Band 8 Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist – Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability

Department: Clinical Operations - Brain Injury Service

Responsible to: Head of Therapy Services

Responsible for: Band 7 Occupational Therapy Staff (Leadership level 1 role)

Salary range: £51,652 - £60,556 per annum (dependent on experience)
Incremental reviews take place on an annual basis

Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week

Location: Putney, Southwest London

Benefits:

• Generous Annual Leave entitlement
• Free parking
• Situated outside the ULEZ and Congestion Zones
• On-site accommodation provided at extremely reasonable rates
• Blue Light Card and Discounts
• On-site cafeteria
• RHN Wellbeing Programme and EAP service
• RHN Volunteering opportunities

Please note, to be eligible to apply for this role, you must have received both Covid-19 vaccinations, unless medically exempt, and have the Right to Work in the UK.

Summary of position and the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability

We are seeking a Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist to join our Clinical Operations team within our Brain Injury Service in RHN. Your key responsibility is to deliver a highly effective and responsive Occupational Therapy service whilst contributing to the on-going evaluation and development of the Brain Injury Service.

This post is based in the Brain Injury Service which consists of two wards, delivering assessment, rehabilitation and management to patients with highly complex needs. This includes specialist level one rehabilitation to a population which includes people in a disorder of consciousness. The post holder will hold a leadership role and clinical case load, working as part of the Brain Injury Service interdisciplinary team.

Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability (RHN) is one of the oldest independent hospitals and medical charities in the UK. We provide person-centred care that focuses on enhancing dignity, independence and quality of life for our patients and residents. Our services 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. We are very pleased to have been given an overall rating of ‘Good’ by our regulator, the CQC, in 2021.

Main Objectives of the role

1. Work with the Head of Therapy Services to be accountable to delivering the highest standard of Occupational Therapy service provision. This will be achieved through:
   • Exercising leadership with accountability for decision making and service development, including decisions with a high degree of uncertainty. Adopting innovative approaches to service delivery and development.
   • Strong team leadership which ensures development of the Occupational Therapy department and each individual team member whilst maintaining efficiency standards and holding others to account when required.
2. Effectively work within the Brain Injury Services team:
   • Have an active role in trans-disciplinary service development which continually progresses to meet the needs of our service users, stakeholders and contractual requirements.
   • Contribute to the growth of the brain injury service – aiming to improve outcomes, reputation and relationships.
3. Be an Occupational Therapy clinical expert:
   • To be responsible for specialist clinical Occupational Therapy within the Brain Injury Service, acting as expert clinical advisor to all Occupational Therapy and other multidisciplinary staff.
   • Innovatively maintain a specialist, complex clinical caseload in unpredictable contexts, and provide an exceptional standard of evidence based care within your own practice
4. Demonstrably work to the RHN’s strategy and objectives and contribute to continual progression of clinical services at the RHN.

Key Responsibilities

1. To participate in the development of innovative approaches to the assessment and rehabilitation of patients with severe neuro-disability. 
2. To hold a clinical caseload and lead by example as a member of the interdisciplinary team undertaking treatments and activities.
3. To continually review and develop training and education to support evidence based practice.
4. To participate in professional clinical audit and research.
5. To assist in developing, monitoring and maintaining appropriate professional standards of clinical practice.
6. To represent Occupational Therapy on internal and external working groups or committees.
7. To facilitate individual and departmental reflection on clinical practice; encouraging implementation and development of evidence base, identifying strengths and educational needs and strategically developing solutions.  
8. To provide expert clinical care for the patients and residents of the RHN through the achievement, maintenance and development of an expert scope of practice. The Post Holder is required to understand their scope of practice, identify their own learning needs, and continue to reflect on and develop within their role. They are continually accountable to RHN and Occupational Therapy practice standards as an HCPC registered Physiotherapist.

Qualifications & Knowledge

Essential

• Diploma/degree/Masters degree in Occupational Therapy recognised by the HCPC. Current HCPC registration.
• Good working knowledge of all areas of clinical governance including quality, audit and risk management. Ability to recognise and critically appraise situations where the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of a service may be compromised and take appropriate action to resolve the situation and contribute to best practice.
• Demonstrated ability to use a broad range of advanced and specialised communication and IT skills to share complex information and ideas and engage a wide range of audiences in critical dialogue.

Desirable

• Post graduate education (i.e. Masters Module/s or Master’s degree) relevant to post.

Experience

Essential

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in the field of neurology. A minimum of 3 years’ experience working as a Band 7 physiotherapist.
• Evidenced ability to practice autonomously within complex, unpredictable and specialised contexts demanding innovative work and decision making, sometimes at the limits of current practice. Ownership of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of professional practice and the current evidence base.
• Experience in complex respiratory management including tracheostomy weaning.
• Experience in leading teams including respecting and promoting diversity, post graduate education, supervision, performance management and organisation of student placements.

Desirable

• Experience in managing service improvement projects with evidence of outcomes which impacted service user experience.

 

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