Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical

      To undertake occupational assessment of antenatal and post-natal women in the perinatal period, assessing health and well-being from an occupational perspective.

·         To contribute to assessing and completing risk assessments within the multi-disciplinary team to support a person’s recovery.

·         To hold up to date knowledge of a range of occupational therapy standardised assessments, the models on which they are based and how to carry these out.

·         To collaboratively identify occupational focused goals taking into consideration the mental, physical, spiritual, psychological and social needs of the service user.

·         In collaboration with the service user, to plan and implement individual or group therapeutic interventions using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals which support recovery.

·         To use outcome measures that give clear evidence that occupational therapy has made a difference to service users’ occupations and ultimately support social inclusion and promote recovery.

·         To be able to prioritise own caseload in the day to day allocation of work, whilst being able to work flexibly to meet the needs of service users, their families and the service as a whole.

·         To manage a caseload of service users with complex needs, using evidence based and person-centred principles to assess, plan, implement, modify and evaluate occupational therapy interventions.

·         To apply a high level of understanding of the effect of disability and provide training and advice on lifestyle change and adaptations to the service users social and physical environment.

·         To assess and prescribe small aids and equipment and recommend adaptations to maximise independence for service users in home and community environments, where appropriate.

·         To analyse, grade and adapt individual and group activities to meet occupational performance and participation, environmental and vocational needs of service users.

·         To hold up to date knowledge of safeguarding principles and know how to respond to any safeguarding concern related to the service user.

·         To demonstrate and apply an in-depth level of understanding of the effect mental ill health has on a person’s occupational functioning and recommend adaptations to the service user’s physical and social environment as required.

·         To act as an autonomous, registered practitioner who is legally and professionally accountable for own unsupervised actions guided by the professional code of conduct and Trust guidelines and protocols.

·         To ensure accurate and timely documentation in accordance with Trust and RCOT/HCPC standards of practice.

Communication:

·         To develop a comprehensive set of skills to effectively communicate with service users and their family using a range of communication and engagement skills

·         To actively promote relationships with colleagues that support open communication and collaborative working, taking personal responsibility for ones contribution to the process of multi-disciplinary team working.

·         To articulate the meaning and value of occupation in relationship to wellbeing, recovery and social inclusion to service users, families and colleagues and the contribution of occupational therapy to this.

·         To display an understanding of the potential for distress caused by, and social and personal consequences of, mental illness for the service user, their families, carers and support networks.

·         To interact with service users, families, carers and support networks in an empathetic fashion and demonstrate a clear understanding of the effects of disability in the areas of self-care, productivity and leisure.

·         To use electronic recording systems to document high quality interventions that enhance occupational performance.

Professional:

·         To have an understanding of and demonstrate skill in the supervision process through ones’ own supervision and in the provision of supervision to staff and students.

·         To ensure full engagement in the Preceptorship programme.

·         To represent and act as an ambassador and role model for the Occupational Therapy Profession.

·         To participate in the induction, training and education of students and other staff.

·         To regularly supervise Occupational Therapy Students on practice placement.

·         To provide occupational performance, pathway or other associated data and reports at any stage in the treatment process as required.

·         To work effectively as a member of the multi-disciplinary team and actively contribute to service improvement and development projects.

Continued Professional Development:

·         To develop leadership skills, contributing to decision making about practice using training and development opportunities provided by the Trust.

·         To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities and recording CPD in a professional portfolio fulfilling HCPC and Trust requirements including mandatory training.

·         To demonstrate an awareness of the effects of, and one’s own limitations in fulfilling some aspects of the role, on one’s own mental wellbeing and demonstrate ability to seek assistance and guidance from colleagues.

·         To demonstrate self-awareness and an ability to reflect and discuss emotions and thoughts in relation to care of service users seeking assistance and guidance from colleagues as necessary.

·         To demonstrate an understanding of the benefits and challenges of working in a multi-professional team and be able to maintain a clear occupational focus to ones work for the benefit of the service user.

·         To exercise and therefore, actively role model, good time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.

·         Evaluate the quality of own work and make improvements where necessary ensuring all issues and related risks are raised with Line Manager and Professional Supervisor

·        To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through continuing professional development activities, maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development and encourage others to do likewise.

·         To actively participate in regular appraisals, developing a personal development plan in conjunction with your supervision.