Job summary
Nottingham CityCare Partnerships Integrated Care Homes Service (ICHS) aims to improve the experience of care home residents and staff by delivering high-quality, multidisciplinary NHS care. The service comprises of dementia outreach clinicians, physical therapy, and general nursing.

As an OT, you will undertake specialist assessments of care home residents with physical and dementia-related needs, developing and implementing treatment plans. You will use clinical expertise to adapt physical and social environments and support engagement in activities of daily living.

Applicants must demonstrate strong OT skills, ideally with community experience and working with people living with dementia. Effective caseload management is essential.

You will work collaboratively with team members and specialist services, supported by regular therapy and dementia-focused meetings, supervision, and peer support to aid professional development.

The Dementia Outreach and Therapy teams play a key role in enhancing wellbeing through person-centred rehabilitation and interdisciplinary expertise. This is a supportive environment offering valuable opportunities to gain experience with complex cases and contribute to improving quality of life for vulnerable adults.

To learn more about this valued OT role, we encourage you to arrange a shadowing day to see the service in action and the positive impact on patients lives.

Main duties of the job
This is a 12 month fixed-term role working 22.5 hours per week.

The Occupational Therapist is part of the Dementia Outreach Team (DOT) within the Integrated Care Home Service. The team includes dementia specialist therapists, RMNs and Assistant Practitioners. DOT therapists work closely with physical therapy clinicians as an integrated therapy team, supported by a therapy lead.

The role requires strong clinical knowledge and experience in dementia care. The OT is responsible for holistic patient assessment, developing individual therapy programmes, and managing a clinical caseload.

The post holder will supervise Assistant Practitioners and act as a resource for colleagues. Collaborative working is central, both within the service and with therapists from other services supporting care homes. Regular therapy meetings led by the clinical lead promote shared learning and innovative practice.

The service supports care home staff to deliver high-quality care through training and education sessions, helping to build skills and confidence. It also promotes joint handovers within care homes to support proactive care and reduce avoidable hospital admissions.

About us
We are a provider of NHS Community Health Services, CityCare exists to support the health and wellbeing of all local people, working alongside other health and care partners to achieve this. We are a value driven, people business with a passion for excellence. Our vision and social purpose is to make a difference everyday to the health & wellbeing of our communities and our values of kindness, respect, trust and honesty lie at the heart of everything we do, guiding how we work together with partners and each other to consistently deliver high quality compassionate care. As a social enterprise we aim to add social value by investing in the future of our local communities and helping to make a difference in peoples lives.

CityCare value the benefits of a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from candidates who identify as disabled, LGBT+ or from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) background, as they are currently under-represented within our organisation.

We are proud to be a forces-friendly organisation and are dedicated to supporting Veterans, Service Leavers, Reservists, and military spouses/partners. We value the unique skills and contributions you bring.

CityCare is an equal opportunities employer. We are positive about employing people with disabilities. If you require your application in a different format please contact People Services on 0115 8839418. CityCare is committed to the protection of vulnerable adults and children.

Job responsibilities
Job Purpose

• To undertake specialist assessments on how to maximise the physical and social environments to help people engage in activities of daily living and contribute to multi-disciplinary treatment planning
• To be responsible for continuing the ongoing development of high standards of clinical practice and expertise within the service contributing to implementation of specific changes to practice and service protocols and making a professional contribution to the work of a multi-disciplinary team
• To advise and support care home staff in maintaining a residents wellbeing and engagement despite their skills declining.
• To manage/care coordinate a caseload of patients and will provide advice, education and teaching sessions to providers of residential/nursing care for people with dementia.

Dimensions

• To be part of a multi-disciplinary Integrated Care Homes Service, responsible for the delivery of an occupational therapy service to residents with mental health problems related to old age, particularly those with dementia.
• To supervise less experienced staff and students working with the Post Holder. To supervise, educate and assess the performance of undergraduate Occupational Therapy students as required ensuring the standard of practice and teaching meets the standards set by the degree level qualification.
• To increase the capacity, confidence, competence, and willingness of partner organisations to provide the right level of care to this vulnerable client group and by doing so increase standards of care, improve quality of life, increase independence and choice

Key Responsibilities
Clinical

• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your work, including the management of clients in your care. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the clients under occupational therapy management and support junior staff to do likewise.
• To determine by assessment and liaison with other relevant agencies the advice, education, and treatment requirements of each patient. This may include dealing with complex and conflicting opinions within the multi-disciplinary multi-agency team.
• To undertake the comprehensive assessment of clients, including those with a complex and/or chronic presentation using investigative and analytical skills through standardised and non-standardised assessments. To formulate individualised management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning and using a wide range of treatment skills and options to devise a specialised programme of care.
• To set occupational therapy goals and carry out treatment interventions.
• To carry out manual handling assessments of clients living in care homes where there is a primary mental health concern.
• To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of clients and to organise this effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.
• To provide highly specialised advice, teaching and training to other members of the Integrated Team and other agencies regarding the occupational therapy management of clients with problems related to ageing and dementia.
• To train, supervise and manage more junior staff, support staff and students. To supervise, educate and assess the performance of undergraduate occupational therapy students as required to ensure the standard of practice and teaching meets the standards set by the degree level qualification.
• To have the ability to gain valid informed consent and to identify through assessment clients who lack capacity and work within a legal framework with clients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.
• To work as a lone practitioner with supervision from a band 7 Physiotherapist, the Team Leader will also provide support as required.
• To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to clients, carers, and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of occupational therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to client care.
• To assess advice and, where appropriate, provide mobility aids including teaching clients/carers in their use.

Professional

• To participate in the development of good practice for occupational therapists within Nottingham CityCare Partnership CIC under the guidance of the Professional Lead
• To demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice
• To be responsible for own Continuing Professional Development under the supervision of the professional lead, keeping abreast of new trends and developments, incorporating them into your work as necessary. Attend relevant conferences and internal/external training courses. Support more junior staff to do likewise.
• To maintain a high level of occupational therapy standards and work to the occupational therapy Code of Professional Conduct.
• To actively participate in the services training strategy, including in-service training, Trust, and multi-agency training. To participate by attendance and presentation at staff meetings, tutorials, and training sessions.
• To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to the work situation.
• To assist with development and participation in the teams audit projects, evidence-based practice projects and outcome measures, either individually or with other senior therapists. To make recommendations for change.
• To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and Personal Development plans as both appraiser and appraise.
• To contribute to the evidence base for occupational therapy for older people with mental health needs as appropriate through dissemination of research and audit findings.

Organisational

• To support the Team Manager in implementing targets and objectives to assist in the ongoing development of the service. To participate in service evaluation and advice on the service needs of the client population.
• To be responsible for management duties when requested by senior staff
• To be involved with the day-to-day delivery of the occupational therapy service within the Integrated Service including prioritisation of support staff duties. Also organising own diary and time management. (Arranging assessments and appointments for own caseload)
• To ensure the health and safety of staff and clients always in accordance with Health & Safety Legislation and Organisational Policy and Procedures. To adhere to all other Organisational Policies and Procedures.
• To attend team meetings and meetings with other agencies as required.
• To use information technology on a daily basis and participate in identified data collection and statistics and to maintain clear, consider and timely records in line with the service policy
• To actively participate in Lone Worker Tracking procedures.
• To have and promote a positive attitude to change and change management
• To play an active role in supporting and facilitating change where appropriate
• To undertake any other duties which may be reasonably required.

Person Specification
Special Requirements
Essential

• Friendly, approachable, stays calm under pressure, diplomatic, leadership skills, recognises own limitations
• Able to manoeuvre patients using handling aids, able to carry out manual handling assessments of patients in care homes, able to kneel, bend and stoop, and work in cramped environments
• Car driver and possession of a current full UK driving licence

Experience
Essential

• Relevant post graduate experience working with adults and older people with a diagnosis of dementia
• Experience of multi-disciplinary and/or multi-agency working
• Competence in individual caseload management

Desirable

• Community based practice experience
• Willingness to undergo further training to develop knowledge related to physiotherapy for older people with dementia.

Knowledge and skills
Essential

• Evidence of achievement of appropriate competencies for clinical grade
• Awareness of current Local and National Policy Developments and remains update with professional practice and current best evidence and research
• Occupational therapy diagnosis/assessment and treatment skills.
• Awareness, understanding and commitment to the pursuit of equality and diversity in terms of service delivery and employment practice
• Competent use of information technology appropriate to role, SystmOne
• Experience of supervision and appraisal of less experienced qualified staff and student/support workers
• Contribution to clinical education of less experience staff/students and support workers
• Excellent communication skills demonstrating an ability to communicate to a variety of audiences and levels, e.g. 1:1 and in groups, teaching
• Knowledge and experience of a wide range of approaches to the management of dementia and complex conditions demonstrated by clinical reasoning
• Experience of change and change management including dealing with conflict
• Remain updated with professional practice and current best evidence and new research, and evidence of CPD
• Flexible, adaptable, innovative and self-reliant with a positive attitude
• Good organisational skills, ability to prioritise and delegate

Desirable

• Evidence of audit/organisational projects
• ECDL or equivalent

Qualifications
Essential

• BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapist or equivalent
• HPC Registration

Desirable

• Clinical Educators / Practice Teaching Course

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).