Lead Occupational Therapist

An exciting opportunity for an Experienced Occupational Therapy Team Lead has arisen within a Care and Rehabilitation Centre to make an impact on the lives of people following acquired brain injury, traumatic brain injury, incomplete spinal injury or for those living with other neurological conditions.

At times throughout the year, you will also support a small number of clients requiring general in-patient rehabilitation in order to support our local NHS Trusts and outpatients.
They are looking to recruit a dynamic, motivated and forward thinking individual with a passion for neuro-rehabilitation. You will lead and support the Occupational Therapy team to deliver clinical excellence and high quality occupational therapy in service, within a well established multi-disciplinary team.
Working as part of the strong MDT, you will lead on embedding evidence based practice within the OT team. Innovative practice is encouraged to maximize our clients time within the rehabilitation unit, promoting an enabling approach, with comprehensive discharge planning, working with our admissions and discharge coordinator and the community therapy teams. MDT working is essential in this role so you must have a full understanding and appreciation of other disciplines aswell as excellent communication skills. A background of junior staff supervision and teaching is required.
There is much opportunity for continuing professional development and learning through a variety of mediums. You will be supported and report to your Head of Clinical Services and clinical supervision will be put in place.
Growing demand for our services, combined with our passion for delivering the highest standards of care and treatment, inspired the move to our new, modern Care and Rehabilitation Centre in July 2020. The Centre, especially designed for us, provides a fantastic hub of expertise and technology for people with a wide range of disabilities. It is located next to the head office, in Leatherhead.

• To effectively lead the Care and Rehabilitation Centre Occupational Therapy team nurturing a culture that is inclusive, supportive, professional and progressive in its ambitions to deliver high quality, safe and person centered care.
• To be responsible for the day to day Occupational Therapy organisation ensuring that all clients are given timely, appropriate, effective occupational therapy treatment and discharge planning.
• To work as an autonomous practitioner in providing comprehensive assessments of clients who have had a neurological injury, illness and impairments including those with complex presentations and develop agreed problem lists and holistic treatment plans.
• Use advanced clinical reasoning skills, knowledge of evidence-based practice, current NICE guidelines and clinical expertise to determine appropriate rehabilitation programs and discharge / continuing care plans.
• To oversee the quality and efficiency of the OT teams clinical resources providing support to less experienced OTs.
• To hold your own designated clinical caseload of clients and maintain up to date professional documentation according to professional and departmental standards.
• To assess and monitor clients effectively so to progress them through their rehabilitation providing optimal chance of recovery and retrieval of physical and cognitive function.
• To act as a key worker for clients in the Care and Rehabilitation Centre, appropriately coordinating a safe, smooth and timely discharge, liaising with all personnels as appropriate.
• To be able to confidently and competently offer a wide range of Occupational therapy interventions and approaches to your clients in the Care and Rehabilitation Centre, demonstrating knowledge and skills in the delivery of FES, splinting, complex posture and seating requirements and upper limb management.
• To be able to actively participate in the various MDT clinical meetings sharing expert OT opinion which are required to support the client rehabilitation journey, such as weekly MDM and ward rounds, discharge, rehab planning and family meetings.
• To demonstrate clinical effectiveness and change through intervention; this will include the knowledge and ability to set discipline specific and wider MDT goals and complete clinically relevant outcome measures.

• To be able to effectively complete required reports for discharge or funding purposes.
• To be able to carry out the necessary home and discharge visits for clients as appropriate and to be able to assist the wider Occupational Therapy team in the same; ensuring safety for all team members is maintained and lone working is effectively monitored.
• To demonstrate knowledge and skills in the identification and prescription of equipment and specialist equipment for clients presenting with neurological conditions.
• To explore and promote options for Occupational Therapy Service development working alongside other senior occupational therapists and your wider team to effectively implement and monitor any proposed changes in occupational therapy practice.
• As the Occupational Therapy Team lead, you will be required to work closely with your Head of Clinical Services and the wider senior leadership team in order to identify, propose and support the implementation of any changes to neurorehabilitation practice, in order to ensure that an integrated therapy service is offered in a well-planned and cohesive manner.
• To be responsible for the supervision, teaching and day to day line management of more junior Occupational Therapy staff including assistants and students.
• To participate in CPD, appraisal processes and other developmental activities, encouraging your team members to do so accordingly also.
• To participate in / lead with the investigation of incidents and complaints raised in relation to the OT team, working in collaboration with the Head of Clinical Services and in accordance with their policy.

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