Occupational Therapist (Hospice)

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

Located in leafy St John’s 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 John’s.

The post holder will be part of the Hospice Therapies Team and will report directly to the Hospice Therapy Team Lead. Our services are underpinned by a respect for human dignity and care for the physical, psychosocial, spiritual and emotional needs of the total person, whatever their age, lifestyle, culture and spiritual belief.  Our patients face a range of conditions, including cancer, respiratory disease, heart failure, neurological conditions and HIV.

Main Duties

1. To be responsible for the occupational therapy service provided across the Hospice Inpatient Unit, Day Services 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 physiotherapy 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 the patient’s significant others throughout.
7. To continually monitor and evaluate therapy intervention, modifying as indicated to support patients and their significant others 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, their significant others and the Multi-disciplinary team
11. To lead on and implement group sessions as identified in partnership with the MDT
12. To independently identify scope of practice and to seek support as required to ensure high quality, optimal patient care
13. To work closely and collaboratively with the Multi-disciplinary team, both in terms of patient care and peer support
14. To lead on and promote understanding of the role of Palliative Care Therapists and Rehabilitative Palliative Care within the Hospice and with external agencies
15. To provide cross cover where indicated to the Hospital services.

Are you the right person for this role?

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

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

• Private healthcare scheme worth up to £20,000 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
• For employees joining us from the NHS, we can provide continuation of your NHS pension

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.