder. An individual performance review and the setting of objectives will occur within each rotation.

All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.

Safe Guarding

The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by;

• attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
• familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns
• reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Occupational Therapy Degree/ Equivalent (Dip RCOT or BSc OT)
• HCPC Registration
• Portfolio and evidence of continuing professional development (in medicine and/or older people)

Desirable criteria

• Masters degree
• Member of Professional Body (RCOT)
• Member of Specialist Section or special interest group

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Experience of working with patients in an acute medical setting at a senior level
• Experience of working in the community as an OT at a senior level
• Experience of working with older people at a senior level
• Experience of audit procedures
• Specialist knowledge and experience of occupational therapy assessment and interventions
• Application of standardised assessments and outcome measures
• Experience in the application of health and safety risk management
• Detailed knowledge of clinical governance and its application
• Concise and accurate report writing skills
• Experience of presenting to small and large audiences

Desirable criteria

• Experience supervising qualified staff or students
• Significant experience in a range of healthcare settings
• Experience of presenting to small and large audiences

Skills

Essential criteria

• Able to prioritise and manage stress
• Ability to build effective working relationships
• Ability to work autonomously, planning and prioritising own workload
• Able to undertake manual handling tasks
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, adapting to barriers to communication
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and guidelines
• Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues
• Excellent IT and record keeping skills
• Presentation and training skills
• Ability to work flexibly across sites and with weekend working

Desirable criteria

• Ability to develop staff

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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