Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner in Emergency Care inPLYMOUTH inPLYMOUTH PUBLISHED 24 OCT 2024

To perform specific therapeutic (clinical and non-clinical) assessment, treatment and discharge of an identified caseload of patients within Emergency Care, Medical Assessment, Short Stay Ward and Frailty Unit as part of the wider Rapid Response Team. The clinical caseload will be allocated and indirectly supervised by the relevant qualified and registered Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists within each area.

To conduct outreach visits with patients within their own home, performing functional and mobility assessments, installing equipment and assessing for and providing guidance around minor adaptions.

To undertake all aspects of clinical duties within an agreed protocol within the individuals scope of practice. To ensure competence is gained and retained in all areas in which you practice.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

To work without direct supervision, but under the direction of an Occupational Therapists.

To work within protocols and competencies specific to this post. To act as first contact in specific situations.

• Patient management to include assessment and information gathering to identify patient needs; development of treatment plans and review of progress at regular intervals; and delivery of care and rehabilitation.
• Plan and prioritise own therapy assessments and case monitoring.
• Conduct initial discussions with the patient and gather information via liaising with the patient / carers / family / IT.
• Conduct functional assessments; basic cognitive assessments; mobility and stair assessments as appropriate.
• Plan & prioritise Outreach visits to patients' homes. Assessing patients within their own home and providing guidance around equipment, minor adaptation and support services. Follow protocols to ensure personal safety.
• Intervention / treatment activities might include equipment provision / training and educating & advising patients and their families about their situation and options for the future. There will be liaison with family, carers and external agencies to ensure safe and effective discharge of patients from the Acute Trust and / or appropriate transfer of care to other services.
• Manage own case load within Emergency Care, assessing and managing risks within scope of competencies.
• Screening of patients across Emergency Care.

About us

PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Clinical

• To be accountable for own clinical practice and caseload management. To work independently under the supervision of the qualified staff, implementing OT specific treatments and therapeutic programmes and progress patients as appropriate.

Duties may include:

Development and Implementation of OT treatment programmes

Develop person specific goals for individuals and their carers

Recognise acute and chronic deterioration and modify treatment accordingly.

Assessing performance of activities of daily living

Assessing cognitive impairment and the impact on function

Teaching use of specialist rehabilitation equipment (relating to mobility and function)

Carry out level 1 & 2 psychological interventions e.g. active listening, problem solving

Application of appropriate slings / braces for patients with acute injuries within agreed guidelines.

Providing education and demonstration to patients and their carers on the appropriate management of the injury and the sling / brace.

• Plan and manage own patient caseload within the emergency care setting.
• Where appropriate be the first point of therapy contact and gain social history from patients, families, carers or other health care providers.
• To understand, provide, receive, and exchange complex condition related information with patients and relatives, who may have communication difficulties. Patients may have complex acute or long-term communication problems: e.g. aphasia, patients with dementia.
• To be aware at all times of the needs of patients during illness or disability and to promote and encourage independence and restoration of function.
• To communicate effectively with patients and carers. Communication skills of persuasion, motivation and explanation will be needed. Barriers to communication may include loss of hearing, altered cognition & perception, pain and dementia.
• To be actively involved in the communication of information regarding patients conditions and any other useful information to the occupational therapists and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
• To attend white board / MDT meetings and be involved with patient discharge planning processes.
• To complete functional assessments on and off the wards and in patients home environment as appropriate e.g. PADL assessments and kitchen safety.
• To work independently, but under the supervision of an HCPC registered occupational therapist to perform procedures and treatment plans for an individual or group of patients, as part of their treatment and rehabilitation programmes.
• To write treatment notes in a concise, accurate and timely manner in line with departmental standards. These notes do not require qualified staff countersignature.
• To be involved in the induction, training, development and supervision of students, therapy support staff and occupational therapists.
• To undertake any non-clinical / clerical duties as necessary. This may include maintaining stock levels, ordering equipment, filing, dealing with telephone calls, and cleaning.
• To be involved in the ordering and delivery of therapy equipment required for discharge.
• To complete environmental visits to patients homes to assess suitability for larger equipment e.g. hoists, wheelchairs.
• To assess and review patients in their home environment to identify equipment needs and on-going support / care needs with guidance from an Occupational Therapist.
• To assist with the fabrication of thermoplastic splints as requested by the occupational therapists

SKILLS / KNOWLEDGE

• To actively participate in the Trusts Personal Development Programme (PDP) and have a positive approach to continual professional development.
• The post holder will demonstrate skills and knowledge regarding urgent/acute care, trauma and illness, and extended knowledge and intervention skills beyond that of a therapy technician. These skills and knowledge will be gained through specific advanced training, experience or formal qualifications to NQV 3 / equivalent or higher levels.
• The post holder will demonstrate specialist knowledge of urgent discharge support services for Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall.
• The post holder will demonstrate skills and knowledge regarding trauma, illness and conditions presenting to urgent and acute care and the contraindications / precautions for functional assessment and intervention.

Organisational

• To attend organised training sessions, including annual cardiac resuscitation lectures and any appropriate in-service training arranged by the Therapy staff within the Rapid Response Team
• To abide by the RCOT Code of Conduct.
• To comply with Trust and departmental policies and procedures.
• To be aware of the Health and Safety aspects of your work and abide by policies including the prompt recording and documentation of incidents and accidents.
• Participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development programmes to meet set knowledge and competencies.
• To participate in the appraisal system and Personal Development

Programme and act as an appraiser for Occupational Therapy assistant staff.

• Any other duties which may be considered appropriate by the qualified staff or the Occupational therapy manager.
• To undertake as directed the collection of data for use in service audit.
• Be responsible for the safe and competent use of rehabilitation equipment by patients, through teaching, training and supervision of practice.

Physical Effort:

• Moderate to intense physical effort on a daily basis. Tasks include:
• Static postures (kneeling/standing)
• Moving inert adult limbs
• Supporting patients whilst walking
• Assisting patients during transfers
• Pushing wheelchairs
• Using hoists and ward equipment on a daily basis
• Regular moving/adjustment of patients on the ward to maximise their independence and safety

Mental effort:

• Dealing with complex patients for long periods on a daily basis
• Daily requirement for prolonged periods of concentration e.g. assessment and treatment of complex and sometimes unpredictable patients.
• Ensuring good communications with patients who have impaired understanding or communication difficulties.
• Frequently using complex problem-solving skills, making and dealing with difficult clinical decisions.
• Daily requirement for multi-tasking e.g. writing notes, communicating with team, telephone calls, with regular interruptions
• With the team set goals and plans for the patient. Summarise treatment and future goals when writing discharge reports.
• Recording outcomes of interventions in medical notes and on various IT systems.

Emotional effort:

• Dealing with patients and families undergoing major changes in their health and social position, e.g. anxious and/or angry carers, family, family breakdown, isolated and depressed patients and carers on a daily basis.
• Frequently helping patients and carers come to terms with their impairments, disability and handicap.
• Immediate response to complaints/demands from distressed or anxious carers and other professionals.
• Occasionally dealing with confrontation and differing professional and ethical opinions regarding case management.

Working conditions:

• Frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions e.g. bodily fluids, vomit and soiled linen.
• On rare occasions contact with fleas, lice and scabies.
• Occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression, unpredictable behaviour.
• Occasional risk of exposure to contagious conditions e.g. Covid, Flu, Diarrhoea and vomiting.

Health and Safety Responsibilities

• To ensure that the Trusts Health and Safety Policies are understood and observed and that procedures are followed.
• To ensure the appropriate use of equipment and facilities and that the working environment is maintained in good order.
• To take the necessary precautions to safeguard the welfare and safety of yourself, patients, visitors, and staff, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• To undertake appropriate health and safety training to support safe working practice, including where appropriate, its management.
• To demonstrate a practical understanding of risk assessment in relation to their areas of responsibility and to ensure safe systems of work are in place.
• To ensure that all incidents occurring within the department are reported in accordance with Trust procedures, investigated and corrective action taken as necessary and/or reported to senior management and specialist advisers.

Moving and Handling Responsibilities

• To ensure that all moving and handling tasks within their area of responsibility are assessed, that there is a manual handling plan indicating safe systems of work, and that documentation is regularly maintained and updated.
• To observe and monitor the application of M&H skills, ensuring safe practice.
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  To attend appropriate training in accordance with the M&H assessed risks within the work

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

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  Work effectively within the Emergency Care Setting (Emergency Department, Clinical Decision Unit, Medical assessment Unit, Acute Assessment Unit, Short Stay Ward, In-Reach Wards and Out-Reach to patients homes) on a daily basis, with support from the Occupational Therapy team lead.
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  Ability to communicate with all personnel in a variety of clinical, professional and teaching forums is required.
• Communicate in an effective and appropriate manner to patients and their families.
• To use effective communication strategies with other clinical staff, team leads and all other clinicians who all provide services to patients within the Emergency Care setting.