Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist - Neurology

Wirral University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Wirral; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job description

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Job overview

We have a full time permanent position available with an exciting opportunity to join our Neurology Service as Clinical lead Occupational Therapist in Neurology rehabilitation services at Clatterbridge Rehabilitation Centre.

The Centre provides rehabilitation services to Wirral residents following stroke and we are a spoke for Wirral, East & West Cheshire, Shropshire, and North Wales for the Cheshire and Mersey Rehabilitation Network.

You will require post graduate experience in complex neurological rehabilitation, alongside experience of planning and leading a team of therapists. Supporting patients and service delivery in Clatterbridge Rehabilitation Centre.

This post gives an opportunity to work alongside clinical OT leads across the acute Trust including Stroke Assessment Unit, Early Supported Discharge Service and Neuro Outpatient Services to effectively provide clinical leadership as a team.

As clinical lead for the physiotherapy service, the successful applicant will require experience supporting band 6 & band 5 physiotherapists, therapy assistants and students.

Professional support is provided for CPD from the Service Lead Leaders and Clinical Lead colleagues.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will provide clinical leadership and rehabilitation for patients in the Clatterbridge Rehabilitation Centre. Holding a complex clinical caseload, completing specialist assessments, intervention sessions and complex discharge planning.

You will have daily operational responsibilities for running the Occupational Therapy team and lead on service development initiatives.

Duty summary:

• Assessment and treatment of own caseload of patients/clients following stroke, acquired brain injury and other neurological conditions.
• Maintaining accurate and timely associated records.
• To lead on Training & Development of physio staff, students and other staff groups in this speciality.
• To actively seek out best/current/up to date evidence based practice to inform clinical practice and future training needs/service development.
• To represent occupational therapy/neuro service at network/regional events.
• Participation, as a member of the therapy team and the IDT, within a specified clinical area.
• Involvement in identifying and carrying out service level audit, research and service development activity.
• Have a responsibility re own CPD and other developmental activities.
• Participates in providing 7 day services and extended working day, as required by the service.

Working for our organisation

All new colleagues can expect to receive a warm and friendly Wirral welcome from the very first time they make contact with us. We are described as "competent and caring staff" by our patients.

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is situated on The Wirral peninsula which has a stunning coastline and beautiful countryside surroundings, with great activities for its residents.

We are one of the largest and busiest acute Trusts in the North West of England, comprising of the Wirral's only Emergency Department. We provide a high quality range of acute care services and employ over 6,000 staff, who serve a population of approximately 400,000 people across Wirral, Ellesmere Port, Neston, North Wales and the wider North West footprint.

We have approximately 855 beds trust-wide and our financial turnover is in excess of £337m.

The Wirral is easily accessible with excellent transport links including motorway, train, bus or ferry and within easy reach to the major cities of Liverpool, Chester and Manchester as well as neighbouring North Wales.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see Job overview & attached Job description for further information about the Clinical lead Occupational Therapist - Neurology position available with WUTH.

Person specification

Qualifications, Specific Experience & Training

Essential criteria

• Graduate Diploma or BSc Physiotherapy or equivalent qualification recognised by HCPC in Occupational Therapy, Dietetics or Speech & Language.
• HCPC registration.
• At least 4 years post grad experience (including experience as band 5 AHP to consolidate basic post-graduate skills & to develop more specialist skills followed by appropriate experience in a relevant area of work at band 6 (or equivalent) level.
• Demonstrate a high degree of expertise and competency in a wide range of skills which involves assessment and treatment underpinned by sound theoretical knowledge. Experience of highly complex caseload management. Experience of advising and guiding others within profession and other members of the MDT.
• Ability to work as an autonomous clinician, managing own case load, including complex patients, and time, using clinical reasoning and analytical skill to perform appropriate assessment, identify problems and appropriate treatment plan.
• To have the analytical ability to be able to review treatment/services, with evidence of taking part in audit.
• Demonstrate awareness of the roles of others in providing patient care and ability to work as an effective team member.
• Ability to identify learning needs and develop the skills of staff and students in speciality. This includes mentorship, appraisal, supervision and training.

Desirable criteria

• Member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, British Dietetic Association, Royal College of Occupational Therapy, Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists or similar.
• Active collection of relevant CPD in portfolio.
• Evidence of significant and relevant post registration training and relevant evidence in CPD portfolio in order to prove development of specialist clinical skills and development of highly developed specialist knowledge. Profession specific training in specialist area, recognised as equating to masters level, e.g MACP, Sensory Integration training, Bobath, PENG clinical update etc.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria

• Basic computer skills.
• Well developed theoretical knowledge underpinning physiotherapy practice.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Good analytical, problem solving and clinical reasoning skills.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge and experience in hospital computer system.
• Ability to communicate within difficult circumstances and demonstrate empathetic approach to patients.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal), analytical, problem solving skills and clinical reasoning.
• Understanding of national issues and relating them to own clinical practice.

Personal Attributes

Essential criteria

• Ability to be flexible and adaptable in order to support others and needs of the service.
• Ability to show initiative.
• Good organisational skills.

Desirable criteria

• Ability to organise own workload and administrational procedures.

Apprenticeship Eligibility Criteria

Should this vacancy be recruited as an apprenticeship, the following criteria will apply:

UK nationals or other persons with a right of abode have an eligible residency status if they have been ordinarily resident in the UK or the British Overseas Territories, or the Crown Dependencies (Channel Islands and Isle of Man) for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of the apprenticeship.

You are required to apply for this role via apps.trac.jobs and this is where you will be able to track the progress of your application. This will ensure we deal with your application quickly and efficiently.

Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application throughout the process.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust viewing and managing the information contained in the application.

Please note; that if you are offered a position, your personal details will automatically be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system (ESR).

The Trust reserves the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received a minimum amount of applications from which to make a shortlist. To prevent this happening please complete and submit your application without delay.

Trust policy requires that the cost of submitting & processing a DBS application is met by the successful applicant/s. DBS costs are recovered via salary deduction following starting in post.

If the post you are applying for requires a DBS - Inline with Trust policy the cost of submitting and processing a DBS for successful applications would be met by the individual themselves. The amount would vary depending on the level required: Standard Disclosure £21.50+£6.50 or Enhanced Disclosure £49.50+£6.50 (please be aware the additional sum is an administration fee and may increase due to inflation). This will be deducted from your salary, in manageable monthly instalments for up to 3 months following commencement of employment.

The Trust would encourage all post holders who require a DBS for their role to register with the DBS Update Service. You can find out more information and guidance on how to do this at DBS Update Service.

The Department of Health and Social Care has released a new publication to support overseas candidates looking to work in health and care in the UK.

The new guidance provides information on the recruitment process that candidates should expect when applying for work in the UK. Please follow the below link:

New guidance for overseas applicants | NHS Employers

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all unborn babies, children and adults and is signed up to both the Wirral Safeguarding Children’s Partnership and the Wirral Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board associated policies and procedures. All Trust staff must be familiar with, and adhere to these procedures. It is the post holder's responsibility to attend the Trust's mandatory training Protecting Vulnerable People training, and to follow the relevant Trust policies and practice guidance.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Job Description & Person Specification (PDF, 488.3KB)
• OH Risk ID Form (PDF, 143.9KB)
• Guidance Notes for Applicants (PDF, 734.3KB)
• Vision Values Behaviours (PDF, 515.6KB)
• WUTH GDPR Privacy Notice for applicants DBS - May 2022 (PDF, 290.4KB)