Hand Therapist (OT/Physiotherapist)

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

We are looking for an experienced, flexible and dynamic hand therapist to assist with coordinating and managing a varied hand therapy case-load for Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust. The post will be split between Cirencester and Stroud localities. The post holder will work within an established and friendly team of out-patient hand and MSK therapists, in addition to a wider team of experienced hand therapists who offer a high-quality specialist Hand Therapy service across Gloucestershire.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be part of the MSK Outpatient Team based at Cirencester Hospital and Stroud Therapy Department.

A Band 6 Hand Therapist (OT/PT) participates as a member of the wider hand therapy and MSK team independently managing a specialised clinical caseload. The post holder has no budgetary responsibility.

The post holder will provide hand therapy advanced assessments and interventions, be responsible for carrying out evidence based assessment, intervention and evaluation of hand conditions and occupational performance needs particularly in the area of hand therapy and splinting.

They will be expected to manage a caseload of clients, including chronic and acquired hand conditions, RA, hand trauma, post hand surgery and clients with multiple needs. This will be facilitated in outpatients clinics, or other community settings as appropriate.

They are expected to have supervisory and teaching responsibility for more junior members of staff and students.

Job responsibilities

1. To be responsible for carrying out in-depth, evidence based assessment, intervention and evaluation of occupational performance needs.
2. To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner and work alone as a highly skilled clinician providing guidance within their specialist field.
3. To be professionally and legally accountable for a designated patient caseload and to decide priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related, service and professional demands.
4. To treat referrals in a timely and appropriate manner prioritising and triaging as required.
5. To document interventions on S1 IT systems as required by the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust.
6. To complete therapy and close referrals within appropriate timescales.
7. When necessary, to make internal or external referrals to the appropriate team or service.
8. To work as an autonomous practitioner to manage a caseload of clients with various levels of need i.e. rheumatology, medical, neurological conditions and/or psychosocial needs.
9. To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload.
10. To carry out risk assessments and risk management independently.
11. To assess patients capacity, gain valid informed consent to treatment and where such capacity is lacking/absent to work within a legal framework in the management of the patient.
12. To undertake the comprehensive assessment and accurate diagnosis of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using expert investigative analytical and enhanced clinical reasoning skills.
13. To design therapy/rehabilitation plans in collaboration with the Service User and/or carer using a range of rehabilitation approaches to achieve occupational performance goals.
14. To apply a high level of understanding of the effect of disability and provide training, advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the physical, psychological and social environment to meet the occupational performance needs of the client.
15. To provide the assessment, design, manufacture of splints as appropriate to the Service User needs, to enable the maximum safety and independence in ADL.
16. To provide professional supervision to junior members of the team.
17. To take on the responsibility of practice educator for hand therapy students placements as required.
18. To contribute to the day to day management of the Hand Therapy Service as delegated by the Clinical Lead Hand Therapist.
19. To use effectively and efficiently all IT systems as required by Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust.
20. To maintain relevant data, statistics, workload and manpower information for yourself and your team.
21. To ensure all health and safety legislation and departmental policies are implemented to promote a safe working environment.
22. To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, other disciplines and agencies to promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy for each individual patient.
23. To understand and apply relevant national clinical guidelines and relevant national standards to which quality and effective practice should be monitored.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Current and valid registration with Health and Care Professions Council.
• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy.
• Relevant Post graduate experience in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy.
• British Association of Hand Therapists Level 1 Introduction to Hand Therapy.

Experience

• Relevant postgraduate clinical experience.
• Evidence of having worked unsupervised and independent management of a clinical caseload.
• Experience of having supervised staff who are directly accountable to the post holder.
• Experience of implementing clinical guidelines and standards.

PROFESSIONAL / MANAGERIAL / SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE

• The ability to demonstrate and discuss the clinical reasoning process in the management of common and complex hand cases.
• The ability to facilitate reflective practice and learning in others.
• The ability to identify and act upon adverse clinical signs.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and participation in supervision.
• The ability to demonstrate critical appraisal skills.

PERSONAL SKILLS ABILITIES AND ATTRIBUTES

• Excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication when interacting with members of the team, other professionals, clients and their families.
• Can understand the main text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialism.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.