Occupational Therapist

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the our dedicated and well established interdisciplinary chronic pain and fatigue management service with a focus on supporting people with Long Covid.

We are looking for a motivated and skilled Advanced Occupational Therapist to join the team that work with people with wide range of chronic pain conditions, ME/CFS and Long Covid. The post holder will be involved in assessment and a range of interventions, including group, individual and workshop provision. The service is delivered from sites in Aylesbury and Amersham, with the primary site being Aylesbury.

Good communication and team-working skills are essential. The ideal candidate will be able to take a holistic and person centred approach to supporting patients and have an active interest in the management of long term chronic conditions.

The role will includes working with other Advanced Therapists in the team to effectively manage a complex caseload and see patients within the expected timescales.

Main duties of the job

To take a lead role in planning, co-ordinating and delivering the specialist Occupational Therapy service provided to long covid, chronic pain and chronic fatigue patients as part of the interdisciplinary Chronic Pain and Fatigue Management Service.

To provide specialist Occupational Therapy assessment and treatment to a wide range of patients with highly complex problems resulting from chronic long term conditions and ME/CFS.

To be autonomous as an Occupational Therapist, whilst working with Senior Therapists from other disciplines within the team to deliver the service

To actively lead development of professional and service initiatives and contribute to organisational objectives.

Working for our organisation

Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! -

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?

• As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
• We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes.
• We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

Why work for us?

• We’re committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
• As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
• Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
• A keen supporter of the Armed Forces Community who know the value of employing a service leaver/veteran and their families.

What do we stand for?

• Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
• Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
• Our care values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Working experience at Band 6 level in the NHS
• Experience of assisting people to return to work
• Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development, and reflective practice
• Substantial post-graduate experience including experience working with people with long covid, chronic pain or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), multi-disciplinary team working and therapeutic group work.

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of leading servive development projects

Skills, Abilities & Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Intermediate and Advanced knowledge development of chronic conditions
• good level of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
• high level of understanding of chronic fatigue management strategies and techniques
• To have good IT and computer skills
• High level of understanding of the complex interaction between physical, functional and psychological factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of chronic conditions.
• good knowledge of group processes and dynamics
• To have excellent verbal and written communication skills including listening skills in English..

Desirable criteria

• To have a good level of knowledge of medical treatments/investigative procedures for long covid, chronic pain & fatigue.
• To have good level of knowledge of motivational interviewing techniques

Special Circumstances

Essential criteria

• Ability to travel between sites within Buckinghamshire.

Education, Qualification & Training

Essential criteria

• BSc degree in Occupational Therapy
• Registered with HCPC

Desirable criteria

• basic cognitive behavioural training
• post graduate training in long covid
• Member of The British Pain Society PMP SIG or The British Association of Clinicians in ME/CFS (BACME).

PPE requirements: Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust requires all colleagues to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with our infection prevention and control procedures.

Flu vaccinations remain the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the viruses when working in our healthcare settings. We encourage our staff to be vaccinated when recommended.

Application deadline: This post will close on the closing date stated at midnight, however if we receive a large number of applications or there is a change in circumstance, we may be required to close a job before the advertised date.

Application information: If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records (ESR) system.

Shortlisting: The monitoring and safeguarding sections are not made visible to the shortlisting panel. The safeguarding section may be made visible to the interview panel, dependent on the role being recruited into.

Travel expenses: It is Trust policy that travel expenses for interviews will not be reimbursed.

Smoking: All Trust sites are NO SMOKING. Smoking in all areas of the buildings and premises is prohibited.

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