Job Title: Band 6 Occupational Therapist

Department: Rotational

Salary: Band 6 - £38,340- £50,568 per annum (dependent on experience)

Location: Putney, London

Closing Date: 20th March 2024

Scope

The RHN is a leading national centre of excellence, providing adult person-centred services that span the entire care pathway from post-acute rehabilitation services to end of life care, for people with complex neuro-disability and their families, underpinned by a strong research and education programme.  

Occupational therapists work across all service areas at RHN, on a rotational basis, covering the following areas: Specialist Long Term Care Service, a 123 bed facility for people with severe and complex neurodisability including Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness; Young Adults Unit, Brain Injury Service, a 49 bed unit for people requiring level 1 neurorehabilitation; and Specialist Services, comprising our Ventilator Dependent Service, our Neurobehavioural service and our Huntington’s Disease Service.  The postholder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team, as well as working alongside other OTs within the service area, and across RHN.  The postholder will be accountable to lead OT for their service area and to the Head of Therapies.

Main Objectives of the role –

1. To provide specialist patient-centred assessment and treatment for a complex neurological clinical caseload as part of a specialist multi-disciplinary team
2. To participate in interdisciplinary working (meetings, reviews, discharge planning and reports).
3. To ensure professionalism and excellent communication with staff, patients and relatives.
4. Demonstrate an awareness of RHN’s objectives and contribute to achieving them appropriately.
5. Strive to improve efficiency in all areas of your work.

Key Responsibilities

1. To work effectively as part of a specialist multi-disciplinary team, demonstrating excellent joint working and communication, to achieve patient-centred goals and ensure optimal management and rehabilitation of patients with complex physical, cognitive and communicative needs.
2. To assess and treat a specific caseload of patients with complex needs, prioritising effectively to reduce risk and manage the patient’s disability or rehabilitation needs
3. To assess and treat the patient’s personal and domestic daily living functional activity level to maximise independence where possible
4. To participate in MDT assessment and provision or a 24 hour postural management programme, including assessment and provision of splints, participation in assessment of seating and bed positioning
5. Attend key meetings (ICB reviews, safeguarding, best interest meetings).
6.  Provide support and supervision to the band 5 OT/ OTA in their designated areas, and be responsible for task allocation to them
7. To advise on, recommend and make provision for the installation of appropriate aids and adaptations where appropriate
8. To carry out community visits and complete timely reports on these, as part of rehabilitation, leisure, or discharge planning
9. To attend all relevant meetings, and complete all necessary documentation and outcome measures involved in a patients’ admission, according to HCPC and RCOT standards, in order to facilitate optimal communication and patient management, and to meet Service requirements
10. To ensure excellent communication with patients and relatives, and within the team, including undertaking a key worker role as required.

Person specification:

Essential

• Diploma/Degree/Masters in Occupational Therapy recognised by RCOT & HCPC.  
• Member of Royal College of Occupational Therapists. 
• Minimum of 6 months working in the field of neuro-disability. 
• An interest in the clinical management of severe neuro-disability. 
• Demonstrates a proficient understanding of the role and need of evidence based practice 
• Ability to prescribe and grade a detailed treatment plan. 
• Able to demonstrate flexibility, able to respond to rapidly changing requirements and implement and initiate new ideas. 
• A working knowledge of physical assessment of complex neuro presentations.
• A good understanding of long term neurological conditions.
• Ability to prioritise and manage a large caseload.

Desirable

• An interest in postural management and splinting.

RHN is proud to be a diverse and inclusive employer that respects and values the differences of our people to achieve their full potential.

Candidates applying for a role at the Royal Hospital for Neuro Disability are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and Influenza.