Band 6 Senior OPAL Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 12th Jan 2025

Job summary

As part of a multidisciplinary team, OPAL provides timely patient centred assessments to those with acute needs within the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. We provide effective and efficient multidisciplinary comprehensive geriatric assessment within the Emergency Department and the Acute Medical Unit. The team consists of OT's, PT's, CNS's, Geriatricians, social workers and therapy support workers.

The aim is to reduce avoidable admissions by proactively assessing patients and addressing issues relating to function, mobility and social needs referring on to community services as required.

We provide a 7-day service operating from 0730 - 2000.

Main duties, tasks & skills required

Some of the duties of the job are:

*To undertake a comprehensive geriatric assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations: use advanced clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition / problems

*To hold responsibility for assessing patients quickly when referred, working without direct supervision

*To supervise staff as well as support undergraduate students within their clinical placements

*Be an active member of the in-service training programme of the OPAL team

*Have specialist knowledge in the field of frailty syndromes & interventions for older people

* To be in charge of some shifts, managing case load and delegating to other members of the team

About us

We are recognised as one of the leading NHS Foundation Trusts in the UK. Our vision is to Build Healthier Lives, and we recognise that we need incredible staff to do this.

Our commitment to our staff is to create the best place for them to work, and we are dedicated to:

Investing in the health and wellbeing of our staff, including a commitment of offering flexible working where we can;
Offer our staff a wide variety of training and development opportunities, to support their personal and career development objectives.

UHB is committed to ensuring that our staff are treated fairly and feel that they belong, by creating a kind and inclusive environment. This is about equity of opportunity; removing all barriers, including discrimination and ensuring each individual member of staff reach their true potential, achieve their ambitions and thrive in their work. This is more than words. We are taking action. Our commitment to an inclusive culture is embedded at all levels of the organisation where every voice is heard, driven by our diverse and active staff networks, and at Board level by the Fairness Taskforce led by our CEO. We nurture a culture which empowers staff to challenge discriminatory behaviours and to enable people to bring their 'whole self' to a kinder, more connected and bold place to work.

University Hospitals Birmingham is a Smoke-Free premises hospital.

Job description

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description* 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

*Degree or diploma in Occupational Therapy / Physiotherapy

*Registered with HCPC

*Evidence of CPD including recent post graduate training relevant to clinical speciality

*Evidence of leadership training

Desirable

*Evidence of leadership training

*Interest or membership for Acute Medical Society

Experience

Essential

*Specialist knowledge in the field of frailty syndromes & interventions for older people

*Demonstrates clinical experience enabling the post holder to manage a caseload of patients with complex needs in this speciality.

*Good understanding of working in an acute trust

*Experience in the supervision and management of junior staff

*Evidence of and desire to supervise students

*Understanding of clinical governance

*Experience in team/service development

*Understanding of current legislation and application to Occupational Therapy

Desirable

*Experience working with elderly care patients

*Experience of supporting students and more junior therapy staff

*Understanding of discharge routes in the community

Additional Criteria

Essential

*Excellent written and verbal communication

*An ability to communicate where there are barriers to understanding

*Highly developed physical skills including dexterity, co-ordination and sensory skills for assessment and manual treatment for patients

*Ability to plan own work and that of the delegated therapy team

*Effective time management skills

*Ability to carry out initial assessments of older adults

*Ability and awareness of their scope of pract