KISIIZI HOSPITAL

JOB DESCRIPTION- OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Grade: F

Essential qualifications:Diploma in Occupational Therapy.

Registration with the Allied Health Professionals Council.

Department:Rehabilitation

Accountable to:Head of Rehabilitation

Reports to:Head of Rehabilitation

MAIN AIMS OF THE POST

At Kisiizi Hospital we expect the clinical management of patients to be of the highest achievable standard and be holistic in nature, characterised by compassion and providing for the physical, socio-economic, psychological and spiritual needs of the people we serve. Kisiizi is committed to continuous improvement in standards of care and to continuous learning for all staff and the hospital as a whole.

Good practice has its own rewards but is hard work and demanding. In the following paragraphs we set out what is expected of you. In return, Kisiizi aims to support, encourage and reward those practices to the best standards.

  1. to provide an Occupational Therapy service for patients in Kisiizi Hospital and in the surrounding communities.
  2. To promote the development of ongoing rehabilitation services in Rukungiri District, South West Uganda.

IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIPS

Good clinical care involves teamwork. You are expected to maintain effective working relationships with all other staff and in particular to liase and cooperate other health professionals involved in the care of patients in your work area.

THE DUTIES OF THE POST

PROFESSIONAL

As a registered occupational therapist, you are personally accountable for your practice. This means that you are answerable for your actions and omissions. You are also a role model for others so how you do your job will affect how other people behave. In caring for patients, you must observe the Uganda Code of Conduct and Ethics for health Workers (attached) and in particular

‘A health worker shall hold the health, safety and interest of the patient or client to be of first consideration and shall render due respect to each patient or client at all times and in all circumstances’

In addition, you must

  • Relate to patients without any form of discrimination.
  • Ensure that the health care record for the patient is a legible and accurate account, providing clear evidence of the care planned, the decisions made, treatment given, the care delivered and the information shared.
  • Ensure that, when you delegate care delivery to others the needs of patients are met. You remain accountable for the appropriateness of the delegation, for ensuring that the person who does the work is able to do it and that you adequately supervise and support them.
  • Deliver care based on current evidence and best practice.
  • Know the limits of your professional competence and only undertake duties for which you have been trained and are competent to carry out. You need to show good judgment about seeking help and advice.
  • Act to identify, minimise and report any risk to patients from any source.
  • Use every moment of your shift for the benefit of patients or, when time allows, to develop your own skills and those of others.

CLINICAL

General duties

  1. To manage the Occupational Therapy service based at Kisiizi Hospital.
  2. To liaise with the Head of Physiotherapy about on going running of the Rehabilitation Centre.
  3. To assess patients who may benefit from occupational therapy and to plan, implement, evaluate and document treatment as stated in Rehabilitation policies and procedures. Occupational Therapy currently has input into the following areas.

Surgical Ward –Hand injuries, amputees, orthopaedics and burns.

Medical Ward – Patients post cerebral malaria with neurological complications

Stroke patients

Psychiatry-Schizophrenia

Bipolar Affective Disorder

Depression and epilepsy

Children's-Cerebral Palsy, burns, delayed development, malnourishment

Children with neurological deficits post cerebral malaria or meningitis

Isolation-Patients with neurological side affects from Tuberculosis, or HIV/AIDS

Outpatients-All the above

Community-Hope Ministries – HIV/AIDS patients who need input at home

Home Visits/outreach clinics/ PHC

Surgical camps

  1. To ensure a professional level of service, providing opportunities for staff development.
  2. To promote occupational therapy services within the hospital and in the community. This will involve education to hospital staff, students and community health workers.
  3. To provide training to occupational therapy students, other rehabilitation staff, nursing students and community health workers.
  4. To supervise O.T assistants.
  5. To formulate plans for O.T.

Using Guidelines

You are expected to follow evidence based practice and good practice guidelines.

Control of infection

You must take all possible measures to control the spread of infection and abide by hospital procedures.

Responsibility for your own health

Your work exposes you to health risks from patients. You must take all necessary steps to protect your own health at work

Waste disposal

You are responsible for ensuring the safe disposal of clinical waste according to the hospital protocol.

Clinical audit

You have a duty to audit your own work and play a part in departmental audit.

Opportunities for health education

In the course of your work, you are expected to use the opportunities that arise to offer patients education about their health.

MANAGERIAL/ADMINISTRATIVE

General

  1. To mange the O.T. departmental resources, equipment and materials.
  2. To audit aspects of occupational therapy / rehabilitation department as required.
  3. To assist in writing project proposals to apply for further funding for rehabilitation centre.
  4. To liaise with other rehabilitation workers and organisations at local and national level.
  5. To conduct surveys and research.

Care in use of resources

You are expected to use great care in the use of consumables, to safeguard hospital property and not to waste the hospital’s slender resources.

Reporting incidents

The care of patients is our primary concern. If you know about accidents or avoidable complications affecting patients (or having the potential to do so) and complaints from patients or their relatives about the care received, you must report them to your head of department. Kisiizi’s attitude to such incidents is that they are an opportunity to learn from mistakes and improve the way we do things. They will be investigated fairly and only used to discipline members of staff if it has been shown that they have seriously neglected their duties.

Safe keeping of clinical records

You are responsible for the safe keeping of clinical records and to ensure they are available to others when needed.

Occupational therapy equipment

You are responsible for the care of equipment and to ensure that it is maintained and ready for use.

Safe environment

You have a duty to report anything in the environment that could harm the health of patients or staff.

Duty rota

You will cooperate in the duty rota and arrangements for annual leave.

Job appraisal

You will participate in regular job appraisals, which are for your benefit.

EDUCATIONAL

You are expected to participate in continuing professional development for your own benefit and contribute to the process for students and others.

ALTERING THE JOB DESCRIPTION

This job description is intended as a general guide to your duties but cannot cover everything you may be required to do. As circumstances change, you or the Medical Superintendent may wish to change this job description. Whilst you are in post, it can only be done by mutual agreement.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

This post is subject to the terms and conditions of service as set by the Board of Governors that are available on request.

Revised Nov 2017