Occupational Therapist

JOB DESCRIPTION AND PARTICULARS OF APPOINTMENT Job Title: Occupational Therapist ▪ Post Number: P11138 ▪ Grade and SCP: Grade 11 SCP 29 - 33 ▪ Directorate: People Directorate Where your role fits at Shropshire Council As Shropshire Council we are rightly proud of our achievements and we have proven to be a resilient local authority in our response to the many challenges we overcome, particularly over recent years. We will be continuing this momentum with ambition and a focus on delivering our four key priorities outlined within the Shropshire Plan: Healthy People, Healthy Environment, Health Economy, and Healthy Organisation. We are committed to achieving this by aligning everything we do to our vision 'Shropshire - living the best life'; to tell everyone that Shropshire Council is a great place to be. We will enable a skilled, happy, healthy, diverse, inclusive, empowered, and proud workforce that influences and leads change, addressing any inequalities. As a member of the Occupational Therapy team within the People Directorate, you will support the achievement of these key priorities, making a real difference to the lives of older residents and their families living in Shropshire. Our primary function is concerned with promoting independence and safety for vulnerable adults in their own homes and their local community within Shropshire. This will be carried out thorough assessment, partnerships and collaborative working with health, housing, the private and independent sectors. Overview of your role As part of the occupational therapy team, you will be required to hold a caseload to assess, guide and share information with adults, carers as well as other professionals. The post includes hybrid working and covers the whole of Shropshire, though travel will be mostly in the north of the county.. May share some responsibilities for the formal and informal supervision of Occupational Therapy Assistants and students as required. Who will your manager be and what will you be responsible for? You will be: ▪ Reporting to Team Manager, Occupational Therapy team who is in turn responsible for your health and safety, training, and development. ▪ Supervision and monitoring of casework will be undertaken by the Senior Occupational Therapists. What will you be doing? To support the development and delivery of the Council's vision, values, and strategic objectives. To ensure the delivery of the Council's key functions in accordance with the Councils core values and service standards. To work alongside, but independently with Housing Services, Adult Social Care, Health teams and wider Occupational Therapy team. The above duties are an illustrative outline and are not an exhaustive list. You will be expected to become involved in a range of work to enable the service to respond effectively to the changing requirements of the Council and changes affecting the workforce. What we expect of you You will: Independently manage a defined, allocated caseload of adult cases using problem solving, reasoning skills, reflective practice and a strength-based approach. Independently undertaking formal assessment of adults and their carers with disability needs, by: o Establishing a therapeutic relationship using communication and negotiation skills to overcome barriers to communication. o Assessing, analysing, and evaluating risk. o Liaising with and consulting other health and social care professionals, statutory, private, and voluntary organisations to complete the assessment of need and inform, analyse, and reason where appropriate. o Complete written reports, recommendations and referrals as required. To analyse assessment information and identify and select appropriate intervention programmes which balance the interaction of risk, safety, client choice, independence, areas of conflict, eligibility for services and cost effectiveness in consultation with the Senior Occupational Therapist as necessary. To implement interventions including: • To formally assess the physical, psychological, and social abilities of adults with issues impacting on their activities of daily living. • To undertake moving and handling assessments for vulnerable adults with complex needs. • To liaise with GP'S, Social workers, and other professionals to complete the assessed need. • To make recommendations and advise on how to meet the assessed needs including matters around the appropriateness of equipment and/or adaptations in a range of settings, sourcing cost effective solutions. • To assess for and prescribe a wide range of equipment for individual homes and other settings. • Recommend adaptations to the relevant Housing Authority in both social housing and private sectors through Major Adaptation Grant (DFG) within the current limit. • • • • • • • • To comply with safe systems of work in accordance with the department's Health, Safety and Welfare Policy and Procedures. To offer support to adults and carers and to be aware of support groups and condition specific support organisations. To refer on to appropriate agencies once needs have been identified through assessment. To review and re-assess adults as required progressing interventions to a satisfactory closure. To keep appropriate records of work undertaken in accordance with legal and organisational requirements. To establish and develop links with other agencies involved with supporting vulnerable adults with a disability or additional need. To be responsible for the day-to-day management of his/her own workload, managing a caseload of adults. To undertake supervision with an identified Occupational Therapy Assistant when applicable. • • • • To be aware of the financial and budget implications of resource provision and to have an awareness of charitable sources of funding. To participate in performance management to enhance the service provided to adults and their carers. To participate in and contribute to meetings related to the support of vulnerable adults. To develop an understanding and awareness of issues relating to equal opportunities and diversity. To promote and demonstrate anti discriminatory methods of practice in carrying out duties. To provide risk assessments in moving and handling situations, liaising with other relevant professionals and agencies when appropriate. To progress interventions to agreed satisfactory closure, evaluating, and reviewing outcomes. Setting up reviews and organising/partaking in case discussions/conferences. ▪ To maintain continuing professional development using critical appraisal skills, evidence-based practice, and a sound knowledge of best practice and clinical governance. ▪ To take an active role in influencing service development by: o Attending meetings and in service training. o Contributing to service evaluation through use of auditable and measurable outcomes, partaking in research projects and implementing change as appropriate. ▪ Ensure services provided are provided within departmental policies and procedures, meeting service objectives and best professional practice. ▪ Ensuring individual and service performance targets are met. ▪ Working with colleagues to ensure the team functions successfully in support of the Council's corporate and service objectives. ▪ To comply with safe systems of work in accordance with the Department's Health and Safety Welfare Policy and Procedures. These are illustrative duties. The post holder will be expected to become involved in a range of work to enable the service to respond effectively to the changing requirements of the Council and changes affecting the workforce. Main Duties The post holder, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, will carry out assessments and reviews. The aim is to maximise the independence of adults in their own homes so they can be supported to remain in their own home and communities. This may result in recommendation of assistive technology, equipment or in some situations minor and/or major adaptations. These duties are illustrative and not exhaustive. The post holder will be expected to become involved in a range of work to enable the service to respond effectively to the changing requirements of the Council and changes affecting the workforce. What are your conditions of Service The conditions of service are those laid down by Shropshire Council, which have been adopted and amended as necessary from those laid down by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services. Your post is subject to the following: • The post is a permanent contract working 37 hours per week, • Contractual office hours are between 7am - 7pm Monday - Friday and 8am - 1pm Saturday with a minimum lunch break of 30 minutes. The team's current working hours are 8.45 am - 5 pm Monday - Thurs, and 8.45 am - 4pm Friday. Occasional evening work may be required, • The post is subject to the Council's annualised hours scheme as implemented within the specific work area. This post carries eligibility to join the Local Government Pension Scheme. Information about this will be sent with any formal offer of appointment. Annual leave entitlement is a pro rata flat rate scheme of 207 hours (28 days) annual leave plus bank holidays, with five days extra awarded to those staff with five years local government service giving an entitlement of 244 hours (33 days). Two days of an employee's allowance (pro rota for part time staff) must be taken at Christmas for any potential Christmas closures. Employees who work in a building/service which is required to open over the Christmas period, the two days leave (pro rota) can be carried over into your next leave year but must be used by the end of March. The appointment is subject to two months' notice in writing on ...