Occupational Therapist

• To be responsible for the provision and strategic development of a specialist Neuro Occupational Therapy service.
• To hold a clinical caseload, provide highly specialist Occupational Therapy expertise in the assessment and treatment of complex neurological patients, develop specialist programmes of care and rehabilitation and write detailed reports as required.
• To lead and develop the Occupational Therapy service to meet National standards and guidelines and contribute within the multi-disciplinary team in the clinical management and development of neurology services.
• To review and interpret national policies and standards for eg. Stroke, Acquired Brain Injury, Spinal Injuries and apply to own service and benchmark against these standards.
• To be responsible for planning, initiating and leading specialist audits and service evaluations, making recommendations to influence service development and clinical planning.
• To work in partnership with the Head of Therapies to continually review, develop and refine pathways of care; facilitating the delivery of a robust, innovative and expert service.

Key Responsibilities:

• To undertake comprehensive occupational therapy assessment of individuals with complex neurological presentations as an autonomous practitioner, including the assessment of neurological impairment (including cognition, perception, upper limb impairment and fatigue) as well as activity limitations and participation restrictions (as defined in the ICF) within 2 weeks of the patient’s admission excluding access and home visits.
• To negotiate goal-directed intervention with individuals and / or carers to establish a realistic person-centred treatment programme, and promote an individual’s choice.
• To formulate and deliver a person-centred individual treatment programme based on a sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment and reasoning skills.
• To fabricate and alter high standard splints to aid with upper limb positioning and management of neurological conditions. To assist junior staff with their splinting skills providing guidance where necessary. To provide regular basic training of use of upper limb splints to other members of MDT. To be aware of any new splinting techniques and materials that would be of use to the hospital.
• To ensure that all clients within caseload have adequate seating and positioning assessments, protocols and risk assessments. To provide regular training of wheelchair positioning and use of wheelchairs to other members of the MDT covering the importance of positioning and what is good positioning.
• To independently evaluate progress using recognised and validated outcome measures, adapting therapy as necessary.
• Development of, and run, a range of therapeutic groups to ensure comprehensive rehabilitation program.
• To assess and determine the need for assistive technology and / or adaptive environments to enhance an individual’s independence; making recommendations to individuals / carers and other staff / professionals, trialling and training individuals and carers in their use.
• To effectively prioritise and manage a mixed caseload of 1:1 therapy session, therapeutic group work and training within the OT team.
• To oversee the maintenance of accurate and up to date documentation of the OT caseload including care plans and risk assessments.

Essential Criteria: 

• Be a therapist with current HCPC or professional registration
• Education to degree level (degree in occupational therapy)
• At least 5 years’ experience in health or social care setting
• Experience in neurological rehab/complex care
• Right to work in the UK

Blackstone Recruitment Benefits: