Job summary
We're delighted to be able to offer an exciting opportunity for a part-time (22.5 hours per week), permanent Band 7 Occupational Therapist to join our Community Based Neuro Rehabilitation Team (CBNRT) in Berkshire. This varied and rewarding role sits across our Early Supported Discharge (ESD) for Stroke service and our Community Neuro Rehabilitation pathway, supporting people living with a range of neurological conditions to achieve their goals.

You'll be joining a friendly, well-established multidisciplinary team, working closely alongside Therapy Assistants, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Nurses and Psychologists.

The successful candidate will work in partnership with an established part-time Band 7 Occupational Therapist in the West Berks locality, providing senior-level clinical support across the working week (Monday to Friday). You will also work alongside Occupational Therapists within the wider Neuro Rehabilitation team, which has a well-established peer support and professional development structure.

The role is based at West Berks Community Hospital you will require daily access to a vehicle to travel across the wider West Berks locality to see patients in their own homes and community locations. There is opportunity and an expectation to support the wider team as required, which involves travelling to other sites and areas across Berkshire within your working hours to support for annual leave and patient cover.

Main duties of the job

• Use specialist Occupational Therapy skills for patients with a range of Neurological Conditions and work with other members of the MDT to maximise rehab outcomes for patients and support them to achieve meaningful goals
• Responsible for assessment, differential diagnosis, formulation of treatment plans and writing of full and clear clinical records and assessment reports, reflecting clinical reasoning.
• Work with other agencies and services to support patients in the management of their condition including their care, social, postural and equipment needs
• Work together with other senior members of the team across the MDT to support clinical decision making around patient care and triage.
• Contribute to evaluation and development of clinical services including research and audit
• Supervision, training and support of other Occupational Therapists, students & Therapy Assistants in the team
• Work with other Band 7s, Service Lead and the Trust Professional Lead to drive service development, training and clinical excellence within the team.
• Responsibility for maintaining own competency and effectiveness of practise through relevant CPD, knowledge of clinical guidelines and research.
• Maintain a high level of professional responsibility by following relevant trust and professional standards and modelling behaviours to more junior members of staff.

About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Job responsibilities
The must have's for this role:

• Qualified Occupational Therapist with HCPC registration
• Previous experience working as an Occupational Therapist specialising in the treatment of neurological conditions
• Keen to work in a multidisciplinary team
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• A car driver and daily access to a vehicle for work purposes

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to contact our team at CBNRTAdmin@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification
Education, qualifications or training
Essential

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration

Desirable

• BAOT Membership
• Formal post-graduate qualification in relevant area e.g. MSc
• Membership of Relevant Special Interest Group

Continuous Professional Development
Essential

• Post-graduate training in a relevant clinical speciality such as: . Accredited courses in Cognitive impairment . Accredited courses in Perceptual impairment . Accreditation of Practice Educators (APPLE)

Previous Experience
Essential

• Extensive post-graduate experience
• Several years experience as a senior Occupational Therapist in a relevant clinical area
• Post graduate experience within specialist neurological service
• Experience of supervising staff
• Experience of formal and informal teaching
• Experience of appraising staff
• Multidisciplinary team working/Interdisciplinary team working
• Experience of audits
• Experience of research methods
• An in depth understanding of clinical outcome measures with experience in their application

Knowledge, skills and abilities
Essential

• Highly specialist knowledge of Occupational Therapy in management of patients with complex neurological conditions including Stroke, MS, FND, Spinal Cord Injuries, TBI
• Understanding national policies/guidelines relevant to the area eg National Service Framework for Long Term Neurological Conditions; NICE Guidance for the Management of MS, Head Injury; National Stroke Strategy
• Knowledge and participation in clinical governance relevant to this clinical area and Occupational Therapy
• Forward Thinking
• Ability to work independently and alone in the community
• Excellent inter-personal skills
• Knowledge of Audit and Research
• Presentation Skills
• IT skills
• Evidence of own self development through PDP
• Ability to develop others through CPD / PDP / In-service training
• Drive and enthusiasm for clinical excellence and clinical development of the team
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent time management
• Flexible and Adaptable
• Able to maintain judgement under pressure and set priorities
• Understanding of social services in the United Kingdom
• Willingness to learn
• Ability to pass on skills and knowledge to others - both formally and informally
• To have an extensive repertoire of mobilisation/facilitation skills for the therapeutic handling of patients

Additional Requirements
Essential

• DBS clearance
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Able to travel effectively between sites and patient's homes
• UK driving license holder and car driver

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.

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

We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.