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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties

CLINICAL

1. To assess and treat patients, addressing quality of life, physical, cognitive, affective, social and environmental issues either on an individual or a group basis, utilising a range of therapeutic skills in accordance with devised treatment plans, in both hospital and in the community settings.
2. To prioritise factors involved in the Clients presenting condition through clinical reasoning based on skills, knowledge, experience and on current professional opinion, Clients progress and other physical, social, emotional and mental health issues.
3. To use a client centred approach and to set treatment goals that focus on the strengths and the needs of the patient/client.
4. To ensure that the Client and/or their carer have an understanding of treatment protocols and to ensure that there is informed consent to examination and treatment as required by the Trust or Social Services.
5. In some service settings - To screen multidisciplinary referrals from a variety of sources where no other professionals are currently involved.
6. To devise and manage a treatment plan individual to a Clients presenting condition through, the use of functional rehabilitation, adaptation, equipment provision, education, health promotion and cognitive or psychological approaches.
7. To contribute, as part of the multi-disciplinary team to the discharge planning process, to enable clients to be discharged safely, with the relevant Occupational Therapy intervention completed in a timely manner.
8. Use knowledge of other multidisciplinary roles and external agencies to ensure effective referral management and achieve best Client care.
9. To attend, and participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and case conferences and any relevant meetings as required.
10. To ensure Client and service records are recorded and maintained, as per local Occupational Therapy, HCPC, BAOT and Trust guidelines.
11. To prescribe, delegate and monitor the work of Rehabilitation Assistants/ Therapy assistants and Technicians or Support Workers and countersign documentation if required.
12. To advise, demonstrate to and teach relevant clients, carers/health workers about ongoing rehabilitation and maintenance care programmes and use of equipment as appropriate.

13. To manage clinical risk in own caseload and ensure that therapy/rehabilitation assistants and students comply, e.g. manual handling, risk assessment and local policy regarding lone working.

COMMUNICATION

1. To use well developed verbal and non-verbal communication skills to ensure that the Client and/or their carer understands the relevant advise, education and recommendations given. 
2. To communicate sensitive information in an understandable form to patients and their carers and to enable patients to participate and co-operate in treatment.
3. To produce written, electronic and verbal reports for the MDT other Health or Social care providers and be able to convey this to the patient in an accessible and meaningful manner using the correct terminology, often in the face of communication barriers
4. To comply with the Trust’s policies on Confidentiality, Documentation and record keeping.
5. To give feedback in multi-disciplinary meetings, case conferences, case reviews etc in relation to own clinical findings in a consistent and professional manner.

EDUCATION / PROFESSIONAL

1. To utilise opportunities to develop skills and knowledge, apply critical appraisal and keep up to date with current practise in the field.
2. To support other Occupational Therapists in the education and training of other professionals and visitors to the department.
3. To participate in education programmes for Client/ service groups.
4. To support health promotion and health education initiatives within the locality and within the community directorate.
5. To comply with all mandatory training, proactively attending updates at the time intervals stated.
6. To maintain and update a Continuing Professional Development portfolio.
7. To participate in the Preceptorship programme as required.
8. To participate in the Appraisal/Individual performance review system.

MANAGEMENT

1. To ensure that accurate and evaluative records of patient care are maintained in line with the service policy.
2. To delegate appropriate work to staff in supporting roles and provide informal day-to-day support to Rehabilitation Assistants and students to enable them to carry or assist with a managed caseload.
3. To be responsible for the safe use of all equipment.
4. To ensure that all equipment defects, accidents and complaints are reported to the Team Leader immediately.
5. To comply with the Trusts/ Social services policies and procedures, and the Health and Safety at Work Act.
6. To participate in the collection of statistics and audit programmes as required by the Service.
7. To participate in the induction/orientation of new staff members.
8. To attend and participate in Occupational Therapy/Joint Therapy staff meetings and other relevant meetings as identified by team lead.
9. With supervision, use time management skills, to manage and organise your workload on a daily basis.
10. To maintain and develop specific departmental duties as designated by the Lead/ Senior OT of the service.
11. To participate in the development of services and initiatives in the Team, with  the support and guidance from senior staff.

RESEARCH

1. To participate in the evaluation of clinical practise.
2. To keep up to date in the development of research and clinical practice in the field of rehabilitation, older people and related areas.