Job summary
We are seeking an enthusiastic and dynamic individual to work within Intermediate Care Services in the delivery of Occupational Therapy interventions that will promote real improvements in patient safety, patient experience and clinical effectiveness.

This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in working in the community setting and develop an exciting career within Intermediate Care in Walsall.

We are looking for Occupational Therapists with a broad range of under and post-graduate experience that will support the need for an efficient, proactive service in order to support patients who require rehabilitation following discharge from hospital, or support with hospital avoidance.

We are a multi disciplinary team working closely with our social care colleagues. We provide opportunity for professional development and are proud to have won Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust AHP Team of the Year in 2024.

Main duties of the job
The role involves working with patients on various ICS pathways, supporting hospital discharges, preventing hospital admission and providing rehabilitation in clients homes. ICS is an integrated health and social care model, therefore, you will be working with a variety of health and social care professionals.

To perform Occupational Therapy assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex conditions, to provide analysis, findings and delivery of individualised treatment programmes.

To hold responsibility for own caseload working without direct supervision. Supervision takes the form of regular formal training and clinical reasoning sessions, review of cases and the clinical intervention, peer review and case conferences. Advice and support from colleagues and a Team Lead Occupational Therapist is available and clinical work is routinely evaluated.

To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

To undertake evidence based audits to evaluate team's clinical practice. To make recommendations, which may result in the implementation of changes to practice or contributing to service protocols.

To work with other professions in order to facilitate safe and effective treatment and management.

To supervise, educate and assess the performance of undergraduate Occupational Therapy students.

To delegate duties to more junior staff and use resources effectively

About us
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an integrated Trust and the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, serving a population of 284,300. It provides inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital as well as a wide range of services in the community. Walsall Manor houses the full range of district general hospital services under one roof. The £170 million development was completed in 2010, and ongoing upgrades ensure the Trust now has state-of-the-art facilities, including a Critical Care Unit, Neonatal Unit, Obstetric Theatre, and Integrated Assessment Unit. A new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre, opened in March 2023, has significantly improved emergency care facilities and capacity, providing almost 5,000 square metres of additional clinical space.

Job responsibilities

• To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work.
• To obtain consent as outlined in College of Occupational Therapy (COT) and Trust policies.
• To be responsible for organising and planning own caseload to meet service and patient priorities, readjusting plans as situations change/arise.
• To undertake a proficient assessment of patients, including those with diverse and complex presentations by using clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques.
• To formulate and deliver an individual Occupational Therapy treatment programme based on sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills, knowledge and skills of treatment techniques, e.g. patient education and other alternative options
• To be assigned a defined area of responsibility. To be responsible for providing Occupational Therapy assessment and treatment plans for patients within this remit.
• To formulate realistic goals and participate in discharge planning as appropriate within the multi-disciplinary team.
• To effectively communicate with patients, family/carers who may have barriers to understanding or communicating, e.g. blind, deaf, dysphasic, or who do not have English as their first language.
• To evaluate patient progress, reassess and change treatment programmes if required.
• To be responsible for maintaining accurate, confidential and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with the COT Standards of Practice, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and to follow Trust documentation policies.
• To actively participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings. This may include discussion of patient care, patient progress, ongoing management and involvement in discharge planning as appropriate.
• To ensure that your own practice meets the level of competency required by professional standards of Occupational Therapy practice.
• To discuss with mentor / supervisor during regular supervision the organising and planning of own caseload to meet service and patient priorities, readjusting plans as situations change/arise and where appropriate delegate tasks to appropriate Therapy staff.

Person Specification
Qualifications

• Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• Evidence of relevant post graduate courses/CPD

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience with service development

Key competencies

• Experience covering a variety of clinical areas
• Ability to work independently
• Completed a minimum of one rotation in appropriate clinical setting

Skills

• IT Skills

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.