Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work and maintain high standards of clinical care.
2. To independently manage a caseload of driver, passenger and outdoor mobility assessments, often working autonomously.
3. To undertake comprehensive assessments of clients with physical, cognitive, neurological and learning impairments, including those with complex or multiple conditions.
4. To undertake assessments informed by evidence-based practice, specialist training and professional development.
5. To identify physical, cognitive and psychosocial factors that may impact assessment outcomes and recommendations.
6. To build effective working relationships with external agencies including NHS services, Adult Social Care, DVLA, Motability and equipment providers.
7. To ensure clients feel informed, supported and at ease throughout the assessment process.
8. To communicate sensitively and effectively with clients who may experience anxiety, distress or frustration.
9. To support the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) during assessments by providing clinical insight into a clients needs and potential risks.
10. To communicate assessment outcomes clearly and professionally, including situations where difficult or sensitive information must be shared.
11. To ensure clients understand any recommendations made, including responsibilities relating to notifying the DVLA where appropriate.
12. To undertake risk assessments in line with William Merritt Centre policies and procedures.
13. To ensure the safe use of equipment including vehicles, vehicle adaptations, wheelchairs and moving and handling equipment.
14. To coordinate equipment required for assessments and liaise with external agencies where necessary.
15. To participate in referral discussions, screening and service planning.
16. To provide information and advice regarding assistive technology, vehicle adaptations and mobility solutions.
17. To contribute to the development of displays, resources and information materials within the Centre.
18. To undertake outreach clinics in Doncaster and surrounding areas. A vehicle will be provided for outreach travel.
19. To work in accordance with Health and Safety legislation and maintain the physical capability required to undertake assessments safely.
20. To maintain HCPC registration and work within professional standards and codes of conduct.
21. To contribute to flexible working practices to meet service and organisational needs, including occasional promotional or educational events.

Person Specification

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Ability to use clinical reasoning to inform practice and make sound decisions.
• Ability to communicate clearly and present information, written and orally in a clear and logical manner
• To contribute to service development
• To remain up to date with professional practice
• Ability to understand the legal implications of the profession
• Ability to cope with stressful situations
• To demonstrate competent IT skills and ability to learn.

Desirable

• To demonstrate good presentation skills

Personal attributes

Essential

• Ability to maintain judgment under pressure and deal with complex medical conditions
• Ability to solve problems and think flexibly to solve them
• Reliable and flexible in approach to complex situations and service developments
• Team worker being able to work with clinical and non-clinical support staff
• Knowledge of the work of The William Merritt Centre
• Ability to cope with organisational change
• Ability to develop rapport with clients quickly

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration.

Desirable

• Membership of professional body
• Evidence of CPD maintained in a professional portfolio.
• Awarded the Driving Assessment and Outdoor Mobility certificate.

Experience

Essential

• Working knowledge of a broad range of physical and cognitive conditions in adults and older people.
• Experience of carrying out Occupational Therapy assessments.

Desirable

• 1-3 years post-graduation work experience.
• Experience of carrying out cognitive standardised and non-standardised Occupational Therapy assessments.
• Contribution to education / CPD and training of colleagues

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

William Merritt Disabled Living Centre

Address

Soar Works Enterprise Centre

14 Knutton Road

SHEFFIELD

S5 9NU

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.wmdlc.org (Opens in a new tab)

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work to ensure the maintenance of high standards of clinical care.

2. To manage a caseload of adult and paediatric assessments as an autonomous practitioner often working alone.

3. To undertake comprehensive assessments of paediatric and adult clients with physical, cognitive and learning impairments and those with complex/multi pathology presentations demonstrating a high level of understanding of the effects of disability/illness.

4. To work alongside an Occupational Therapy Assistant to undertake joint assessments, including working together at the outreach centres across the region.

5. To identify social, environmental and clinical issues that will impact on the final equipment recommendations.

6. To undertake assessments based on knowledge of evidence based practice, training and professional development.

7. To take a broad approach to assessments and develop good working relationships with other bodies e.g. NHS, other Driving Mobility centres, Social Care and Retailers.

8. To create a good working relationship with the client and their families/carers, ensuring that they are fully informed and put at ease.

9. To assess the clients understanding of the assessment process and inform in an understanding and empathetic manner dealing sensitively with those who have a high level of anxiety and/or aggression.

10. To be responsible for good communication with the client about assessment outcome including giving unwelcome or bad news.

11. To undertake risk assessments as part of the assessment process.

12. To be responsible for the safe use of appropriate equipment e.g. car seats, powered wheelchairs, moving and handling equipment etc.

13. To identify equipment required for assessments, liaise with other agencies and ensure appropriate equipment is available in time for planned assessment.

14. To participate in discussion and screening of new referrals.

15. To collate information in the form of literature, leaflets, internet articles, manufacturer and retailer information in response to information requests.

16. To be involved in developing the Equipment and Information display within the Centre for the Paediatric and Adult Services.

17. To be able to travel locally and across the region.

18. To work in line with Health and Safety legislation and to take responsibility for your own health and fitness to meet the physical demands of the job. E.g. being aware that the role may involve moving equipment around the Centre and driving across the region.

19. Maintain standards in respect of the Royal College of Occupational Therapy, Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Occupational Therapists.

20. To contribute to flexible working practices to meet the needs of the service and business development.

21. To undertake regular supervision with a Lead Occupational Therapist.

22. Any other duties commensurate with the post holders abilities as agreed with their line manager.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy.
• HCPC Registration.
• Evidence of CPD

Desirable

• Membership of professional body.
• Certificated evidence of attendance at relevant courses.
• Membership of RCOT, CYPF Special Interest Group.

Experience

Essential

• Working knowledge of a broad range of physical and cognitive conditions in children and adults.
• Experience of carrying out Occupational Therapy equipment assessments.
• An understanding of working with individuals with neurodiversity and adapting assessment and intervention approaches to meet their individual needs

Desirable

• 4+ years experience working in health and social care settings.
• Experience of completing basic seating or wheelchair assessments
• Experience of working flexibly across a range of settings.
• Experience of educating and training colleagues and students
• Experience of using assistive technology.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Ability to undertake paediatric and adult assessments independently.
• Ability to make complex clinical decisions.
• Ability to communicate clearly and present information, written and orally in a clear and logical manner.
• To contribute to service development.
• To remain up to date with professional practice.
• Ability to understand the legal implications of the profession.
• Ability to cope with stressful situations and clients with behavioural and sensory needs.
• Ability to maintain moderate physical activity throughout the working day in support of occupational therapy assessments, including moving and handling activities relevant to the assessment.
• To demonstrate competent IT skills.

Desirable

• To demonstrate good presentation skills.

Personal attributes

Essential

• Ability to maintain judgment under pressure and deal with complex medical conditions.
• Ability to solve problems.
• Ability to cope with distressing situations.
• Reliability.
• Confidence.
• Team worker.
• Enthusiasm for the work of the William Merritt Centre.
• Ability to cope with organisational change.
• Ability to develop rapport with clients quickly.
• Full UK driving license essential.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

William Merritt Disabled Living Centre

Address

Aire House

100 Town Street, Rodley

Leeds

West Yorkshire

LS13 1HP

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.wmdlc.org (Opens in a new tab)