An exciting opportunity has arisen for an innovative and motivated individual to join our team as a rotational band 6 Occupational Therapist within the Therapy department at Northampton General Hospital, part of the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire. This is a fixed term contract to cover maternity leave; secondments will be considered.
This role will help you to develop your core and specialist clinical skills, as well as allowing you the opportunity to be involved in staff development, audit and service improvement.
The successful candidate will rotate through the following areas (each rotation lasting for six months) where you will consolidate your skills in each area:
Urgent Care & Frailty
Acute medicine
Elderly care
Respiratory
Oncology and Haematology
Surgical
Stroke
We welcome applicants looking to further develop their band 6 skills or those seeking development into their first band 6 role.
As a occupational therapist within a joint therapy service, you will be required to take part in delivering a quality Occupational Therapy Service working closely with other members of the Multidisciplinary Team including Physiotherapy, Therapy Technical Instructors, Nurses, Medics and the Hospital Complex case discharge Team. You will need to have an enthusiastic attitude, be forward thinking and have a problem-solving approach to patient management. The ability to work within a fast paced and pressured environment is essential, along with having excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and demonstration of the ability to support other team members.
As a occupational therapist , various training and development opportunities are available including protected time for CPD and supervision, to ensure that you are equipped with the competence and confidence required for this post. Robust peer support from fellow Band 6s is encouraged. You will also supervise Band 5 staff and Therapy Technical Instructors colleagues to provide clinical support and guidance. Within this post you will also have numerus opportunities to support Therapy students from our partner Universities.
Please submit your application as soon as possible, as we reserve the right to close adverts once sufficient applications have been received.
We recognise that AI tools can support application writing; however, candidates are asked to keep their use to a minimum. Responses should reflect your own experience, skills and knowledge, as over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in generic answers that do not accurately represent your abilities.
University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) brings together Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. As a group, we are committed to improving services for our communities through collaboration, modernising care delivery and striving for excellence. Working together enables us to share expertise, strengthen services and create greater opportunities, and there may be a requirement to work across sites depending on service needs.
Our Excellence Values are Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and hold the Gold Award under the Employer Recognition Scheme. Candidates who identify as members of the Armed Forces community and meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.
Supporting Clinical and Patient Excellence
To work autonomously within departmental clinical teams to provide excellent Occupational therapy a ssessment and treatment to a diverse client group
Manage a caseload independently on designated ward/s , supporting junior staff with their caseload management
To undertake a comprehensive assessment s of patients including those with diverse or complex presentation/multiple pathologies /cognitive impairment/mental health problems ; use advanced clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques
Assess patients functional abilities and make recommendation s for equipment, adaptations, ongoing rehabilitation and care provision as appropriate and necessary for a safe discharge from the service
Formulate and deliver a complete specialised Occupational Therapy treatment programme based on sound knowledge of evidence based practi c e and treatment options
Ensure that all patients have a documented problem list and goals that the patient has been involved in creating
Work to identified guidelines and eligibility criteria relating to the provision of home adaptations, equipment and wheelchairs to ensure equity of service to all patients
Carry out assessments within patient’s homes as appropriate within departmental guidelines
Represent the Therapy service and/or individual patients at multidisciplinary team meetings . This will include discussion of patient care, progress and involvement in discharge planning
Support junior members of staff to develop the skills required affectively attend and contribute to MDT meetings and board rounds
Use clinical reasoning to balance risk, safety, patient choice and eligibility for services
To increase and expand knowledge base and experience, clinically and non- clinically
Communicate effectively with patients, their families, carers , members of the multi-disciplinary team, Therapy colleagues and other agencies
Provide support to patients and carers, sharing information to enable them to make informed decisions regarding Occupational Therapy recommendations and discharge arrangements
Advise patients and carers, through demonstrating the safe use of equipment or other techniques to optimise the patient’s functional ability, safety and independence
Liaise with health and social care professionals and other related statutory, private and voluntary organisations, providing verbal and written reports and referrals where appropriate , in accordance with data protection principles
Respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs
Lead on appropriate service development activities through participation in team meetings and service development sessions
Propose changes to processes and procedures carried out within the Therapy Service to improve effectiveness and efficiency
Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance
Submit accurate timesheets within set department timescales for additional hours worked
In the absence of Therapy colleagues through planned or unplanned leave, work flexibly to meet the prioritised needs of the Therapy service both within the specific clinical areas and across all service areas
Comply with departmental guidelines for the safe use, care and maintenance of equipment and stock
To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to colleagues, relatives and carers when appropriate to promote understanding of the aims of therapy
Delegate work tasks appropriately to junior Therapy staff and Administrative Support staff
Take the lead in training and education of other staff and students within the Therapy services
Where appropriate , take the lead in the induction of new staff
Maintain accurate and up to date records of clinical interventions, consistent with legal and organisational requirements
Provide formal clinical reports for the multi-disciplinary team as required
Collect, record and submit accurate clinical and personal statistical data in line with departmental requirements and guidelines
Maintain and develop professional knowledge and skills to ensure fitness to practice as an Occupational Therapist, in line with HC PC standards
When required, take the lead in delivering of Inservice training
Regularly attend and participate in Therapy service staff meetings
Identify own learning and development needs which will contribute to the production of a Personal Development Plan
