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Job summary

Main area
Division B - Occupational Therapy
Grade
Band 7
Contract
Permanent: also available for a 12 month Secondment opportunity / Fixed Term contract
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Flexible working
  • Home or remote working
37.5 hours per week (Part Time roles welcome, flexible working offered and hybrid working pattern)
Job ref
180-B-243176
Employer
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Addenbrookes Hospital-Division B
Town
Cambridge
Salary
£43,742 - £50,056 p.a. pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
29/07/2024 23:59
Interview date
20/08/2024

Employer heading

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Advanced Specialist Occupational Therapist

Band 7

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a skilled Occupational Therapist to join the Communication Aid Service East of England (CASEE).

You would join our specialist multi-professional team comprising Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, a Healthcare Scientist, a Rehabilitation Engineer, an Advisory Teacher, Clinical Technicians and administrative support. We welcome applications from those seeking a permanent role or those who are interested in a 12 month Secondment opportunity / Fixed Term contract.

This is a unique opportunity to develop a raft of specialist skills and experience in the exciting field of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC).  You will have the opportunity to engage in invaluable supportive professional development and learn a multitude of transferable skills to further your career in this specialist field or to bring back to your substantive role and add to your professional repertoire.

Ideally, you will be experienced in working with people with complex needs. You will be familiar with high level assessment, working as part of a multi-professional team and bringing your unique professional expertise to meet service user goals. You will also be confident in providing training to professionals and families and be able to communicate effectively with a broad range of individuals.

Main duties of the job

To contribute to the provision of the Regional Specialised AAC services within the East of England. 

To provide specialist clinical input to children and adults with complex disability including severe communication problems who need to use alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) as described in NHS England Service Specification for AAC / Communication Aids D01/S/B.

To carry out assessments across the region, as a member of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) and make recommendations for AAC provision including providing training and overseeing assessment trials with local teams.

To lead / contribute to the development and delivery of AAC training, to a wide range of audiences.

To actively contribute to the development of the service within the area of specialism and act as a resource for other Therapists and members of the multidisciplinary team in the area of expertise. 

To take delegated responsibility for aspects of service development and monitoring as required.

Working for our organisation

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 12000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CASEE is one of 14  regional specialised Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Services commissioned by NHS England to provide a consistent, equitable AAC Service across England and is managed within the CUH Speech and Language Therapy Service.

Our service works closely with local Therapy teams to provide a service to children and adults who are eligible for a specialised AAC assessment across the six counties of the East of England.

Whilst experience and high level AAC / Assistive Technology (AT) skills are desirable, we welcome applications from Occupational Therapists who have an interest in AAC / AT and who are committed to developing the necessary specialist knowledge and skills.

Applicants interested in Part Time opportunities are also welcomed.

We welcome applicants seeking a permanent role with CASEE and also those interested in an internal or external secondment opportunity.

Individual personal development needs will be identified and supported by the Service Lead and the specialist team, including experienced Occupational Therapist colleagues, with excellent training opportunities available.

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for detailed job duties and responsibilities.

Please note:- Internal applicants on permanent contracts can apply for this post as permanent or as a secondment and must have the approval of their current line manager before applying, if as a secondment.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 29 July 2024.

Interviews are due to be held on 20 August 2024.

Benefits to you

We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse, day nurseries and access to a great transport system with easy access to airports and rail travel.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • BSc in OT / Diploma in OT
  • HCPC Registration
  • Registered with RCOT
  • Evidence of attendance at relevant non-assessed short courses
  • Active member of Specialist Interest Groups
Desirable criteria
  • Evidence of attendance on specialist short courses and advanced training up to Masters level equivalent in clinical specialism

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of carrying out complex assessment as part of a multi-disciplinary team
  • Experience of planning and carrying out very highly specialist assessment of the client’s abilities
  • Experience of developing and delivering training in own highly specialist area
  • Experience of working with clients with complex needs and long term conditions
  • Experience of developing and delivering training in own highly specialist area
  • Experience in developing and delivering training to parents, education and other clinical specialities
  • Experience of supervising work of Therapy staff, assistants, Technicians, students
Desirable criteria
  • Line management experience
  • Post qualification experience in the field of AAC
  • Clinical and technical experience of working with high and low technological communication aids
  • Experience of planning and carrying out very highly specialist assessment of the client’s potential to access technology
  • Experience in teaching and/or research
  • Experience of undertaking collaborative research / departmental audit initiatives

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Highly specialist level of specialist knowledge to inform evidence based practice across all age groups and specialist difficulties
  • Highly specialist level of current knowledge of national issues and developments in accessibility and research in the field
  • In depth understanding of the principles of clinical governance / audit and research methodology
  • Awareness of demand and capacity issues
  • Knowledge of standards of record keeping
  • Awareness of range of seating systems, access methods and mounting systems and their application to clients with complex disability
  • Knowledge and experience of the impact of client's disability on occupational performance and the family / carers
  • In-depth knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to highly specialist area
  • Highly specialist knowledge of trends and best practice within highly specialised area
Desirable criteria
  • Highly specialist knowledge of seating systems, access methods and mounting systems and their application to clients with complex disability
  • Theoretical knowledge at highly specialist level sufficient to teach OTs and other professionals

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Advanced interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills
  • Ability to develop policies, procedures for specialist area
  • Advanced negotiation and problem solving skills
  • Advanced analytical and reflective skills
  • Advanced prioritisation and organisational skills
  • Computer skills for clinical documentation, presentations and AAC/ assessment materials
  • Flexibility and adaptability in all aspects of clinical, managerial, administrative and organisation activity
  • Problem solving approach to clinical and service delivery issues
  • Collaborative approach to all aspects of patient care and to multi-disciplinary working
  • Able to communicate very effectively with patients with communication problems where difficulties in understanding exist, using observation, listening and empathy
  • Able to present and convey highly complex information clearly to patients, carers and other professionals both in verbal and written form
  • Advanced presentation skills, both written and verbal
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to contribute to the development and implementation of regional AAC policies in negotiation with Lead Clinician

Additional Requirements

Essential criteria
  • The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
  • Clean driving licence and able to move and transport communication aids / ICT and assessment equipment to a wide range of venues across the East of England Region
Desirable criteria
  • Authorship in published research / articles in peer review journals

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Age-Friendly Employer PledgeCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.NHS Rainbow badgeTime to changeDisability confident committedStep into health

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Helen Murphy
Job title
CASEE Service Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01223 349401
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