Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist

Posting date:	26 June 2025
Salary:	£50,008.00 to £56,908.00 per year
Additional salary information:	£50008.00 - £56908.00 a year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	10 July 2025
Location:	Chertsey, KT16 0PZ
Company:	NHS Jobs
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	C9323-25-0360

Summary

Please refer to JD/PS for full list of responsibilities Clinical or technical To assess patients with complex conditions using highly skilled assessments and making onward referrals to other disciplines and agencies as appropriate To support other less experienced staff with their clinical caseload To be responsible as an autonomous practitioner to undertake a significant specialist clinical caseload and use excellent clinical reasoning skills to utilise a wide range of treatment options and skills to formulate an individualised programme of care To achieve and maintain a high standard of clinical care using evidence based practice, keeping up to date with clinical developments, analysing current research, discussing and implementing changes in clinical practice and encouraging this throughout the team To be responsible for setting and monitoring of standards and policies of clinical practice in the team and evaluate outcomes To take responsibility for the writing, reviewing and updating evidence based clinical guidelines and protocols appropriate to the speciality To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of professional activities working within codes of practice and professional guidelines To use ongoing investigative and analytical skills, assessment techniques and diagnostic procedures to assess complex patients To formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive discharge plans To be aware of risks involved as part of delivering clinical care and manage this within own patient caseload To demonstrate physical ability to carry out assessments and interventions including manual and therapeutic handling techniques. This post involves frequent light to moderate physical effort To maintain accurate records in line with the Royal College of Occupational Therapy standards and Trust and service standards and policies To attend relevant board rounds and meetings to ensure appropriate management and effective and timely discharge of patients Leadership or managerial Work in close conjunction with Clinical Lead for Cardiorespiratory services and other Band 7 Team Leads Act as a role model and resource, providing information and promoting high standards of patient care, whilst working closely with other professionals Supervise junior and senior staff where appropriate, and specifically B6 Occupational Therapists and Rehabilitation Assistants Effectively plan the daily management of a caseload of patients by prioritising clinical work, responding to urgent referrals and frequently unpredictable work patterns Maintain the high standards of the service by contributing to the individual team and service objectives Ensure team working within Ashford and St Peters Hospitals, assisting other members to effectively prioritise, plan and manage their caseloads Demonstrate ability to manage potentially stressful and upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner Demonstrate ability to prioritise clinical and managerial work and balance other patient related and professional activities as the department requires Participate in the appraisal scheme as an appraiser and to be appraised Contribute to the overall strategic view of the inpatient cardiorespiratory services at ASPH, by monitoring and evaluating activity Demonstrate a high level of understanding of clinical governance and clinical risk Initiate and lead projects to develop services in line with recent NHS initiatives and guidance and in response to local demand Communication Demonstrate ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news relating to their rehabilitation potential and gaining consent for treatment Assess patients understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment Demonstrate ability to motivate patients to comply with extended periods of treatment Maintain accurate records in line with RCOT, Trust and service standards and policies Ensure that records of directly managed staff also comply with these standards Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients in order to progress treatment programmes. This may include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating Communicate any changes in care plan or treatment approach to other Occupational Therapists / MDT colleagues as necessary Attend staff meetings and actively participate ensuring understanding of information imparted Take responsibility for leading/supporting local team meetings to ensure accurate and timely information giving and receiving Initiate and maintain good contact with local service both internally and externally Provide advice to other disciplines both internally and externally to ensure a multidisciplinary approach to care Ensure timely and effective communication with the Therapy Manager and Clinical Leads on all operational or professional matters Communicate effectively with all disciplines involved in a patients care, both those from within the organisation and those outside, to ensure efficient multidisciplinary working Education Supervise and lead on the professional development and training of Occupational Therapists and other members of the team in the specialist field Undertake regular supervision with individuals to support clinical reasoning and to undertake joint problem patient sessions as facilitator and participant Participate in any training sessions as a recipient and facilitator Disseminate any training received to other staff and healthcare professionals Be actively involved in special interest groups in order to share and disseminate knowledge to colleagues Information and reporting Ensure all Trust IT systems are used effectively, particularly the use of Evolve is implemented and used to record patient notes and activity Collect & record data accurately in accordance with professional guidelines and ASPH Values . Research and Development Demonstrate the use of relevant information and research findings to support and promote evidence-based practice within the clinical area Promote clinical excellence through initiating & participating in setting, maintaining and monitoring standards of care within a clinical governance framework Participate in both clinical and organisational audit to continually evaluate the effectiveness of the service Feedback to appropriate stakeholders on the results, trends of audits and research undertaken