Senior Occupational Therapist (Hospice)

We are looking for a Senior Occupational Therapist (Hospice) to join our dedicated team.

The post holder will be part of the Hospice Therapies Team and will report directly to the Hospice Therapy Team Lead. Our services are centred around holistic care which involves caring for the physical psychosocial spiritual and emotional needs of a person regardless of their age lifestyle culture and spiritual belief. Our patients face a range of conditions including cancer respiratory disease heart failure neurological conditions and HIV.

Located in leafy St Johns Wood on the Jubilee line minutes from Central London our luxury private Hospital has an international reputation for providing the highest quality of care to patients and is unique in that all profits fund our onsite Hospice St Johns.

Main Duties

1. To be responsible for the occupational therapy service provided across the Hospice Inpatient Unit Wellbeing Centre and Community
2. To work flexibly and be accountable for effective and efficient time management and prioritisation across the service
3. To be a source of palliative rehabilitation expertise within the Hospice embedding a rehabilitative approach to patient care.
4. To take an active role in identifying and implementing development of the Therapies Team.
5. To hold clinical responsibility for autonomously managing a complex patient caseload undertaking appropriate and comprehensive specialist Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention for patients with life limiting conditions.
6. To ensure therapy intervention is individualised and patient centred focused towards what is important to the patient and involving those who are important to the patient
7. To continually monitor and evaluate therapy intervention modifying as indicated to support patients and those important to them to set realistic goals appropriate to their disease trajectory and to ensure their changing needs are met.
8. To have excellent communication skills and to be able to adapt communication style to the situation with the ability to communicate sensitive and challenging information effectively and with empathy.
9. To have a thorough understanding of the complexities of working with patients with deteriorating conditions
10. To advise on and implement therapeutic interventions aimed at optimising self management of symptoms ensuring involvement of the patient those important to them and the Multi-disciplinary team
11. To lead on and implement group sessions in the Wellbeing centre
12. To work autonomously in the community identifying equipment needs and referring onwards for minor housing adaptations
13. To independently identify scope of practice and to seek support as required to ensure high quality optimal patient care
14. To work closely and collaboratively with the Multi-disciplinary team both in terms of patient care and peer support
15. To lead on and promote understanding of the role of Palliative Care Therapists and Rehabilitative Palliative Care within the Hospice and with external agencies
16. To provide cross cover where indicated to the Hospital services.

Are you the right person for this role

1. Significant experience of working across a variety of inpatient and rehab specialties e.g. oncology respiratory neurology orthopaedic medical.
2. BSc (hons) degree or diploma in relevant specialty
3. Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
4. Member of relevant specialist interest group
5. Previous experience working in Palliative Care
6. Experience of working in the community setting or experience working closely with community therapy teams
7. Significant experience of autonomously assessing and treating patients with complex and life limiting conditions.
8. Experience of symptom management for pain fatigue breathlessness and anxiety
9. Experience in supervision and appraisal of staff and students
10. Experience of leading group sessions
11. Knowledge and experience of audit
12. Evidence of service development implementation.
13. Robust experience of multidisciplinary team working.
14. Experience of teaching to own professional group and MDT

When you become part of the HJE Family these are some of the benefits you will receive:

• Private healthcare scheme worth up to 20000 per year
• 27 days annual leave
• Blue Light Card discounts
• Interest-free season ticket loans
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free eye check-up vouchers with contribution towards lenses
• Free newspaper and media subscriptions
• Local Business discounts
• Discount in our Hospice Charity shop
• Refer a Friend scheme
• Free Cinema Society Membership offering discounted tickets
• Personal development and training courses
• Annual events and recognition awards
• Career progression and increments

If you are ready for a new challenge and relish the chance to become part of a successful forward thinking organisation then we would love to hear from you.