Palliative Care Occupational Therapist

We are looking for an exceptional Occupational Therapist who will deliver holistic and person-centred support our patients with complex physical, psychological, cognitive, environmental, social and spiritual needs, which are related to their life-limiting diagnosis

Working as part of a specialist multi-disciplinary team you will support our patients and those important to them, to live well and as independently as possible, as they navigate palliative and end of life care

This is a highly autonomous role offering an experienced OT the opportunity to support patients and families by managing their own caseload and shaping the Independent Living Team service to reach as many people as possible

To complete specialist, holistic Occupational Therapy assessments of patients with individual and sometimes complex presentations/multiple pathologies using investigative and analytical clinical reasoning skills to diagnose therapeutic need

To manage a clinical caseload of palliative patients with varying levels of complexity, prioritising, reviewing and discharging as necessary

To be a resource of specialist Occupational Therapy knowledge, advice and support to the hospice staff, volunteers and wider community

To develop and lead empowering patient focused self-management therapeutic groups, undertaking and collating outcome measures and feedback as appropriate

Reviewing and re-evaluating group aims and objectives as necessary.

Influence palliative rehabilitation practice in a variety of care settings as part of the wider patient/carer support team (or) promote and influence the use of the model of Rehabilitative Palliative care within the hospice and in the wider community

Establishing a model that seeks to enhance personal independence and choice

Contribute to the service model to equip patients & carers rehabilitation needs as they experience dying death and grief

Actively support and model the SNHC Values:
Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Equity

St Nicholas Hospice Care is an independent charity, providing palliative and end of life care across West Suffolk and Thetford, both in the community and at our Hardwick Lane, Bury St Edmunds site

Our vision is:
Everyone in our communities has choice, dignity and support when facing dying, death and bereavement

As an employee you will receive the following benefits
:

• Working in our beautiful hospice surroundings, including our therapeutic garden
• Social events (such as photography group, quiz nights, picnics, book club, StNics Sings, and more)
• Access to our annual Norburn Awards ceremony, in support of our organisational value
• Occasional opportunity for some home working, on negotiation
• 25 days annual leave increasing to 29 with service (pro rata for part time employees)
• Home-made meals available in our onsite bistro
• Access to a group pension plan or continuation of NHS Pension (subject to criteria)
• Life assurance
• Free on-site parking

Prioritise and manage own clinical caseload, admit and discharge patients, make referrals, reports and recommendations verbally and in writing to the MDT, external agencies and services as required

Use evidence based knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning to undertake highly complex clinical assessment, in a relevant location, e.g. nursing/residential home, hospice or in a patients own home, identifying needs, treatment aims and goals in collaboration with the individual patient and the MDT in a range of highly complex conditions

Use effective communication skills negotiate, review and re-evaluate treatment programmes, goal setting with a diverse range of patients often in a sensitive manner including empathy, persuasion, motivation and reassurance

Use evidence based knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning to undertake highly complex clinical assessment, in a relevant location eg. nursing/residential home, hospice or in patients own home, identifying needs, treatment aims and goals in collaboration with the individual patient and MDT in a range of highly complex conditions

Oversee and evaluate OT treatment programmes, monitoring/supervising junior staff/volunteer input, adapting as necessary

Influence and promote a rehabilitative approach to palliative occupational therapy to equip generalist therapists in the hospital and community settings

Be a source of specialist knowledge to other local therapists and professional services and agencies regarding specialist palliative care occupational therapy, working in a collaborative way

Act as a mentor or preceptor demonstrating clinical expertise in rehabilitative palliative care coaching staff and students

Provide line management support for the Hospice Therapy Assistant

Promote a culture which supports self-management, independence and embeds patient and community involvement within the sphere of practice

Proactively support discharge home from Sylvan ward, completing Access Visits and Environmental Risk Assessments where necessary, attending case conferences and…