Stroke Occupational Therapist

Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video

Job overview

Passionate about Stroke, Neurology and Community working?

The Community Rehabilitation Service currently has an opportunity for an innovative and enthusiastic Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join their team.

The Community Rehabilitation Service is a multi-disciplinary therapy team providing assessment and rehabilitation in a community setting for those with a range of progressive or acquired neurological conditions. The work is community based and so you must be able to travel throughout the boroughs of Havering and Barking and Dagenham efficiently and effectively.

The team has two sites which are currently Yew Tree Resource Centre, Romford, RM7 9AA and Porters Avenue Health Centre, RM8 2EQ. The successful applicants will be required to work from the two sites to support junior staff and manage complex patients across the two boroughs. 

There is a well-established appraisal system and a commitment to support staff to develop leadership and clinical skills, through regular supervision, a structured neurology in-service training programme and internal and external training opportunities.

The service works closely with our colleagues across the Stroke and Neurology pathway including our Stroke Unit at Meadow Court, Goodmayes, and our team of specialist nurses in PD, MND and MS to aid us in the holistic management of our patients.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for the assessment and treatment planning of those referred to the service and have the opportunity to develop and enhance your existing clinical skills.

You will take a role in the leadership of junior staff and support assistants, through supervision, training and appraisal whilst also being involved in the on-going development of the service.

Working for our organisation

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,551 to a maximum of £5,735 pro rata for part time).

Use of AI

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To be responsible for assessment, treatment planning, implementation and evaluation of Occupational Therapy interventions working as an autonomous practitioner. Taking into consideration all physical, psychological and cognitive needs of clients, ensuring that interventions are completed as part of the patient’s overall care and treatment plan. Interventions may be individually or group based. To complete comprehensive assessments, through interview, observation of functional tasks and/or use of standardised assessments for clients referred to the service with a range of complex neurological diagnoses and symptoms To liaise closely with the multidisciplinary team, specialist nursing staff, patient, carers and other professionals involved in care provision. To liaise with external service providers social services regarding longer term needs of clients.  To respect people’s privacy, dignity and individuality. To initiate and make referrals to GP’s, consultants and other service professionals and appropriate organisations in agreement with the patient To communicate in an appropriate, professional and sensitive manner with service users, their relatives and carers To communicate effectively with a wide range of clinicians, managers and support staff internal and external to the organisation, and with patients and carers.  To present and promote a positive image to patients, public, other health and social care providers, commissioners and relevant external agencies. To communicate complex, sensitive or contentious information at all levels within the service area, using negotiation skills, persuasion and diplomacy.  To anticipate barriers to communications and resistance to change and to be able to manage these effectively, liaising and seeking appropriate support as required. To maintain dynamic caseload with effective discharge planning and onward referral to other services if required. To work flexibly to meet the needs of people, their relatives and carers and the service. To work autonomously as a lone worker in the community. To ensure robust discharge plans and information. To ensure equipment used in the assessment and treatment of patients is fit for purpose, and notify the appropriate service of any faults that require repair and attention. To ensure own clinical credibility through professional accountability and maintaining clinical skills To update own knowledge in light of current research and practice To promote a professional image at all times and be accountable for own clinical practice. To be computer literate and encourage implementation of the Trusts IM&T strategy

Person Specification:

Qualification:

Essential:

Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy HCPC registration

Experience:

Essential:

·Experience working as a band 5 Occupational Therapist (minimum 18 months)

·Previous experience of working in the UK or a similar health economy

·Post registration courses completed in relevant topics cognition 

Desirable:

·Membership of special interest group

Knowledge:

Essential:

·Demonstration of knowledge of standards of practice, evidence and best practice guidelines in relation to OT

·Able to demonstrate a good understanding of role of OT in rehabilitation as well as the role of other professionals in MDT

Skills:

Essential:

·IT skills

·Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing

·Skills in problem solving, using initiative and working flexibly

·Able to demonstrate clinical and professional development

Desirable:

·The ability to work autonomously and as part of a team

Personal Qualities:

Essential:

·To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area

·Flexible approach to work

·Excellent management skills including ability to prioritise workload.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role, can be discussed at the interview stage.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Degree/diploma in Occupational Therapy HCPC registration

Experience

Essential criteria

•Experience working as a band 5 Occupational Therapist (minimum 18 months) •Previous experience of working in the UK or a similar health economy •Post registration courses completed in relevant topics cognition

Desirable criteria

Membership of special interest group

Knowledge

Essential criteria

•Demonstration of knowledge of standards of practice, evidence and best practice guidelines in relation to OT •Able to demonstrate a good understanding of role of OT in rehabilitation as well as the role of other professionals in MDT

Skills

Essential criteria

IT skills Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing Skills in problem solving, using initiative and working flexibly Able to demonstrate clinical and professional development

Desirable criteria

•The ability to work autonomously and as part of a team

other

Essential criteria

To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area Flexible approach to work Excellent management skills including ability to prioritise workload.

Benefits

We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:

A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.