Occupational Therapist inBridgwater inBridgwater PUBLISHED TUE 7 JAN 2025

Exciting opportunities have arisen for a proactive, dynamic and inspiring band 6 Occupational Therapist to join the Rapid Response team part of the wider intermediate care service in the West primarily covering Bridgwater and Taunton.

Rapid Response has four main work streams leading to a varied and fulfilling day including:

Urgent Community Response, supporting the 9 pillars e.g. non injury fallers/urgent equipment provision/frailty and end of life. As well as supporting the hospital at home team with more complex patients within the community, preventing hospital admission where possible, supporting A+E departments with rapid turnaround patients and assisting Discharge to assess with patients who have short term reablement needs at home.

Successful candidates will be supported by clinical leads/advanced practitioners and clinical specialists within the team.

The main aim of the RRS team is to enable patients to stay at home, recover and re-engage with the important aspects of their life and prevent admissions to acute sectors.

The post holder will be required to use enhanced skills to assess and clinically manage patients who have been identified as needing RR intervention to avoid further clinical deterioration or hospital admission. There will be a requirement for post holders to work closely with colleagues in the local neighbourhood teams.

You will be expected to carry out specific therapy assessments to prevent admission to hospital, UCR work (including the above pillars and will also incorporate supporting patients to get off the floor using appropriate lifting equipment), and to speed up discharges from local A&E departments, this will include treatment planning, assessing risk, promoting and enabling independent functioning. You will be committed to a person-centred approach to your work, have an ability to prioritise and work flexibly.

About us

Occupational Therapist with a broad general experience as a qualified professional but working in unplanned care services would be advantageous.

*provide un-planned short term intervention to prevent Hospital admission and support rapid turnaround discharge from Hospital, working as part of the new Somerset Intermediate Care Service.

*need to work in a pro-active effective manner as part of a Multi-disciplinary team, and will always act within the limits of their competence, knowing who to ask for help and support as required. The Band 6 will operate within agreed ways of working, following the relevant standards, policies and protocols used in their workplace including Professional standards of practice and behaviour.

*will be required to work their hours over 7 days it is anticipated hours of service will be 8 am to 8 pm with shifts of 8am-6pm and 10-8pm, weekends and bank holidays, to meet the needs of the service.

The Band 6 Therapist will have the knowledge, skills and behaviors of a Therapist. All band 6 therapist will have the following responsibilities:

*Will be responsible for the effective management of the clinical workload/caseload ensuring care is prioritised appropriately

*Will be responsible for the quality of patient assessment and care planning

*Will be responsible for the day to day management of therapy aspect appropriate for the clinical area

*Will be required to assist in leadership and development of staff in the team and to act as a positive role model for more junior members of staff and students

*Will be responsible for the implementation of service development and transformation

*Will ensure that all staff in the team act in accordance with Trust HR and other relevant policies, along with the appropriate professional code of conduct

*Will be required to deputise for the line manager in their absence