Important Job Application Information
Thank you for your interest in NHS Tayside vacancies.
Please see below Job Description/Specification and General Conditions of Service.
Your Application Form must be completed in full. Please note copies of Curriculum Vitae, Qualifications and Course Certificates will not be accepted at this stage.
Please return your completed Application Form to (quoting the Post Reference Number in the subject box) or to the postal address given on the General Conditions of Service.
All completed applications are held in Human Resources until the closing date. After the closing date a panel will meet to prepare an interview shortlist. Once this decision has been made, all shortlisted applicants will be emailed to invite them to attend for interview. It is important that you check your emails regularly, including your spam/junk box.
This process takes approximately six weeks. Therefore, if you have not been contacted regarding interview within six weeks of the closing date, your application has been unsuccessful and you will receive no further correspondence from Human Resources.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:-
Find out more about living and working in Tayside at:
www.dundeecity.gov.uk
www.angus.gov.uk
www.pkc.gov.uk
NHS TAYSIDE – AGENDA FOR CHANGE
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. JOB IDENTIFICATIONJob Title: Occupational Therapist
Department(s)/Location: Specialist Palliative Care, Dundee
Number of job holders: 1
2. JOB PURPOSE
1. Work independently to manage a caseload of patients/clients with diverse and complex needs, to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions (inclusive of activity analysis).
2. Use occupation as an assessment and therapeutic tool to enable patients/clients to achieve their optimum level of independence in the areas of personal care, domestic, leisure, education and work
3. Provide specialist OT advice to other disciplines as required both within and out with the service.
3. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION
4. SCOPE AND RANGE
1. The overall objective of this service is to provide specialist palliative care for adults in Tayside. Roxburghe House is a modern Specialist Palliative Care Unit situated in the grounds of Royal Victoria Hospital and is part of NHS Tayside. Roxburghe House In-patient Unit includes 24 in-patient beds shared between two wings, an Independent Living Unit and a mortuary. Macmillan Day Care operates 4 days per week with places for 16 patients per day and 1day per week for visits and specific out patients or education groups.
Working across both the In-patient Unit and Day Care, the post holder will:
· Perform highly specialist occupational therapy assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions.
· Develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme agreeing long and short term goals to facilitate optimum level of independence and quality of life.
· Influence patient management decisions through multi-agency working.
· Participate in planning and co-ordinating discharge of patients, including co-ordinating case conferences.
· Liasing with community staff for onward referral of patients.
· Hold responsibility for own caseload and a defined area of the service.
· Supervise, educate and assess the performance of occupational therapy students.
· Contribute to training of MDT students/staff .
· Undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.
· Provide advice and guidance on health promotion, health management and prevention strategies to patients, carers, volunteers and other healthcare staff.
5. MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical
1. Provide assessment and treatment for patients/clients within specialist palliative care using standardised assessments/outcome measures as appropriate.2. Apply a broad level of specialist skills and knowledge of the OT process and chronic disease management, consolidated through previous experience and training, to patients/clients who will have complex and chronic presentation
3. By applying a broad level of clinical reasoning, demonstrate an ability to problem solve, monitor, evaluate and modify interventions and their outcomes for patients/clients in order to measure progress and ensure effective intervention.
4. Contribute to multidisciplinary decisions regarding patient/client care and prescribe intervention within care plan which other professionals will follow.
5. Advise and instruct patients/clients/carers, other health care professionals, and external agencies (e.g. social care officer) as appropriate on the principles of OT intervention to ensure continuity of approach, e.g. social care officer adhering to OT recommendations to ensure maintenance and progression of treatment.
6. Enable patients/clients to explore, achieve and maintain balance in their activities of daily living in the areas of personal care, domestic, leisure, education and work.
7. Enable patients to adjust to the limitations of their illness in order to maintain or improve their quality of life.
8. Manage clinical risk for own caseload, monitor that of support staff and provide advice (e.g. assessing if it is appropriate to take patient/client out with in-patient area to home environment in line with department guidelines)
Documentation
1. Maintain written and electronic records and maintain activity data in accordance with professional and NHS Tayside standards
2. Maintain patient/client documentation and provide specialist OT reports relevant to practice setting according to professional standards and local protocols e.g. Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act
3.Contribute to the on-going use and development of multi-disciplinary documentation
Professional Ethics
1. Ensure compliance with professional Code of Conduct and Ethics, HCPC standards of proficiency, the NHS Tayside Code of Conduct for staff, National and local policies/procedures and in the event of non-compliance of staff report to line manager
2. Respect the individuality, values, culture and religious diversity of patients/clients/colleagues and contribute to a service sensitive to these needs
3. Be aware of ethical issues relating to OT and other professionals’ clinical practice and address issues in an appropriate and professional manner, ensuring that OT practice and patient/client care is not compromised, e.g. patient/client being asked to carry out an inappropriate activity contradictory to culture or diagnosis.
Leadership, supervision and performance development review
1. Review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and performance development review system
2. Participate in performance development and supervision for support staff as required
3. May occasionally be involved in the interview and selection process for support staff
4. Promote the ethos of multi agency team and in partnership working
Professional Development
1. Actively participate in the performance development review process (appraisal) and undertake relevant activities to meet learning objectives agreed with line manager
2. Continually improve and apply skills and knowledge in order to enhance professional competence to address increasingly complex clinical situations and support life long learning
3. Maintain a professional portfolio in line with requirements for HPC registration, recording learning outcomes
4. Ensure that own practice and that of designated support staff under supervision, meet the required standard of OT practice
Training Staff and Students
1Contribute to the induction, training and education of students, staff and other professionals.
2. Supervise, educate and assess the performance of degree level OT students and other MDT students
3. Educate staff in health, education, local authority and voluntary agencies, in issues related to OT. and specialist palliative care e.g. formal/informal education sessions to both large and small groups
Service Development and Delivery
1. Contribute to the planning, and evaluate and audit practice, clinical pathways and protocols within designated area/team
2. Contribute to the implementation of policy/service development within designated teams leading on delegated projects in collaboration with line manager
3. Contribute to the management of the work area in accordance with health and safety and infection control regulations
Clinical Governance, Quality and Standards
1. Comply with all relevant NHS Tayside and National, Local and Departmental policies, procedures and guidelines, e.g. Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety, Confidentiality of Information, Patient and Public Involvement
2. Follow NHS Tayside policy when handling and learning from complaints in conjunction with senior staff contributing to responses as agreed with line manager.
3. Contribute to local and departmental clinical governance and quality agenda as agreed with line manager e.g. sharing/learning from a significant event analysis, collation of clinical governance information.
4. May take a lead on specific clinical governance/clinical effectiveness projects as agreed with line manager
5. Apply national guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care, in consultation with the multi-professional team.
6. Monitor and review interventions, raising awareness of service gaps and developments to line manager
Management Skills
1. In the absence of line manager and as agreed, ensure O.T. service delivery is maintained
2. Exercise effective personal time management, punctuality and reliable attendance
3. Ensure the maintenance of equipment/materials are fit for purpose at the point of issue, providing advice to the recipient on the safe use of same
4. Responsible for organising and prioritising own caseload and that of designated support staff to meet service and patient need, modifying plans as situations change
5. Encourage innovative practice within agreed boundaries
Research and Practice Development
1. Critically evaluate current research and apply to practice
2. Further develop research skills to lead, undertake and promote research and/or audit projects relevant to OT and/or service area
3. Promote dissemination of audit/research outcomes at local/national level, implementing change as agreed with line manager
6. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
1. Establish robust networks (written, electronic and verbal) to communicate effectively with patients/clients, family and carers, other health professionals and external agencies on clinical matters in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture
2. Communicate effectively with patients, families and carers some of whom may have barriers to understanding (eg sensory impairment, learning difficulties, language barriers and confusion), using verbal/non-verbal, written and presentation skills as required.
3. Work as a member of the multidisciplinary team contributing to complex decisions regarding patient/client treatment programmes and discharge planning, e.g. case conferences, clinic and ward meetings
4. Instruct, encourage and guide patients/clients/carers regarding aspects of OT, e.g. equipment fitting, intervention plans
5. Inform patient/client/colleagues of changes to service delivery timeously e.g. inform clinical area of planned/unplanned absences
6. Actively promote the benefits of OT intervention in patient care with patients/clients and other professionals
7. Use empathy and understanding when dealing with distressed patients/clients, their family and staff.
8. Discuss information, including the breaking of bad news, which may be sensitive or contradictory to patient and carer expectations and requires the use of empathy and re-assurance skills e.g. when discussing deteriorating functional ability.
9. Encourage and persuade patients/clients to take an active part in their OT interventions
10. Frequently provide relevant information, both written and oral, for documents relating to patients/clients progress
11. Promote and ensure the effective two way flow of communication within the organisational structure in relation to service delivery and represent OT/MDT team at meetings as required
12. As delegated, participate/represent OT service at relevant for a both local/national
13. Deliver presentations using multi-media equipment to local and national audiences interventions
7. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
1. Diploma/degree in Occupational Therapy
2. HPC Registration
3. Broad knowledge of current best practice in chronic disease management, palliative care and an in-depth knowledge of OT
4. Membership of an OT professional body is desirable
5. Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance enhancing clinical reasoning
6. Ability to teach skills relating to the OT process, e.g. practical skills to enable a patient/client to be independent in meal preparation
7. Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships within OT team and across all agencies
8. Effective communication skills, written, verbal and non-verbal
9. Computer literacy, e.g. e-mails, patient documentation and treatment media
10. Understanding of professional ethics/standards and their application in OT practice
11. A knowledge and application of current legislation/policy e.g. Mental Health Care And Treatment (Scotland) Act, Child Protection, Health and Safety, Risk Awareness/Management within a Clinical Governance Framework
12. Ability to travel in the area
13. Willingness to work flexibly as the unexpected needs of the service and/or patient/client would require
8. SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
1. Assess for and prescribe specialist equipment/materials to enhance patient/client’s ability to conduct activities of daily living and social participation e.g. feeding/dressing aids, splints and wheelchairs, art materials
2. Understand, apply and teach safe use and care of specialist equipment/materials to patients/clients/carers and other staff as appropriate, adjusting heights and ensuring that it is fit for purpose
3. Record, collate and submit data information to contribute to service quality indicators
4. Ensure the maintenance of accurate patient records e.g. OT notes and multi-disciplinary notes.
5. Effectively utilise local services e.g. voluntary and statutory organisations
6. Adhere to identified systems e.g. stock control and department security
7. Ensure equipment/materials are fit for purpose as per manufacturers guidelines, prior to use, e.g. department cooker and wheelchairs
8. Use of communication equipment on a daily basis e.g. patient/client communication aids
9. The ability to work with IT systems/data bases to generate reports, record statistics etc
9. PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
Physical Effort
1. Frequent requirement for moderate physical effort for several short periods during a shift, e.g. manual and therapeutic handling of patients/clients with or without challenging behaviour with or without equipment.
2. Exert daily physical effort to manoeuvre (lift, push, pull, carry) equipment (e.g. wheelchairs, hoists, assessment packages)
3. Occasional driving to take patients on home visits or other patient journeys
4. Skills required – keyboard skills (e-mail and treatment packages), manual handling training and CPR skills (updated annually), communication skills (with colleagues and patients/clients), food hygiene
Mental Effort
1. Responding to unexpected changes in patient’s/client’s condition. This requires being alert and undertaking an advanced standard of clinical reasoning in relation to assessment and decisions regarding patient/client management, e.g. unexpected collapse, rapid change in condition
2 Periods of particular concentration especially with new and complex patients who may have communication difficulties.
3. Frequent periods, on an ongoing and daily basis, of sustained concentration e.g. working with patients/clients who have communication problems, addressing staffing issues
4. Infrequent exposure to verbal/physical aggression dis-inhibited behaviour using acquired skills to prevent situations from becoming volatile
5.On a daily basis plan, initiate and review OT interventions encouraging and persuading patients/clients/carers/MDT colleagues to support the OT treatment process
6.Motivate, encourage and persuade patients to take an active role in their rehabilitation to facilitate optimal outcome.
7. On a daily basis prioritise own work load and that of support staff
8. Frequent interruptions during working day from other staff/ patients/clients/carers on an ongoing and daily basis, e.g. telephone, pager, direct contact
9. May be required to respond to unpredictable demand, e.g. urgent situation
Emotional Effort
1. On a daily basis deal with patients with terminal or life limiting conditions.
2 Deal with patients (and their families) who have a debility, complex pain and other symptoms
3. Directly dealing with highly distressing and emotional circumstances on a daily basis. e.g. dealing with patients (and their families) who have fluctuating and declining physical and/or cognitive abilities
4. Frequently receive, analyse and convey information of a sensitive and emotive nature which can be contradictory to staff/patient/client and carer expectations and desires
5.May be required to support other staff with particular issues relating to staff and/or patient care, that may prove distressing or challenging, e.g. staff member experiencing family bereavement struggling to cope with patient/client care
Working Conditions
1. The job involves occasional exposure to highly unpleasant working conditions e.g. body fluids, verbal/physical aggression.2. This job may involve moderate risk when lone working, adhering to NHS Tayside and local Lone Worker policies
3. Frequently work in the community where there is limited control to observe health and safety regulations e.g. passive smoking, body fluids, noxious odours, untrained animals
Miscellaneous
1. Exercise effective time management punctuality and consistent reliable attendance
10. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
1. Demonstrate autonomy within the agreed management structure
2. Responsibility for own patient caseload, including prioritisation and balancing other patient related and professional demands while recognising own limitations.
3.Work autonomously making clinical decisions within scope of practice.
4.Accept, assess, plan, undertake and complete and/or discontinue occupational therapy interventions as per presenting clinical condition or refer on to other agencies.
5.Strongly influence patient management decisions through multi-agency working.
6.Need to use own initiative and ability to react timeously and appropriately to crises.
7.Participate in single shared assessment and refer to appropriate services.
8. Frequently make risk management decisions relating to patients/clients home, e.g. environment, care packages, discharge planning, service delivery.
9. Contribute to policy development, standards and guidelines both on a local and national level in relation to OT and Specialist Palliative Care practice.
11. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
1. Working in a highly distressing, emotional environment, dealing with patients and carers who are anxious angry or distraught due to the deteriorating condition of the patient.
2. Very frequently, throughout each shift, dealing with diverse situations ranging from patients who are receiving active rehabilitation to treating patients who are dying.
3. Undertake a physically and mentally demanding job whilst taking care to safeguard own health and safety as well as that of patients and colleagues whilst working with a diverse clinical caseload.
4. Participating in multi-agency teams ensuring a professional opinion is expressed with which other, more experienced members of the team may not agree.
5. Identify and deal sensitively with patients whose symptoms are psychological, spiritual, emotional as well as physical in nature.
Person Specification