Job summaryOccupational Therapist (Band 7) WTE: 1.0 (37.5 hrs per week)Living Independently for Everyone (LIFE) - Home FirstCroydon Health Services are in a new Alliance Partnership with other health and social care providers in Croydon and the LIFE service is one of our new integrated service models.LIFE is a person centred service available 7 days a week. The Band 7 senior Occupational Therapist will work with a team of nurses, therapists, support workers and social services staff to deliver short-term interventions, rehabilitation and reablement in the community for up to 7 days, following hospital discharge. Our aim is to prevent unnecessary readmission to hospital and facilitate discharge from hospital and most importantly to help patients achieve their maximum potential. The therapist will participate in covering the service across 7 days per week, including bank holidays.Are you a dynamic, flexible, innovative and motivated experienced Occupational Therapist with advanced assessment skills, clinical expertise and communication skills as well as excellent time management and prioritization skills?The candidate will also need excellent knowledge of all community services and will need to work closely with the multi-disciplinary team in helping to facilitate safe discharges and promote independence in the persons own home.Interview Date: TBCMain duties of the jobOur vision is for the people of Croydon to experience well-co-ordinated care and support in the most appropriate setting, which is truly person-centred and helps them to maintain their independence.As demand rises with increasing health needs and advances in clinical care, we are responding to the challenges whilst continuing to deliver the highest quality of care. We are developing a new service called 'Home First', which will provide multidisciplinary support for up to 7 days, post-hospital discharge, also working alongside established services to reduce hospital readmissions and to facilitate earlier discharge from hospital through advanced holistic assessment and ensuring patients have the safest, best care that is delivered in their home environment.About usCroydon Health Services NHS Trust provide hospital and community services from a number of community and specialist clinics throughout Croydon. The Trust was formed on 1st August 2010 through the integration of Croydon Community Health Services and Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust. Around 4,100 staff provide services for a population of over 360,000 people who are relatively young with a high level of ethnic diversity.Our main hospital site, Croydon University Hospital is one of the busiest in London. We're also leading the way in providing more healthcare outside hospitals at clinics, specialist centres and in people's homes. Our experienced district nursing teams, Allied Health Professionals and community matrons look after people of all ages across Croydon and our Children's Hospital at Home cares for children with long-term conditions without them having to come to hospital.Across the NHS everyone is working hard to meet growing demand and we're no exception. But with the right people on board, we are rising to this challenge, putting our people in the driving seat, encouraging innovation and transforming our services to give local people the quality of care they deserve. Croydon Health Services puts a great deal of importance on education and training throughout the careers of all of our staff. As well as offering access to a range of core skills training and professional developmentJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesWorking as part of the LIFE therapy team, the post-holder will provide expert therapy assessment and treatment of patients, identifying complex and specialist needs and will develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care.The post-holder will work collaboratively with the team and external providers, to ensure the right care, by the right person, at the right time, and in the right place. They will aim to enable patients to regain independence or achieve their optimum rehabilitation potential, and to prevent unnecessary hospital admission. In addition they will assist with facilitating early hospital discharge.As a senior member of the team, they will lead, manage and participate in coordinating the service. The post holder will have responsibility of managing and supervising Senior Therapy assistants, Support Workers, administration tasks and Band 5 and 6 Therapists that work within the LIFE therapy team.MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESClinical1.1 Assessment and treatment of patients, identifying complex and specialist therapy need and developing, implementing and evaluating programmes of care.1.2 Responsible for facilitating early hospital discharge and will be able to conduct a thorough holistic assessment of clients, obtaining consent in accordance with professional guidelines and local team procedures.1.3 Recommend appropriate interventions to promote independence and safety, utilising effective clinical reasoning skills and evidence-based practice.1.4 Determine the medical stability of patients referred and those currently on the caseload and promote the mental, physical and emotional health of a given population.1.5 Maintain effective multidisciplinary communication with other members of the team and the wider clinical network to ensure that clients needs are met. This will include attending Home First MDT meetings, providing therapy advice, accepting and completing new patient assessments for those that require urgent input during this period and feeding back information to the wider team / generating onward referrals if required.1.6 Attending and actively participating in community therapy and/or intermediate care bed Multidisciplinary team Meetings where required.1.7 Provide specialist Physiotherapy advice and support to client, carers and relatives based on clinical evidence and reasoning.1.8 Ensure safe, appropriate and effective provision, installation and demonstration of equipment.1.9 Participate in and/or lead MDT meetings and complex family conferences.1.10 Ensure management of clinical risk with complex patients.1.11 Support Senior Therapy assistants and support work staff in their management of their non-complex caseload.1.12 Ability to identify when and how to terminate involvement or refer onwards to appropriate teams/services and complete input in a timely, seamless manner.1.13 Offer support, advice, guidance and training to patients, families and carers and be aware of and utilise appropriate resources and agencies.1.14 Co-ordinate services by liaising and collaborating with nurses, social care, voluntary agencies, statutory agencies, primary and secondary care.1.15 Keep oneself and the team updated on clinical and professional developments to respond to the diversity of patient needs.1.16 Make independent evidence based clinical decisions to influence practice.1.17 Manage and supervise the work of the generic support worker team and band 5 and 6 Therapists within an effective environment, including performance management.1.18 Knowledge and awareness of HR policies and ability to manage staff by utilising these policies1.19 Ensure the safe use of prescribed equipment for manual handling.1.20 Identify gaps in service and actively plan to address these gaps ensuring we meet the need of the patients1.21 Take an innovative approach to service delivery to enable new initiatives to be introduced.1.22 Support safeguarding compliance.1.23 Complete individual plans of care for clients who require input from integrated community services, bed-based or home-based rehabilitation input.apid Response Team2.0 Care Co-ordination and Leadership2.1 To be responsible and accountable for the patients on the LIFE therapy team caseload. To coordinate and prioritise the management of care for the individuals on the caseload.2.2 To support integrated care for patients requiring case management, providing and initiating the collection baseline data to positively change patient outcomes.2.3 Able to carry out concise comprehensive patient assessments; to plan, delegate to junior colleagues, deliver and evaluate care for patients with long term conditions.2.4 To be highly visible and accessible to patients, families and carers and seen as being in charge of their care.2.5 To identify participate and initiate areas of change; participate in audit and service evaluation.2.6 To influence colleagues to effect changes in service delivery to improve patient care within constraints of job role.2.7 To develop and mentor students and colleagues.2.8 To refer directly on to other services or professionals as appropriate for example district nursing, palliative care and consultants in acute services.3.0 Education, Training and Development3.1 To ensure own professional development and clinical skills through attending courses, conferences, workshops and being aware of national and local policies, to develop an extensive knowledge of chronic disease processes and management.3.2 To share the knowledge and skills of case management and new ways of working with long term conditions with, patients, carers, colleagues and other professionals.3.3 To actively participate in changes to service delivery3.4 To utilise knowledge of clinical governance and risk management to provide safe and effective services to patients.3.5 To reflect on ones own practice by participating in reflective practice and learning sets to support the wider development of case management and best practice.4.0 Communication4.1 To listen and empathise with the needs and wishes of patient and their carers, to support individual rights and choice.4.2 To ensure that the needs of patients and carers are addressed by utilising statutory and voluntary services.4.3 To address issues or blocks in communication that affect service delivery / patient care and work with colleagues and patients to overcome these.4.4 To case manage and co-ordinate care to proactively prevent hospital admission and facilitate hospital discharge.4.5 To keep accurate contemporaneous written and / or electronic documentation care plans and reports.4.6 To use IM&T support systems to assist forward planning and development of provider services.GENERAL1. To work in accordance with the Trusts Here for You standards to consistently demonstrate the behaviours required to fulfil the promises we have made to the people of Croydon. These promises, developed with our patients, carers and staff help us deliver the pledges in the NHS Constitution and our own corporate objectives.To ensure that Croydon Healthcare Services Trusts policies and procedures are adhered to.To have responsibility for the Health, Safety and Welfare of self and others.To ensure confidentiality at all times, in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act and its amendments.To work in accordance with the Trusts policies to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote equality and diversity in the workplace. To positively promote at all times equality of opportunity in service delivery and employment in accordance with Trust policies, regardless of age, disability, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender, religion, belief, sexual orientation or domestic circumstances.To adhere to the Trust Infection Control Policy, procedures and guidelines.All clinical staff holds responsibility for ensuring they have sound knowledge of standard infection control precautions and that no omission on their part or within the sphere of their responsibility is detrimental to the interests or safety of their patients, visitors and colleagues.7. To comply with the Trusts Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adultsTo undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the post.The post holder is required to carry out his/her role in accordance with the organisation here for you promises, standards and behaviours, ensuring that colleagues and the people we serve feel cared for, feel in safe hands, feel confident in their treatment, feel we value their time, and feel that our service continues to improve all the time.This job description is not an exhaustive document, but is a reflection of the current position. The job holder may from time to time be asked to undertake other reasonable duties. Any change will be made in discussion with the job holder in light of service needs.Person SpecificationEDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONSEssentialBSc or Diploma in Occupational TherapyHCPC RegisteredEvidence of CPD including relevant clinical training and coursesSuitable written and spoken EnglishDesirableRelevant postgraduate training e.g. Elderly care/Falls/Dementia trainingMember of appropriate clinical interest groupKnowledge and understandingEssentialExpert knowledge of a range of Occupational Therapy assessment, treatment and rehabilitation techniques and to have kept up to date with trends and developments in therapy and Community Services.Awareness of the concept and application of reablement and Discharge to AssessAbility to manage and supervise junior staff and pass on skill / knowledge in informal and formal environments.Expert awareness of other community and social servicesDesirableKnowledge of outcome measures/ auditExperienceEssentialSignificant years postgraduate, incorporating experience in a variety of relevant core specialities.Experience of managing qualified and unqualified assistant therapy staffAt least 18 months of community experienceDesirablePreviously worked in rehab and reablement settingLeadership or management courseSkills/abilitesEssentialSelf-management skills e.g. proactive with time management and organisational skillsAbility to work independently & within a teamAbility to problem-solve & respond to changeExcellent communication skillsSuitable IT and word processing skills (e.g. Electronic Patient Records / email etc)DesirableCommitment to staff development and trainingAdditional requirementsEssentialCar driver, current UK licence and access to a car for work purposes.Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameCroydon Health Services NHS TrustAddressCommunity12-18 Lennard RoadCroydonCR9 2RSEmployer's websitehttps://www.croydonhealthservices.nhs.uk/recruitment/ (Opens in a new tab)