Senior Occupational Therapist, WRHinWorcesterinWorcesterPUBLISHED WED 19 MAR 2025

At Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS trust we are excited to announce that we have the opportunity for a Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our Integrated Therapy service, supporting the ACUTE TRAUMA TEAM AT WORCESTER ROYAL HOSPITAL.This post supports our vision of a highly skilled, experienced, dynamic and flexible workforce that has knowledge and skills to focus on providing acute assessments to Trauma patients; this involves a mixture of upper and lower limb fractures, traumatic head injury and poly trauma cases.The variety of assessments carried out facilitates compliance of post-surgery guidelines to maximise functional independence.We play an important role with the MDT team on the Trauma unit in facilitating patients recovery post fracture and to support the patients to return to their own home environment whilst they go through the recovery process. There is opportunity to develop clinical reasoning and practice in this area and the post allows opportunities to engage in teaching/learning with experienced staff to develop both clinical and leadership skills.One of our Service's top priorities is nurturing the next generation of leaders and supporting all those with capability and ambition to reach the most senior levels of the service.We are looking for motivated practitioners that will be able to demonstrate safe,patient centred approach to care,under pinned by sound clinical knowledge in evidence based assessment and management of a variety of Trauma conditions.

To provide Occupational Therapy assessment, treatment and discharge planning to patients within the acute service with a special emphasis on patients within the trauma and orthopaedics directorate, this will include working within tight timeframes for patient discharges.

To provide guidance and supervision to less experienced staff and students.

To take a proactive role within the Occupational Therapy team, with the ability to provide advice or cover on other Trust sites as required.

To liaise with senior Occupational Therapists to ensure the smooth and effective running of theOccupational Therapy service at an operational level on a daily basis.

You will gain mentorship and support from the Occupational Therapy Clinical Lead and ClinicalSpecialist, especially those within trauma and orthopaedics.

To work as part of an integrated therapy service.

About us

WORCESTERSHIRE ACUTE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post Title: Trauma & Orthopaedics Senior Occupational Therapist

Pay Band: 6

Hours: 37.5 hours working 5 days across 7 days

Contract: Permanent

Location / Department: Worcestershire Royal Hospital Occupational Therapy Service (Primary Base)

Accountable to: Band 8B Occupational Therapy Manager

Reports to: Band 8A Clinical Strategic Lead Occupational Therapist for Trauma & Orthopeadics

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Occupational Therapy Manager, Occupational Therapy Clinical Specialists, All members of the

Occupational Therapy Team, Physiotherapy.

External: Community colleagues both within Occupational Therapy and in other professions, Consultants.

from the employing Trust, GPs, Nursing staff, Social Workers, Relatives/carers, Voluntary and statutory

agencies.

Risk Assessment:

This post involves the frequent manual handling activities within the workplace including patient handling such as hoisting, pushing/moving wheelchairs, positioning patients for treatment and to encourage function, static stooping and limb holding.

It includes assisting patients with standing, walking and transferring between bed, chair, wheelchair, toilet, and bath/shower. The above manual handling activities may be carried out within the patients home environment, frequently in less than ideal circumstances.

On occasions the post holder will be required to lone work within the patients home environment which

will include manual handling including the delivery and fitting of equipment.

Physical effort is required to ensure patient and staff safety mobilising or transfers, this frequently includes the handling and transportation of patient related equipment in and out of a vehicle, commodes, toilet frames, wheelchairs etc. and the moving and raising of furniture and equipment within the patients home environment.

The ability to safely use a variety of tools may be required.

A high level of clinical analysis is required to ensure the safety of self, patients and other staff.

Frequent close contact with patients therefore exposes the post holder to infection, bodily fluid e.g.

sputum, urine, faeces, blood or vomit and a high awareness of infection control safety is required.

The post holder will be involved in and may need to instigate difficult discussions with patients and carers under difficult circumstances following a life changing event or illness. This will be around a patients functional ability and be around their prospects of returning to home, work or some life skills e.g. driving.

All qualified staff will be required to take therapeutic risks during the assessment and treatment of

patients, both in the hospital and the patients home environment as required, to ensure accurate

assessment of a patients functional ability and safety levels.

There is a need for prolonged concentration and involvement in emotionally stressful situations, e.g.

terminally ill patients or those with poor recovery or functional prognosis. This will include occasional

contact with patients and/or carers who are aggressive or abusive.

Job Purpose:

To provide Occupational Therapy assessment, treatment and discharge planning to patients within

the acute service with a special emphasis on patients within the trauma and orthopaedics directorate, this will include working within tight timeframes for patient discharges.

To provide guidance and supervision to less experienced staff and students.

To take a proactive role within the Occupational Therapy team, with the ability to provide advice or cover on other Trust sites as required.

To liaise with senior Occupational Therapists to ensure the smooth and effective running of the

Occupational Therapy service at an operational level on a daily basis.

You will gain mentorship and support from the Occupational Therapy Clinical Lead and Clinical

Specialist, especially those within trauma and orthopaedics.

Key Duties:

To hold an active caseload within inpatients trauma and orthopaedics based at the Worcester Royal Hospital in Worcester. Your caseload will include trauma injuries and traumatic brain injury.

This will include assessment and treatment of inpatients and providing guidance on assessment and treatment for less experienced staff.

To provide advice/mentorship/supervision for band 5 Occupational Therapists and assistants and students carrying an acute caseload, with emphasis on but not exclusive to, trauma and orthopaedics.

To take an active role within the pooled referral system across OT within trauma and orthopaedics, assisting to prioritise and allocate the caseload to effect timely assessment and discharge.

To be actively involved in both direct and indirect supervision and teaching of junior staff.

To ensure that the Occupational Therapy service to patients trust wide maintains high professional standards, using evidence based assessment whenever possible.

To liaise regularly with other agencies/professions as shown under key working relationships.

To attend and contribute to relevant meetings both clinical and managerial, providing accurate verbal or written reporting as appropriate.

To ensure all equipment or written documentation is provided in a timely manner to facilitate patient safety.

To carry out assessment and treatment programmes for patients this may include the administration and interpretation of standardised assessments.

To ensure that all documentation and data regarding patient care is completed in accordance with local and Royal College of Occupational Therapy standards.

To be able to safely and effectively undertake the manual handling aspects of the role. This will include loading/unloading and transportation and fitting of equipment. This will include lifting items up/down, pushing, pulling, stooping and bending. The use, handling and safety of hand tools will also be required.

To undertake any other duties commensurate with the level/expertise of the post to ensure the smooth running of the Occupational Therapy service, this will include the treatment of patients on the wards, within the department or within the patients home environment.

To be involved, as required, in the education of colleagues and students. To be a Practice Educator and train Occupational Therapy students regularly.

To ensure your professional/clinical knowledge is kept updated and attend appropriate training, demonstrating continued professional development and competency and encourage evidence based practice where appropriate.

To participate in projects or audit, via the Occupational Therapy Clinical Governance group as required.

To apply national guidelines to the clinical setting.

To take an active role in the maintenance of professional standards and the provision of a quality service using resources responsibly.

To work in liaison with the Occupational Therapy manager and the Occupational Therapy Clinical Lead and Specialist to implement any agreed changes to service provision.

To be actively involved in the recruitment of staffing within Occupational Therapy across the Trust as required.

To ensure safe working practice by adherence to Trust wide policies and procedures.

To comply with the Health and Care Professions Council registration requirements and maintain active

HCPC registration, and work to the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Standards of Professional Practice.

To be able to travel and work countywide in support of the Occupational Therapy Service including a 7 day service and service provision on Bank Holidays and working flexibly around core service hours.

Vision and Values:

The Trust aims to provide local services for local people. It has developed its vision to reflect this commitment.

To continue to be the major provider of acute/specialist services for the people of Worcestershire (and wider) with a strong reputation for providing outstanding, high quality, reliable, accessible and integrated healthcare for local people

Driving this commitment are the Trust-wide signature behaviours:

Do what we say we will do

No Delays, every day

We listen, we learn, we lead

Work together, celebrate together

Standard Clauses:

The purpose of this post should remain constant, but the duties and responsibilities may vary over time within the overall role and level of the post. The post holder may from time to time be asked to undertake other reasonable duties. Any such changes will be made in discussion with the post holder in the light of service needs.

Competence

The post holder is responsible for limiting his / her actions to those which s/he feels competent to undertake.

Codes of conduct

All employees of the Trust who are required to be registered with a professional body, to enable them to practise within their profession, are required to comply with their code of conduct and requirements of their professional registration.