Locationmarie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh Hospice

/ Marie Curie
Job Description

Job titleOccupational Therapist

DepartmentIn-Patient Unit

LocationMarie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh hospice

Reports toDay Services Manager/AHP Lead

Accountable toHospice Manager

Job Purpose/Summary

To be responsible for the management and delivery of a high quality occupational therapy services to patients with specialist palliative care needs attending the Hospice inpatient, outpatient and or day therapy services.
To work collaboratively as part of a highly specialist multi-disciplinary team which provides holistic centred care to patients with complex palliative care needs, with the emphasis on offering: symptom control, rehabilitation and promoting / maintaining independence and quality of life.
The emphasis of all occupational therapy interventions will be the individualised assessment and treatment to support patients and carers to achieve the best possible level of function and quality of life irrespective of diagnosis or prognosis.
The OT will manage their own caseload of complex cases with specialist needs as an autonomous practitioner, demonstrating and evidencing high level problem solving and reasoning skills and independence of judgement.

Key Relationships

Accountabilities (Duties & Responsibilities)

Clinical

To plan, establish and deliver occupational therapy service across all clinical areas within the hospice environment.
To assess and address the physical, psychological, social, and spirtual aspects of a patients activities of daily living and where possible improve and maximisie patients independence and quality of life.
To plan, implement and monitor patient centred treatment and rehabilitation programmes. Being prepared to adapt or withdraw treatment programmes in response to changes in patients condition.
To evaluate outcomes of treatment programmes with the patient, carers and multi-disciplinary team at agreed times.
To provide approriate symptom led occupational therapy interventions on a group or individual basis. (Anxiety, dyspnoea and fatigue management).
To promote the use of creative activities as a therapeutic media to maximise quality of life.
To use skilled communication techniques to communicate with patients and their carers regarding patients occupational therapy needs and interventions.
To provide training advice to carers on activities of daily living as part of the intervention process.
To communicate with and work closely with all members of the multidisciplinary team and contribute to multidisciplinary meetings.
To liaise with external services to gain equipment and supplies specific for the patients needs.
To liaise with statutory and voluntary agenicies as appropriate to optimise patient care.
To establish and maintain an efficient system of stock control for occupational therapy equipment and supplies
To assess and provide specialised equipment to optimise patient care and ensure that it is safely and accurately installed and used.
To carry out home and environmental assessments, reporting on such visits and making recommendations where necessary.
To carry out appropriate manual and therapeutic handling of patients with a range of dependency needs on a daily basis. Act as a resource regarding manual handling.
To be aware of the challenges associated with discharge planning within palliative care and work collaboratively to ensure safe discharge.
To work in colabortaion with other members of the multi-disciplinary team to faciliate patients discharge.
To maintain accuurate patients records, producing written reports and reporting verbally to relevant members of the multi-disciplinary team.
To maintain accurate statistics of therapy interventions.
To comply with the requirements of the professional code of conduct in clinical practice.
To work within the agreed policies of MC.
To maintain confidentiality and professional standards at all times.

Communication

Ensures effective communication and liaison with members of the multi-disciplinary team, support departments within the hospice, community and hospital teams and other primary care services
Maintains accurate patient records ensuring all relevant information and outcomes are clear
To develop and communicate with other Allied Health Professionals working in Specialist Palliative Care.

Management & Clinical Governance

To be actively invovled in the development of the occupational therapy service and implement initiatives as appropriate.
Develop and manage specific areas of sympton control such as, rehabilitation, dyspnoea, fatigue and anxiety management.
To prioritise, delegate and supervise work undertaken by junior staff and students as required.
To participate in the management of junior staff and undertake supervision and annual Personal Performance Reviews.
To participate in clinical supervision programme.
Actively participate in the Hospice Clinical Government framework, leading groups/ initiatives as delegated
To participate in the hospice’s Personal Performance Review Development with own line manager, identifying objectives in line with the charity business plan.
To assist in the collection and management of service data, ensuring all patient activity is demonstrated using paper and electronic systems in place.
To actively promote the occupational therapy profession in palliative care
To maintain registration with the HPC / BAOT.
To maintain and update own personal portfolio.

Education

To keep upto date with all new developments in clinical practice.
To attend training programmes/ educational courses as agreed between the postholder and employer.
To participate in the teaching and training of all staff and students as required.
To investigate and provide learning opportunities for Junior staff within the working area.
To maintain own continuous professional development identifying own training needs.
To participate in local link groups in Palliative Care for Allied Health Professionals.

Research and Audit

To initiate and be involved in research as required.
To initiate clinical audit, developing and modifying practice where required.
Disseminate results of research and audit to line manager and hospice services as appropriate.

General
In addition to the specific duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description, all Marie Curie employees should be aware of their specific responsibilities towards the following:

Marie Curie is committed to encouraging volunteering throughout the organisation and as such the post holder will be expected to support and respect volunteers, and may be asked to work alongside or supervise a volunteer as part of their role whilst working at Marie Curie.
Marie Curie operates a no-smoking policy. The post holder should either be a non-smoker or be prepared not to smoke in any Charity premises, grounds or vehicles or when on Marie Curie business outside the office.
Adhere to all health and safety and fire regulations and to co-operate with the Charity in maintaining good standards of health and safety.
Adhere to all Marie Curie policies and procedures at all times
Actively promote and support the safeguarding of vulnerable adults, young people and children, observing and adhering to Marie Curie policies on safeguarding
Uphold ethical and professional standards and not behave in a manner that is likely to bring the Charity into disrepute.
Promote and sustain a responsible attitude towards equal opportunities and diversity within the Charity.
Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing registration requirements or any national professional or occupational standards associated with the role.
Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and development and to participate in any training relevant to the role.
For designated roles, the post holder will be responsible for health & safety, business continuity planning and/or risk management. (These responsibilities will be notified on appointment).

This job description is not exhaustive. It merely acts as a guide and may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the charity at any time after discussion with the post holder.

/ Marie Curie
Person Specification

Job title:Occupational Therapist

Criteria / Essential / Desirable / How assessed
Skills / Abilities / Good evidence of OT core skills in palliative care.
Excellent communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Effective organisational skills in the management of a caseload.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a MDT.
Ability to pass skills and knowledge to others.
Ability to facilitate innovation and change.
Ability to cope with emotional and unpredictable patients and carers. / Experience in fatigue, anxiety and dyspnoea management.
Experience in facilitating group activities.
Knowledge of current oncology / palliative care guidelines.
Experience in palliative care presentation and teaching skills.
Participation in audit / research.
Attendance on the advanced communication skills course.
Knowledge / Demonstrate a good level of OT knowledge in particular, rehabilitation, chronic illness management.
Demonstrate a good knowledge of physical, social, psychological, spiritual and emotional problems, needs and hopes within this patient group. / Knowledge of the pathology and management of patients with palliative care needs (cancer and non-cancer patients).
Evidence of further study within palliative care
Qualifications,
training and education / HPC Registration
Diploma in occupational therapy
Membership of BAOT / Degree in occupational therapy
Clinical education course
Experience / Significant post-graduate experience
Experience of multi-disciplinary team working
Experience in providing OT intervention to palliative care patients / Clinical audit experience
Oncology/palliative care work experience / Application form
Personal Portfolio
Interview
Other requirements / Car driver / owner.

Where appropriate, reasonable adjustments to these criteria will be considered to accommodate personal circumstances such as disabilities

/ Marie Curie
Terms & Conditions

Job titleOccupational Therapist

Salary scaleAgenda for Change Pay Scale Band 6

Salary£26,302 - £35,225

Annual leave entitlement37 days (including 10 bank holidays)

Notice periodOne Month

Working hours22.5 hours per week

Disclosure Check PVG Disclosure Check

Otherbenefits

Continued access to NHS Pension Scheme (subject to eligibility)
Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme
Season ticket loan
Loan schemes for bikes; computers and satellite navigation systems

March 2011