Job summary
Due to upcoming maternity leave within the service, we are looking for an experienced community Occupational Therapist to work 15 hours per week within our Rehab and Falls North team, this role is on a fixed-term / secondment basis for one year (ending in September 2027).

Your role will be to provide supervision and support to Senior OTs at Band 6 level, and manage a varied caseload of complex patients with a range of health conditions, assessing and treating them in their own homes.

You will work as part of a strong multi-disciplinary team alongside Physiotherapists and Assistant Practitioners, and supported by our service Administrator.

The hours of work will be 15 hours a week and will be set days agreed during the recruitment process, within the service core hours of Monday Friday 08.30 16:30hrs, excluding weekends and Bank Holidays.

For further information please contact Elizabeth Walsh, Clinical Services Manager elizabeth.walsh3@nhs.net
Mobile: 07789 270523

Interviews are expected to be held on Thursday 30th July.

Main duties of the job
To assess, plan and develop treatment programmes for clients with a wide variety of complex physical needs in a community setting.

To determine clinical diagnosis and occupational therapy treatment indicated and to maintain records as an autonomous practitioner (working without direct supervision)

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

To be responsible for the delivery of the occupational therapy service within own locality for clients referred from GPs, other Health Professionals and Social Services.

To supervise less experienced occupational therapists, support 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.

May be required to chair team meetings on occasion, and to otherwise provide day-to-day leadership support to the team, in the absence of Team Leader.

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 ncp.recruitment@nhs.net . CityCare is committed to the protection of vulnerable adults and children.

Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
To assess, plan and develop treatment programmes for clients with a wide variety of complex physical needs in a community setting this may be in clients own homes or community clinics.

To determine clinical diagnosis and occupational therapy treatment indicated and to maintain records as an autonomous practitioner (working without direct supervision).

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.

Dimensions
To be responsible for the delivery of the occupational therapy service within own locality for clients referred from GPs, other Health Professionals and Social Services and via self- referral.

To supervise less experienced occupational therapists, support 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

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 more junior staff to do likewise.
• To have a lead role and determine by assessment and liaison with other relevant agencies the advice, education and treatment requirements of each client.
• To undertake the comprehensive, advanced assessment of clients, including those with complex and/or chronic presentation, using investigative and analytical skills. 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. This may require working to broad organisational policies and legal frameworks in order to meet the needs of complex patients, rather than solely to clearly defined standard operating procedures.
• To set occupational therapy rehabilitation goals, carry out treatment interventions and/or home assessment visits (often as the sole health professional)
• 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 team & externally regarding the occupational therapy management of clients with problems related to rehabilitation/mobility/ageing.
• To train, supervise and manage more junior staff, support staff and students. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation and accreditation as a Clinical Educator. 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 informally assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and work within a legal framework with clients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.
• To work as a lone practitioner without direct supervision or support of occupational therapy colleagues. The Team Leader will provide supervision.
• 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, advise and where appropriate provide transfer aids including teaching clients / carers in their use.

Professional

• To participate in the development of good practice for Occupational Therapists within CityCare Partnership under the guidance of the AHP Professional Lead
• To represent the Community Rehabilitation service externally and participate in the Services marketing strategy when required, by developing local and regional networks and conducting presentations to a wider audience e.g. public sector and voluntary agencies.
• To demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice and make recommendations for change.
• To be responsible for own Continuing Professional Development 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, organisation and multi-agency training. To deliver the occupational therapy element of training in partnership with other senior occupational therapists. To be an active member of the In-Service Training Programme 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 appraisee.

Organisational

• To support the Clinical Services Manager in implementing targets and objectives to assist in the ongoing development of the rehabilitation service. To participate in service evaluation and advise the Clinical Services Manager on the service needs of the client population.
• To be responsible for managements duties when requested by the Clinical Services Manager.
• To liaise effectively with other professionals and agencies to enhance rehabilitation within the boundaries of CityCare CIC, and ensure that the patient pathway with Social Care Occupational Therapy is streamlined and effective for patients.
• To manage the day-to-day delivery of the occupational therapy service within own locality including prioritisation of support staff duties. Also organising own diary and time management. (Arranging assessments and appointments for own caseload)
• To ensure the health & safety of staff and clients at all times in accordance with Health & Safety legislation and CityCare policy and procedures. To adhere to all other CityCare Policies and Procedures.
• To attend team meetings and meetings with other agencies as required.
• To participate in identified data collection and statistics and to maintain clear, concise and timely records in line with the service policy.
• To act as Duty Officer for the Lone Worker Tracking procedure, checking all staff have safely returned from visits and if necessary reporting missing clinicians to the Clinical Services Manager on call at the end of the working day
• To undertake any other duties which may be reasonably required

Person Specification
Knowledge and skills
Essential

• Awareness of current, local and national developments, remaining updated with professional practice and current best evidence and new research
• Evidence of achievement of appropriate competencies for clinical grade, including evidence of specialist skills applicable to post i.e. hoisting and specialist seating assessments, anxiety management, upper limb splinting, adaptive equipment. Confident in core skills of own role within a multi-professional service but able work across role boundaries.
• Experience of service development, team leadership and change. Confident to chair meetings and lead in the absence of immediate support
• Excellent communication skills demonstrating an ability to communicate professionally and effectively with a variety of audiences and levels. Able to create and maintain effective working relationships within a team.
• Ability to pass on skills and knowledge to clinicians within own team and across service including other professions
• Flexible, adaptable, innovative, self-reliant and proactive with a positive attitude
• Excellent organisational skills, ability to prioritise and delegate
• Confident in use of IT, word, excel and email

Desirable

• Effective teaching skills 1:1 and in groups
• Relevant management courses
• Evidence of managing change
• Evidence of budget management or effective use of resources

Experience
Essential

• Significant postgraduate experience demonstrating broad based experience including skills that are specialist to this position (this might be falls prevention, orthotics, OA management, community rehabilitation, stroke) proven through attendance at courses and appraisal, and demonstration of advanced clinical practice
• Experience of multi-agency working
• Supervision and appraisal of less experienced qualified staff and students/support workers
• Contribution to clinical education of less experienced staff, students and assistants

Desirable

• Experience of individual and group rehabilitation
• Experience of being a specialist resource for team members including other professions within CityCare and its partners

Qualifications
Essential

• BSc Occupational Therapy
• HCPC registered
• Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at relevant postgraduate courses e.g. specialist seating, hoisting.
• Clinical educators accreditation

Desirable

• Postgraduate degree or equivalent e.g. MSc
• Management qualifications or equivalent experience

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).