Occupational Therapist

Role Overview

Occupational Therapist at NMC Healthcare. The role provides specialist occupational therapy interventions to adult and paediatric patients within chronic, specialist rehabilitation home care settings, managing complex caseloads as an autonomous practitioner with responsibility for clinical governance and service development.

Role Purpose

To deliver evidence-based, client-centered occupational therapy assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation for patients with complex needs across all ages. To manage caseloads with high-level clinical reasoning and problem-solving, supervise less experienced therapists, and contribute to service development and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Practice & Assessment

• Provide specialist occupational therapy interventions to adult and paediatric patients in chronic, specialist rehabilitation home care settings.
• Manage caseloads of patients with complex needs using evidence-based and client-centered principles.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions with demonstrated high-level problem-solving and clinical reasoning skills.
• Establish therapeutic relationships with clients and their carers to encourage participation in the therapeutic process.
• Manage barriers to communication through advanced interpersonal skills, reasoning, negotiation and motivational tactics.
• Provide emotional support to clients and their carers in coming to terms with new or ongoing diagnoses and their impact on independence in daily activities.

Equipment, Adaptations & Specialist Assessment

• Assess clients' needs for specific equipment and adaptations to improve or maintain independence levels.
• Support staff in preparing and presenting cases to the Equipment and Adaptations Panel.
• Take responsibility for installation of equipment, ensuring appropriate risk assessments and necessary training are carried out.
• Analyze assessments made by others for equipment and adaptations using highly advanced clinical reasoning and critical thinking.
• Act as an approved signatory on a one-to-one basis and as Chair of the Equipment and Adaptation Panel.
• Demonstrate highly specialized therapeutic moving and handling skills in assessment and treatment of clients.
• Provide highly specialist advice to staff, clients, carers and family on correct manual handling techniques.
• Undertake highly specialized manual handling risk assessments.

Team Leadership & Supervision

• Manage therapists less experienced in the role through regular supervision and performance management appraisals.
• Provide leadership, advice, support and training to the team regarding highly specialist skills and knowledge.
• Assist junior staff in prioritizing and managing their clinical and non-clinical responsibilities.
• Ensure that all therapists within the team use assessment and risk analysis to determine therapy aims, treatment goals and intervention plans.
• Take lead responsibility for some in-service training sessions and staff development activities.

Governance & Clinical Safety

• Assume delegated responsibility for delivering clinical governance and service development, settling priorities for this area of service in collaboration with the line manager.
• Ensure all adverse clinical events are recorded and reported.
• Investigate incident reports and ensure all action plans are implemented.
• Ensure reports are disseminated, acted on and those actions reported.
• Assist in ongoing maintenance of a safe workplace through involvement in implementation of safe systems of work.
• Identify and report hazards in the workplace.

Professional Practice & Collaboration

• Work as a professional member of a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation team.
• Actively participate in team meetings.
• Effectively communicate with staff members, health professionals, clients and families regarding provision of services.
• Contribute to and participate in education programs for residents, relatives and staff.
• Undertake duties in accordance with the philosophy, business practices and policies of NMCRH-KC and the standards and ethics of the occupational therapy profession.
• Operate within the scope of practice defined by the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD).

Continuous Improvement & Quality Management

• Participate in NMCRH-KC Quality Management System and commit to processes of continuous improvement, including auditing, surveys and needs analysis.
• Prioritize and manage clinical and non-clinical responsibilities on a daily basis.

Professional Development & Research

• Maintain highly specialized professional knowledge and skills, remaining conversant with professional developments.
• Evidence critical appraisal skills and continuing professional development with advanced understanding of clinical governance, particularly regarding adult and elderly client groups.
• Develop and maintain highly specialist knowledge and skills regarding adults and elders with physical disabilities, particularly equipment and adaptations.
• Act as a resource by providing detailed advice to team members.
• Participate in educational courses and seminars relevant to service needs.
• Share knowledge and skills gained with other team members, the occupational therapy service and multi-disciplinary team members.
• Participate in staff and service development through attendance at service meetings and in-service training sessions.
• Initiate research and evaluation projects relating to service development.
• Establish professional dialogue with colleagues in similar clinical fields.

Additional Duties

• Perform other duties as directed by the Head of Department or Medical team.

Qualifications & Experience

• Valid DOH/DHA License or DOH/DHA Eligibility Passed as Occupational Therapist.
• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited university.
• Minimum 2 years' experience of practice in occupational therapy in a hospital or rehabilitation setting.
• Active License/Registration from home country to practice occupational therapy.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent command of oral and written English.
• Arabic language advantageous but not essential.
• Sound computer skills including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work in cordial conditions in group practice in a hospital setting and as a team member.
• Knowledge of the range and type of services available for aged and disabled persons.
• Advanced interpersonal skills including reasoning, negotiation and motivational tactics.
• High-level clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
• Independence in professional judgment.

Additional Information

• An Occupational Therapist is recognized as a responsible and accountable professional within NMCRH-KC.
• The scope of practice is defined by the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD).