Job summary

To oversee, coordinate and develop the health and ageing occupational therapy service at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. They will carry a caseload of patients with complex health and social care needs using evidence based practice and client-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions. They will develop links with other departments and facilitate a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach.

The post holder will provide clinical and professional leadership to a team of qualified members of staff and assistants. They will lead on implementation of local clinical governance initiatives for the service, evidence-based practice, clinical audit and day-to-day running of the service. Staff at King’s College Hospital are encouraged to engage in service development, service audits and participate in local and national communities to continue to develop these clinical areas of practice.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Occupational Therapist with the following skills and experience:

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Skills and experience in the management of elderly patients with acute and rehabilitation needs
  • Skills and experience to assess and treat patients with cognitive, physical and psycho- social needs
  • Experience in the supervision, teaching and management of junior staff
  • Evidence of involvement in a service improvement, development or evaluation project

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic team lead/aspiring team lead with proven skills in the management of older adult patients with acute and rehabilitation needs for the Health and Ageing Unit wards at Denmark Hill.

The post holder will have the opportunity to aid in further development of occupational therapy in elderly care and frailty management, paying particular attention to continuity of care, early identification of barriers to discharge and implementation of service development initiatives.

We are looking for someone with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as you will be teaching and developing more junior staff and students. Working in a department which offers a wide range of experiences, you will be encouraged and supported to develop your clinical, teaching, and managerial skills.

There is an established system for the delivery of clinical governance objectives, CPD and Evidence Based Practice across the department. CPD is encouraged through the Trust appraisal system, as well as through Team CPD Cycles/Meetings. This post also has access to funds to attend external training with up to 10 x days study leave available pro rata, as well as access to a comprehensive library and computer facilities on site

The post holder requires a flexible approach to working and will be required to work over weekends/bank holidays as and when needed.

You must have a degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy and be HCPC registered.

About us

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King’s College Hospital (KCH) in Denmark Hill, the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) in Bromley, Orpington Hospital and services at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup and the Beckenham Beacon.

The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reachis our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order tomeet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Date posted

15 May 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£51,488 to £57,802 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

213-DH-0039-AB

Job locations

King’s College Hospital

Denmark Hill

SE59RS

Job description

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL

  1. To support the team to identify appropriate referrals, capacity and demand and prioritise workload across the team and other services within occupational therapy, particularly in relation to staff absence.
  2. To apply a high level of understanding of the effect of illness/ disability on occupational performance and provide training and advice on adaptations to technique and the patients social and physical environment.
  1. To assess and treat patients with complex needs who would benefit from a coordinated multidisciplinary assessment, rehabilitation and discharge services.
  2. To be competent in the development and implementation of remedial and preventative treatment programmes addressing motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, psychological areas and occupational performance.
  3. To identify risks, complete risk assessments and implement risk management strategies and document this accurately.
  4. To recognise any change in the condition of the patient and alter treatment accordingly or escalate to medical teams as required.
  5. To work within local policies and procedures, national standards and guidelines and adhere to the Royal College of Occupational Therapy professional standards and ethics.
  6. To support patients in setting their own goals, then implementing this and evaluating appropriately.
  7. To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with clients and carers, to achieve therapeutic goals.
  8. To select evidence based techniques as part of a coordinated treatment program.
  9. To assess and demonstrate to patients and carers the safe use of equipment and adaptations and recommend provision of equipment to support discharge.
  10. To liaise with professionals in onward services to ensure continuity of care.
  11. To respect the individuality, values, culture and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs, ensuring equity of service provision.
  12. To make appropriate clinical observations and keep accurate electronic records and activity data in accordance with professional and trust standards.
  13. To write occupational therapy functional and discharge reports for social services, onward inpatient services and community services.
  14. To work as an autonomous practitioner and display appropriate problem solving, analytical and judgement skills.
  15. To support occupational therapists and assists with their managing their patient caseloads to a high level, offering advice or practical support as required.

COMMUNICATION

  1. To establish robust communication networks with patients, carers, multidisciplinary members and other agencies.
  1. To promote awareness of the role of occupational therapy within the team, negotiating priorities where appropriate
  2. To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with professional and Trust standards and provide reports relevant to practice setting.
  3. To represent occupational therapy at ward, departmental and service level meetings, including delegation for the clinical lead occupational therapist.
  1. To be skilled in managing differences of opinions, conflict and difficult conversations.

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

  1. To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of occupational therapy services within a designated area/team, holding responsibility for defined projects.
  1. To assist in developing services and standards according to the occupational therapy objectives.
  2. Contribute to the trusts clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda, including the setting and monitoring of practice standards.
  1. To apply national guidelines/legislation relating to health and social care in the NHS service provision.
  2. To supervise, provide support and complete appraisals as appropriate for occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, technicians and students.
  3. To be aware of the importance of staff wellbeing, accessing trust support as required and raising any concerns.
  4. To be responsible for competent use and maintenance of equipment, raising any concerns and reporting when further resources are needed.
  5. To carry out administrative duties as required assisting in ordering, receiving and maintaining stock and managing petty cash.
  6. To have good IT skills and use a variety of IT systems to input patient and staff data as required.

TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

  1. To monitor and advise in the allocation of students in the Health and Ageing occupational therapy team.
  1. To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
  2. To promote development of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, technicians and students according to their training and development needs as identified through supervision and appraisal.
  3. To regularly supervise occupational therapy students on practice placement.
  4. To co-ordinate supervision and appraisal of senior and junior staff.
  5. To contribute to the induction and training of students and other staff both within the trust and where appropriate externally.
  1. To participate in and present on the in-service training, preceptorship programmes, multi-disciplinary trainings and external conferences.
  1. To undertake audit projects and take part in research projects, relevant to the service area, disseminating findings at local level.
  2. To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them to practice and disseminate findings at a local and / or national level.
  3. To demonstrate ongoing personal and professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities.
  4. To keep in touch with new developments and changing trends in occupational therapy and participate in wider issues of providing an occupational therapy service quality assurance, public relations including liaison with the community; planning and policy making.
  5. To undertake any other duties commensurate within the grade.

General

The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King’s College Hospital NHS Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.

To live and role model the Kings Trust Values and Vision.

To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.

To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.

This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder. An individual performance review and the setting of objectives will occur within each rotation.

All employees must hold an email account which will be the Trust’s formal route for email communication.

Safe Guarding

The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibilityto support the organisation in our duties by;

  • attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
  • familiarising themselves with the Trust’s processes for reporting concerns
  • reportingany safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately

Infection Control Statement

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.

These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.

Job description

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL

  1. To support the team to identify appropriate referrals, capacity and demand and prioritise workload across the team and other services within occupational therapy, particularly in relation to staff absence.
  2. To apply a high level of understanding of the effect of illness/ disability on occupational performance and provide training and advice on adaptations to technique and the patients social and physical environment.
  1. To assess and treat patients with complex needs who would benefit from a coordinated multidisciplinary assessment, rehabilitation and discharge services.
  2. To be competent in the development and implementation of remedial and preventative treatment programmes addressing motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, psychological areas and occupational performance.
  3. To identify risks, complete risk assessments and implement risk management strategies and document this accurately.
  4. To recognise any change in the condition of the patient and alter treatment accordingly or escalate to medical teams as required.
  5. To work within local policies and procedures, national standards and guidelines and adhere to the Royal College of Occupational Therapy professional standards and ethics.
  6. To support patients in setting their own goals, then implementing this and evaluating appropriately.
  7. To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with clients and carers, to achieve therapeutic goals.
  8. To select evidence based techniques as part of a coordinated treatment program.
  9. To assess and demonstrate to patients and carers the safe use of equipment and adaptations and recommend provision of equipment to support discharge.
  10. To liaise with professionals in onward services to ensure continuity of care.
  11. To respect the individuality, values, culture and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs, ensuring equity of service provision.
  12. To make appropriate clinical observations and keep accurate electronic records and activity data in accordance with professional and trust standards.
  13. To write occupational therapy functional and discharge reports for social services, onward inpatient services and community services.
  14. To work as an autonomous practitioner and display appropriate problem solving, analytical and judgement skills.
  15. To support occupational therapists and assists with their managing their patient caseloads to a high level, offering advice or practical support as required.

COMMUNICATION

  1. To establish robust communication networks with patients, carers, multidisciplinary members and other agencies.
  1. To promote awareness of the role of occupational therapy within the team, negotiating priorities where appropriate
  2. To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with professional and Trust standards and provide reports relevant to practice setting.
  3. To represent occupational therapy at ward, departmental and service level meetings, including delegation for the clinical lead occupational therapist.
  1. To be skilled in managing differences of opinions, conflict and difficult conversations.

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

  1. To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of occupational therapy services within a designated area/team, holding responsibility for defined projects.
  1. To assist in developing services and standards according to the occupational therapy objectives.
  2. Contribute to the trusts clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda, including the setting and monitoring of practice standards.
  1. To apply national guidelines/legislation relating to health and social care in the NHS service provision.
  2. To supervise, provide support and complete appraisals as appropriate for occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, technicians and students.
  3. To be aware of the importance of staff wellbeing, accessing trust support as required and raising any concerns.
  4. To be responsible for competent use and maintenance of equipment, raising any concerns and reporting when further resources are needed.
  5. To carry out administrative duties as required assisting in ordering, receiving and maintaining stock and managing petty cash.
  6. To have good IT skills and use a variety of IT systems to input patient and staff data as required.

TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

  1. To monitor and advise in the allocation of students in the Health and Ageing occupational therapy team.
  1. To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
  2. To promote development of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, technicians and students according to their training and development needs as identified through supervision and appraisal.
  3. To regularly supervise occupational therapy students on practice placement.
  4. To co-ordinate supervision and appraisal of senior and junior staff.
  5. To contribute to the induction and training of students and other staff both within the trust and where appropriate externally.
  1. To participate in and present on the in-service training, preceptorship programmes, multi-disciplinary trainings and external conferences.
  1. To undertake audit projects and take part in research projects, relevant to the service area, disseminating findings at local level.
  2. To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them to practice and disseminate findings at a local and / or national level.
  3. To demonstrate ongoing personal and professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities.
  4. To keep in touch with new developments and changing trends in occupational therapy and participate in wider issues of providing an occupational therapy service quality assurance, public relations including liaison with the community; planning and policy making.
  5. To undertake any other duties commensurate within the grade.

General

The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King’s College Hospital NHS Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.

To live and role model the Kings Trust Values and Vision.

To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.

To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.

This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder. An individual performance review and the setting of objectives will occur within each rotation.

All employees must hold an email account which will be the Trust’s formal route for email communication.

Safe Guarding

The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibilityto support the organisation in our duties by;

  • attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
  • familiarising themselves with the Trust’s processes for reporting concerns
  • reportingany safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately

Infection Control Statement

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.

These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with patients in an acute medical setting at a senior level
  • Experience of audit procedures
  • Experience supervising qualified staff or students

Desirable

  • Significant experience in a range of healthcare settings

Personal skills and qualities

Essential

  • Able to prioritise and manage stress
  • Ability to work autonomously, planning and prioritising own workload
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, adapting to barriers to communication

Desirable

  • Presentation and training skills
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with patients in an acute medical setting at a senior level
  • Experience of audit procedures
  • Experience supervising qualified staff or students

Desirable

  • Significant experience in a range of healthcare settings

Personal skills and qualities

Essential

  • Able to prioritise and manage stress
  • Ability to work autonomously, planning and prioritising own workload
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, adapting to barriers to communication

Desirable

  • Presentation and training skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).