Band 6 Occupational Therapist – Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability

Job Title: Occupational Therapist

Contract Type: Permanent

Department: Clinical Operations

Salary range: £35,110 - £46,308 (dependent on experience/banding)

Responsible to: Occupational Therapy Clinical Specialist

Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week

Location: Putney, Southwest London

• 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 B6 Occupational Therapist to join our Clinical Operations team in RHN. Your key responsibility is to prepare and administer therapeutic Occupational Therapy programmes as part of a multidisciplinary team. Occupational therapists work across all service areas at RHN, on a rotational basis, covering the following areas:

1. Brain Injury Service (BIS)
2. Augmentive and Alternative Communication (AAC) service
3. Ventilation service
4. Neuro-behavioural services
5. Young adults service
6. Specialist Nursing Home services

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. 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 (CCG reviews, safeguarding, best interest meetings).
6.  Provide support and supervision to the 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 COT 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.

Qualifications & Knowledge

Essential

1. Diploma/degree/masters degree in Occupational Therapy recognised by COT & HCPC.
2. Member of BAOT/College of Occupational Therapists.
3. An interest in the clinical management of severe neuro-disability.
4. Demonstrates a proficient understanding of the role and need of evidence based practice.
5. A working knowledge of physical assessment of complex neuro presentations.
6.  A good understanding of long term neurological conditions.

Experience

Essential

1. Minimum of 18 months practising as a qualified OT and minimum of 6 months working in the field of neuro-disability. 
2. Ability to prescribe and grade a detailed treatment plan.
3. Able to demonstrate flexibility, able to respond to rapidly changing requirements and implement and initiate new ideas.

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