Occupational Therapist

Role Overview

Occupational Therapist at NMC Healthcare, providing specialist occupational therapy assessment, treatment and professional support across the organization.

Role Purpose

To deliver comprehensive, highly specialist occupational therapy assessment and treatment to patients with complex presentations, while maintaining clinical governance standards, supporting multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring continuous professional development.

Key Responsibilities

Assessment & Treatment

• Undertake comprehensive, highly specialist occupational therapy assessment of patients including those with the most complex presentations, using advanced investigative and analytical skills.
• Select appropriate treatment techniques, including improving independence in activities of daily living (ADLs), providing necessary assistive devices, and conducting seating assessments.
• Use advanced clinical reasoning and a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate individual management and specialist treatment plans, in agreement with the patient where appropriate.
• Review and evaluate the patient's condition at each occupational therapy session and amend the treatment program as necessary to achieve planned objectives.
• Consolidate and maintain highly specialist skills in relation to assessment and treatment of the specialty area.

Clinical Governance & Accountability

• Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work and ensure a high standard of clinical care for patients under own care.
• Support other team members to maintain high standards of clinical care.
• Work as an autonomous professional according to the standards of MOH.
• Meet the regulations of MOH and fulfill the requirements for occupational therapy registration.
• Maintain comprehensive and accurate assessment and treatment records in line with legal and departmental requirements.
• Communicate assessment and treatment results to appropriate disciplines in the form of letters and reports.
• Ensure the application of professional standards in day-to-day practice of Occupational Therapy.
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply to the work situation.
• Ensure others demonstrate clinical governance and risk management in their practice.

Patient & Carer Communication

• Provide advice, teaching and instruction to patients, relatives and carers regarding their medical management and care needs to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
• Promote understanding of the aims of Occupational Therapy.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers whilst addressing cultural, religious and language barriers, to maximize rehabilitation potential.
• Ensure understanding of condition and address anxieties and concerns.
• Use communication skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation and gaining informed consent with a wide variety of patients.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration

• Work with members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure optimal outcomes for the patient.
• Work as a flexible member of the rehabilitation team, communicating effectively with others.
• Communicate effectively and collaboratively with nursing, medical colleagues and the voluntary/independent services across health and social care sectors to ensure delivery of a coordinated multidisciplinary service.
• Participate in case conferences, handovers and documentation in the medical records.
• Provide highly specialist advice and support to all team members in own clinical area and members of the multidisciplinary team.

Caseload & Resource Management

• Efficiently and effectively manage designated caseload with regard to clinical responsibilities and use of time.
• Ensure the effective selection and use of all treatment resources available in the department.
• Be responsible for equipment used in carrying out clinical duties and adhere to departmental equipment policy.
• Demonstrate competence to use equipment and ensure the safe use of equipment by others.
• Ensure all equipment used in the work area is properly maintained and safe to use.

Professional Development

• Keep up-to-date with developments to ensure that own practice and that of the team is based on best available evidence.
• Be an active member of the in-service training program through attendance and presentation at staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions and external courses.
• Participate in reflective practice.
• Participate in informal and formal supervision with Team Lead and/or Manager.
• Assist with the facilitation of the team's continued professional development, both uni-professionally and as an integrated occupational therapy team.
• Participate in the staff appraisal scheme and identify objectives for personal development with the Team Lead and/or Manager.
• Write learning contracts to achieve agreed goals, seeking support if necessary.
• Be proactive in seeking supervision to support clinical, management and professional issues from the Team Lead.
• Facilitate and support the identification, measurement and evaluation of own work and team's current practice through the use of evidence-based practice projects, audit and outcome measures.
• Make recommendations to team and personal practice.

Policy & Compliance

• Comply with organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
• Be proactive in identifying, reviewing and updating policies and procedures as appropriate, which may impact beyond own area.
• Ensure all duties are carried out to the highest possible standard.
• Perform any other duties that might be considered appropriate by the Team Lead.

Mandatory Training & Compliance

• Attend mandatory training sessions, including annual fire and safety lectures, cardiac resuscitation lectures and safe patient manual handling training.
• Complete mandatory education and competencies as well as specific education and competencies.
• Participate in emergency mock drills.
• Conduct Manual Handling education and awareness program to nursing team on a periodic basis.

Health, Safety & Security

• Be aware of the responsibility of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors and staff.
• Attend all relevant health and safety training.
• Undertake roles and responsibilities in accordance with general requirements of OSHAD SF – Element 01 Roles and Responsibilities and Self-Regulation.
• Familiarize themselves and comply with all OSH policies, standards and procedures that are relevant for their workplace.
• Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others.
• Adhere to the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System.
• Adhere to requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines and Infection Control Guidelines.
• Understand and adhere to emergency preparedness, fire safety and code policies and plans.
• Adhere to the responsibility assigned during emergency.
• Ensure the therapy area is safe for other employees and patients.
• Participate in Risk Assessment in respective area and communicate the information to other employees.
• Cooperate with Department Managers and OSH team with respect to any action taken to comply with OSHAD requirements.
• Notify safety representative of any hazards, mishaps or incidents within or outside their area of work.
• Report to immediate supervisor/manager of any unsafe practices, incidents or situations experienced or witnessed.
• Assist patients in case of emergency.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy.
• 2 years of experience.

Skills & Competencies

• Basic computer knowledge.
• Professionalism and teamwork.
• Planning and organizing.
• Delivering results and meeting customer expectations.
• Adapting and responding to change.
• Coping with pressure and setbacks.