Job Title: Advanced Practitioner Occupational Therapist, Frailty Service, Band 7
Directorate: Surgery & Clinical Services
Location: Craigavon Area Hospital
Salary: Band 7 (£47,810 - £54,710)
Contract Type: Permanent
Closes: Tue, 24 November 2026 @ 4:00 PM

Job Summary
The Frailty Advanced Practitioner Occupational Therapist (OT) will be charged with responsibility for organising & ensuring delivery of an Occupational Therapy Frailty service to patients within all wards and Emergency Department within the acute setting.

Description of Post
The post holder will work at an advanced practitioner level, maintaining responsibility for the provision of clinical leadership and expert advice regarding the management of patients with frail complex conditions referred to acute occupational therapy service from all departments.

Clinical leadership and expert guidance should be provided to other occupational therapists, consultants/registrars, and all other members of the multi-disciplinary team within the acute sector and across community interfaces with specific guidance and training for the management of the more complex frail cases. The post holder will work to ensure best intervention and management of patients and to agree validated outcome measures for this service. Where concerns are raised communication will occur directly with referrers.

To work alongside the other senior therapists ensuring continuity of care and smooth pathways across ED and acute wards. The post holder will work with the Acute Patient Flow Team / Acute Social Work Team and Community In-reach Teams to maximize the flow of patients across the acute hospital site and into the community, focusing on the prevention of admission where appropriate and the facilitation of discharge.

To actively lead in the development and monitoring of protocols in line with changing practice. To implement policy and service changes to working practices and evaluating the service in conjunction with National, professional and multidisciplinary standards of care.

The post holder will work with the Team Lead OT, the acute OT Lead, the Professional Head of OT and the Operational Head of AHPs to ensure the strategic development of the occupational therapy service in SHSCT and across the region, developing and implementing policies and procedures.

The post holder will deputise for the OT team leader as required and will assist in the daily management of the team including delegation of caseloads, supervision and co-ordination of staff and provide feedback to the OT team leader as appropriate.

Key Duties / Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain clinical lead for the Occupational Therapy Frailty service including day to day management, supervision, co-ordination and delegation of referrals to team members ensuring allocation of caseload commensurate to grade.
• Apply a high level of understanding of the effects of frailty and be responsible for the assessment/diagnosis and implementation of appropriate person centred treatment.
• Lead on initiatives for clinical governance development and implementation within the defined area monitoring professional standards and undertaking audit within area of working and disseminate findings at a local level.
• Have a key role within Occupational Therapy for developing, implementing and overseeing clinical provision for acute services within the Trust in line with local and national policy.
• Develop, implement and maintain high clinical standards within the Occupational Therapy Acute Team.
• Attend and input to any relevant clinics, meetings or ward rounds and carry out identified clinical caseload providing advice and guidance to other Occupational Therapy staff on frail complex cases.
• Ensure use of evidence based practice to evaluate, monitor and review outcomes of therapeutic intervention provided for each client, implementing necessary changes to maximise functional independence and quality of life.
• Provide expert advice, treatment, prescription of specialised equipment and or minor adaptations to reduce the risk for clients/carers and other professional staff.
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary working by effective integrated clinical practice, establishing joint goals and care planning and engaging in multidisciplinary ward meetings.
• Promote collaborative working relationships with other professionals providing a specialist advisory role.
• Promote a collaborative working relationship with family and carers, giving relevant advice on home management of the referred condition, including provision of and training in use of equipment/adaptations.
• Establish information regarding the patient's home environment and advise on recommendations for modification/adaptations, referring to agencies as appropriate and monitoring progress where this affects discharge.
• Work in partnership with relevant statutory/voluntary agencies and community groups to ensure effective delivery of service.
• Work to regionally agreed criteria when recommending adaptations whilst ensuring appropriate utilisation of public funds.
• Liaise effectively with Occupational Therapy colleagues from other directorates and other trusts as appropriate.

Managerial Responsibilities

• Provide Occupational Therapy input into emergency department and acute wards to ensure effective discharge planning and liaison between all partners in Health and Social Services.
• Prepare and submit timely clinical reports and participate in multi-disciplinary ward meetings and for other statutory agencies as required.
• Maintain and update records ensuring all professional material is contemporaneous and legible and maintained in accordance with professional and Trust standards.
• Take responsibility for the preparation, collation and dissemination of statistics in relation to own area of work and the acute team.
• Identify, implement and evaluate best/innovative practice with new models of service delivery relevant to clinical area in consultation with the Occupational Therapy Lead.
• Actively liaise with MDT ensuring correct dissemination of information through appropriate channels.
• Ensure effective time management of caseload of all team members and efficient and effective use of all resources within own area of responsibility.
• Assist in recruitment and selection of Occupational Therapy staff, and be actively involved in staff induction.
• Ensure that all staff development, supervision and individual performance review programmes are in place within the area of responsibility, completed timely through active participation of all team members.
• Liaise with the OT Team Lead and contribute to planning, development, evaluation and audit of acute OT provision.
• Adhere to national and local standards and guidelines in relation to professional practice and ensure clinical competence for occupational therapy, reporting any difficulties to the Occupational Therapy Team Lead immediately.
• Keep up to date with publications and documents outlining service developments and planning within acute services.
• Maintain knowledge of and adherence to current Government, Trust and Allied Health Professionals legislation, strategies, policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Inform the Occupational Therapy Team Lead of changing needs within own area of responsibility, including staffing needs, equipment needs and areas of over or under provision of service.
• Ensure risk assessments are in place and promote a safe environment by following Health and Safety Policies and Procedures and Risk Management.
• Assist the Team Lead to plan and co-ordinate the service, ensuring all rotas are maintained and an effective service is delivered, evaluated and changed as required.
• Assist the Team Lead in implementing Trust policies, e.g. sickness absence, disciplinary or grievance matters.
• Delegate appropriate responsibility and authority to staff within own control, consistent with effective decision-making, whilst retaining overall responsibility and accountability for the area.

Education and Training

• Maintain and develop professional, clinical and management skills and specialist knowledge through appropriate professional development activities, including relevant courses/conferences and, as appropriate, providing feedback to colleagues.
• Be responsible for maintaining own competency to practise through CPD activities, maintaining a portfolio in line with HCPC CPD standards.
• Provide undergraduate Occupational Therapy practice education placement opportunities within the team/service.
• Provide training and advice to carers, voluntary agencies and support groups as required.
• Be conversant and knowledgeable in the use of formal standardised assessment procedures applicable to the disabled and elderly population.
• Ensure the training needs of staff are met, e.g. in-service training, presentations, commissioned training courses and informal training identified via the CPD/appraisal process.
• Lead and contribute to research and development through participation in multidisciplinary audit and use of research initiatives.

Essential Criteria

• Hold BSc/BSc Hons or Dip COT in Occupational Therapy, with evidence of Master's education/modules or equivalent or willingness to complete within 12-18 months.
• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registration.
• A minimum of five years post graduate experience with a minimum of three years clinical experience at Band 6 or equivalent in relevant clinical areas assessing and treating patients with a range of acute presentations, and a minimum of one year's experience of staff management/supervisory role.
• Hold a current full driving licence valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment (waived where disability prohibits driving and an approved form of transport is available).
• Experience in delivering objectives which have led to a significant improvement in service.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office products including at least one core package (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to initiate and undertake risk assessments and demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning and decision making skills.
• Ability to formulate and implement Occupational Therapy treatment plans based on comprehensive assessment and current evidence.
• Ability to use assessment outcomes to advise and make recommendations on appropriate management.
• Highly effective verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively manage a team, provide effective leadership and work as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to identify solutions to problems and implement them effectively.
• Commitment to high quality, safe services with an ability to drive a culture of continuous improvement.
• Effective planning and organisational skills with an ability to work to tight timescales whilst meeting targets.
• Knowledge of clinical governance and risk management principles and practice.
• Knowledge of current developments in acute and unscheduled care.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in working with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders in a role which has contributed to the successful implementation of a significant change initiative.

Successful applicants may be required to attend a Health Assessment. Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made. An Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI may be required before any appointment is confirmed. The Organisation is an equal opportunities employer. Successful applicants may request Flexible Working from the first day of employment. All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times.