Post Title:

Senior Occupational Therapist: Orthopaedics Early Supported Discharge Service

Post Status:

Temporary SPC

Department

Occupational Therapy

Location:

Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9

Reports to:

Occupation Therapy Manager

Salary:

Appointment will be made on Senior Occupational Therapist scale

(€59,478 - €70,033) at a point in line with Government pay policy.

Hours of work:

Full time, 35 hours per week.

Closing Date:

06th of November 2023 at 12:00 noon

Position Summary:

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the occupational Therapy (OT) Department. This Orthopaedics Early Supported Discharge (ESD) team will target ortho-geriatric patients who can complete their rehabilitation post-surgery/injury at home rather than in hospital. Senior grade therapists on this team will need to work autonomously in the patients home, have the clinical experience to embrace risk, make clinical decisions and progress the service to meet the performance targets set.

The post holder will lead the Occupational Therapy Orthopaedic Early Supported Discharge (ESD) service and will deliver an integrated expert service to meet the occupational therapy needs of patients within the Orthopaedic ESD setting. He/she will work in collaboration with the occupational therapy manager and other occupational therapists in planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating the Orthopaedic ESD service. The clinical caseload will be a primarily community based.

There will be an expectation to be flexible and offer support/cover to the in-patient orthopaedics & Vascular service if required i.e. during periods of extreme demand, unexpected or unplanned leave.

As this role is primarily community based, the post holder must possess a full Irish driving licence and have access to a vehicle. No transport will be provided by Beaumont Hospital.

The Occupational Therapist should abide by the Code of Ethics of the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland.

Responsibilities

Professionalism

• Represent the occupational therapy profession and promote the profile of occupational therapy within Orthopaedic ESD service and throughout the organisation, nationally and internationally
• Demonstrate sound clinical reasoning based on experience and clinical expertise in the Orthopaedic ESD service
• Respect the values, beliefs and needs of patients and staff and include patients in decision-making processes as appropriate
• Support and delegate appropriately to occupational therapy staff working within the Orthopaedic ESD service
• Interpret standards of practice, as well as professional codes of conduct, professional and organisational policies ensuring they are incorporated into occupational therapy practice within the Orthopaedic ESD service
• Recognise when it is appropriate to refer decisions to a higher level of authority and include colleagues in the decision making process
• Promote initiatives in the in-patient orthopaedic/Vascular service areas that will ensure a high standard of professional practice development in line with improved patient care
• Demonstrate understanding and respect for the roles of all members of the MDT
• Keep up-to-date with developments within the Orthopaedic ESD service area in own organisation, professional body, nationally and internationally and apply to practice as appropriate
• Manage own work-life balance and support others (e.g. occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants) with same
• Contribute professional expertise to wider organisational initiatives/ committees/steering groups at local, national and international level
• Provide specialist support to the Orthopaedic ESD service staff
  
  
  

Managing a Caseload

• Demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning and problem solving skills in completing occupational therapy assessments and interventions with patients referred from the Orthopaedic ESD service
• Use advanced prioritisation and planning skills to ensure patients are placed on the appropriate pathway and the timely completion of onward referrals to other services
• Demonstrate an advanced proficiency in ability to screen and prioritise patients according to clinical needs using clinical reasoning skills and providing support to all occupational therapy staff working in the Orthopaedic ESD service
• Prioritise and maximise effectiveness of intervention using available resources to Orthopaedic ESD service areas demands are optimally met e.g. appropriate delegation to occupational therapy colleagues and occupational therapy assistant
• Ensure collaboration with other relevant MDT colleagues for complex patient presentation to ensure holistic approach to patient care
• Balance clinical demands with other responsibilities (e.g. research, administration, service development, teaching, CPD, staff supervision) through effective time management and organisational skills
  
  
  

Communication

• Communicate oral and written information in a clear, concise and well-structured manner appropriate to the content and the target audience
• Build and maintain effective relationships with colleagues at clinical and management levels within the Orthopaedic ESD service.
• Facilitate and maintain open communication within own service and department
• Promote and foster effective cross discipline communications and evaluation processes with MDT colleagues, advocating shared discharge planning for optimal patient care
• Deal constructively with obstacles and conflict to ensure patient focused decision-making within the MDT
• Build relations and links with community colleagues, working together to promote and enhance appropriate patient pathways for a seamless service
• Ensure that communication with patients and families /carers is appropriate and timely and develop written resource packs for patients/carers as indicated
• Present lectures, service evaluation, audit and research projects at local, national and international level
• Negotiate clearly and effectively with relevant stakeholders
  
  
  

Planning, Maintaining and Evaluating a Quality Service

• Demonstrate an advanced level of clinical knowledge and skills of neuroscience presentations and risk factors and provide senior support in decision-making for other occupational therapy staff
• Working with MDT colleagues, demonstrate advanced clinical skills in the in-patient orthopaedic/Vascular service areas, assisting with advanced diagnostic, prognostic and patient management within the service
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of care pathways appropriate to patients attending the in-patient orthopaedic/Vascular service areas and proactively work with senior MDT colleagues to design and implement processes to improve flow for patients
• Take a key role in discharge planning
• Recognise appropriate services and supports (OT, MDT and other) to optimise patient outcomes and identify the need for appropriate onward consultation or referral
• Design and implement processes and procedures to ensure the highest standards of practice are met in the in-patient orthopaedic/Vascular occupational therapy service by establishing governance systems
• Report emerging risk issues to the occupational therapy manager and other relevant senior staff within the in-patient orthopaedic/Vascular service areas
• Work collaboratively with the MDT to identify, plan and implement interdisciplinary practices
• Foster and lead a culture and practice of evaluating service outcomes and other data collection and implementing quality improvement initiatives as appropriate
• Develop and implement strategic service and business plans, quality initiatives, audits etc. based on up to date evidence based practice and report on outcomes in collaboration with the occupational therapy manager and other stakeholders
• Oversee, evaluate and advise the occupational therapy manager on optimal resource utilisation for effective service delivery and optimal patient and service outcomes
  
  
  

Leadership and Service Development

• Understand the principles of the operational management of the Orthopaedic ESD service and be responsible for the day-to-day management of this clinical speciality area
• Act as an expert occupational therapy clinical resource for the Orthopaedic MDT, occupational therapy service and students
• Promote the role of occupational therapy service in the Orthopaedic ESD service in the organisation and at national and international level
• Lead senior clinical decision-making processes within the Orthopaedic ESD service.
• Identify and prioritise the requirements of the Orthopaedic ESD service within a constantly changing environment
• Develop guidelines for safe and effective practice in the Orthopaedic ESD service occupational therapy service
• Refine and advance occupational therapy practice within Orthopaedic ESD service and develop formal links with appropriate national and international networks
• Represent the Orthopaedic ESD occupational therapy service, nationally and internationally as required
• Deputise for the occupational therapy manager in his/ her absence as required
• Explore and champion new initiatives, practices and models of care, in line with best practice, to improve the patient experience and outcome
• Seek to identify and avail of opportunities to assist with and contribute to strategic planning e.g. development of business cases
• Develop and implement new service initiatives in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders such as occupational therapy manager, MDT members etc.
• Assist the occupational therapy manager in the recruitment of staff
• Ensure that an efficient system of stock control is maintained
• Act as a role model for occupational therapy staff and staff of other professions, in the areas of clinical competence, attitude and enthusiasm of occupational therapy, being available as a resource for staff
• Collate and analyse workload statistics required for departmental purposes and for service reviews
  
  
  

Evidence- Based Practice

• Demonstrate advanced level knowledge of evidence in relation to the in-patient orthopaedic/Vascular service areas
• Apply this advanced specialist knowledge to local practice, working with colleagues to implement the necessary steps to achieve the highest possible standard of care
• Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of interventions within the service and modify accordingly where new evidence emerges or where evidence base is incomplete
• Monitor and report on the use of best practice clinical standards and guidelines in the occupational therapy Orthopaedic ESD service and apply this specialist knowledge within the service
• Demonstrate expert understanding of service demands and trends and design processes, in consultation with the occupational therapy manager, to ensure demands are appropriately met
• Champion and lead the development of occupational therapy in in-patient orthopaedic/Vascular service areas, working with experts/partners nationally and internationally to advance practice
  
  
  

Research

• Understand the principles of research and research methodology which underpin an analytical approach to clinical practice
• Lead and facilitate research projects relevant to the Orthopaedic ESD service at local or national level
• Collaborate with all relevant stakeholders in respect of relevant research projects
• Co-ordinate and promote departmental research in conjunction with the occupational therapy department and the departmental strategic plan
• Publish research, case studies and critical reviews in peer-reviewed publications
• Lead the dissemination of research findings locally and nationally within occupational therapy and the wider healthcare arena
• Explore innovative ways to contribute to research related to in-patient orthopaedic/Vascular service areas
• Research and report on emerging practices and new evaluation tools for the in-patient orthopaedic/Vascular service occupational therapy service
• Identify gaps in the evidence base and initiate/facilitate research to enhance evidence based practice locally, nationally and internationally
  
  
  

Act as a Clinical Resource

• Act in an advanced clinical advisory role to own colleagues and MDT
• Identify the need for appropriate onward consultation
• Represent the profession/HSCPs at local, national and international level for the in-patient orthopaedic/Vascular service areas
• Act as an advanced clinical advisor, nationally and internationally
  
  
  

Continuing Professional Development

• Identify own personal and professional learning needs and seek support from occupational therapy manager as indicated
• Facilitate staff in identifying their own development needs and addressing these needs through planned learning, clinical supervision and professional support as required
• Deliver appropriate and effective feedback and be receptive to feedback
• Evaluate the training and development needs of occupational therapy staff working in the in-patient orthopaedic/Vascular service areas, plan and implement training processes to meet these needs
• Provide education, supervision, mentoring and support for occupational therapists in the in-patient orthopaedic/Vascular service areas.
• Contribute to MDT education as appropriate
• Plan, deliver and evaluate education, training and health promotion activities, incorporating inter-professional education models as appropriate
• Identify and avail of formal and informal learning opportunities within occupational therapy and MDT contexts
• Provide safe and effective under-graduate clinical placements
• Provide expert advice and training to network, national and international colleagues in the field
• Provide guest lecturing/education in the field of Orthopaedic ESD service as required by the HEIs/others
• Take the lead on occupational therapy input into post graduate clinical placements
• Contribute to educational policy and education of pre and post qualifying practitioner
  
  
  

The above Duties list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her, from time to time, and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Qualifications

Selection Criteria:

Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.

Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory:

• Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc
• Candidates for appointment must:
• Be registered, or be eligible for registration, on the Occupational Therapists Register
  
  
  

maintained by the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU.

AND

(ii) Have three years full time (or an aggregrate of three years) post qualification clinical

experience.

AND

(iii) Have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and

professional ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

AND

(iv) Provide proof of Statutory Registration on the Occupational Therapists Register

maintained by the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU before a

contract of employment can be issued.

• Annual registration
• On appointment practitioners must maintain annual registration on the
  
  
  

Occupational Therapists Register maintained by the Occupational Therapists

Registration Board at CORU

AND

(ii) Practitioners must confirm annual registration with CORU to the HSE by way of the

annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).

• Health Candidates for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
• Character Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character.
  
  
  

Desirable:

Clinical experience working within in/out-patient Orthopaedic service area.

Further Information for Candidates:

The Hospital www.beaumont.ie

Management Unit:

www.beaumont.ie/hr

Other ( Please specify ):

Informal enquiries ONLY:

Name:

Paul Bernard

Title:

Occupational Therapy Manager

Email address:

paulbernard@beaumont.ie