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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This role is set to provide specialist occupational therapy interventions for referred clients, to promote and develop the role of Occupational Therapy within the clinical area., and to act as lead specialist in the ATS Service.

Clinical
1. Operate as a specialist occupational therapy practitioner and manage an appropriate clinical caseload.
2. Promote evidence based practice in occupational therapy and the relevant mental health service/ learning disability service.
3. Provide a specialised range of clinical interventions and demonstrate knowledge of models of practice.
4. Monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of interventions.
5. Provide specialist clinical assessment, formulation, intervention, review and where appropriate CPA including care co-ordination for service users, their families and carers.
6. Contribute to the development of multi-disciplinary best practice clinical guidelines and protocols.
7. Have a basic working knowledge of the medication prescribed for the persons in their care. To include usual dosage, common side effects and the need for any special monitoring. Any reported or observed side effects must be brought to the attention of the prescriber.
8. Supervise the work of more junior staff and provide support and guidance.
9. Ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards and to provide specialist occupational therapy reports relevant to the practice setting.
10. To adhere to Trust risk management policies and procedures.
11. To champion occupational and recovery approaches within the service area.
12. Be aware of and able to use de-escalation techniques and breakaway

Communication
1. Ensure effective communication with all parts of the service, other agencies and people who use services and their carers.
2. Ensure representation in strategic meetings and raise awareness of the contribution of occupational therapy.
3. Develop and maintain effective communication structures, facilitating two-way communication on professional and Trust issues.
4. Provide specialist advice to team members, clients, carers and the wider network.
5. Liaise regularly with the professional lead occupational therapist on professional and service issues.
6. Work with other lead professionals within the clinical area as required.
7. Communicate effectively with clients and their carers and ensure that communication difficulties are addressed sensitively.

Leadership
1. To fully participate in the Trust’s performance review and personal development planning process on an annual basis.
2. To provide effective guidance, supervision and appraisals for junior staff.
3. Represent the professional lead occupational therapist when appropriate at relevant meetings.
4. To act as a designated pin holder for the Integrated community equipment store, to an agreed threshold where relevant.

Staff and Training
1. Support service managers in the management of occupational therapy staff.
2. Supervise occupational therapy staff and ensure all staff receive a performance review and personal development plan on an annual basis in conjunction with the service manager.
3. Provide leadership and professional/clinical supervision and mentorship to occupational therapy staff in the care group.
4. To participate in the annual training analysis for occupational therapy staff in the locality care group.
5. To contribute to the occupational therapy development plan by providing training activities as appropriate.
6. To contribute to regular speciality away days
7. To ensure that all occupational therapy staff, students and agency staff receive the appropriate induction and training.
8. To contribute to the provision of high quality practice placements in liaison with the Practice Education Coordinators.
9. To provide training to others in line with service training agenda.
10. To ensure that staff adhere to Health and Safety guidelines and maintain safe environments and working practices.

Research and Development
1. Contribute and participate in occupational therapy research and development, working with the professional lead therapist and education providers and inline with Trust and service area research priorities.
2. Engage actively in practice development, evaluation, audit and research activities relevant to occupational therapy and the directorate, carrying out complex audits as necessary.

Staff leadership and management
To provide effective leadership and management to staff which promotes high performance standards both individually and as a team, in the achievement of the Trust’s objectives and priorities. The Trust’s success will be dependant on all managers playing an active role to make sure the existing areas of good employment practice are universally embedded within the organisation. Managers will be expected to:
Understand the Trust’s key priorities and those of your care group and translate these into key priorities for your care group
Ensure clarity and effectiveness in developing and designing roles
Ensure management of staff is consistent with Trust’s HR Policies to the achievement of equality, equity and optimum performance.
 Complete annual Appraisals for all staff which reflect these priorities and ensure staff have access to appropriate training and development
Communicate regularly through meetings with teams and individuals and provide opportunity for two-way feedback.

Promote an effective team ethos.

Promote equality, diversity and rights, and treat others with dignity and respect ensuring services are developed, managed and delivered to meet the specific needs of those belonging to protected characteristics.
Promote equality, diversity and Human Rights in working practices by developing and maintaining positive working relationships, ensuring that colleagues are treated fairly and contributing to developing equality of opportunity and outcomes in working practices.
Contribute to developing and maintaining equality of opportunity in working practices by complying with legislation and organisational policies. Advise colleagues about equality, diversity and human rights policies and procedures and ensure they are followed.

Ensure that colleagues are treated fairly. Behave in a non-discriminatory way and challenge the discriminatory behaviour of others. Be supportive of colleagues or service users who wish to raise issues about discriminatory practice or experience.