JOB DESCRIPTION

							Mater Misericordiae University Hospital
                Dublin




     Job Description & Person Specification

  SENIOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
ACUTE MEDICINE with a SPECIAL INTEREST
   in ONCOLOGY / PALLIATIVE CARE

Job Title / Grade:
Senior Occupational Therapist


Department / Division:
Occupational Therapy


Location:
MMUH


Reporting Relationship:
Occupational Therapy Manager


Responsible to:
Head of Clinical Services




                                                st
                                Effective Date: 1 June 2011
                                                 st
                                  Review Date: 1 June 2013
                                  JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Purpose:

The Therapist will have responsibility for provision of specialised in-patient and out-
patient (where applicable|) Occupational Therapy Service for Acute Medical Service
with a service remit to Oncology / Palliative Care patients throughout the hospital.
He/She will work in this clinical area encompassing the development of the Acute
Medicine Programme under the HSE Quality Clinical Care Directorate. Clinical input
may be required into other speciality service that may be required from time to time.



KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

   a) Develop and provide a quality Occupational Therapy service to the Acute
      Medicine Service and work alongside existing staff in promoting and
      developing the Acute Medicine Programme with a service remit for Oncology /
      Palliative Care.

   b) To liaise with the Manager and other disciplines by attending clinical,
      management and planning meetings, engaging in written and verbal
      recording and reporting.

   c) Undertake highly skilled and specialised assessment and treatment and
      management of patients, which will include Activities of Daily Living, Cognitive
      Assessments, Functional Assessments, Treatment, Seating, Splinting, and
      Discharge Planning.

   d) To be accountable for the Occupational Therapy Service Provision by
      prioritising and delegating referrals.

   e) To develop clinical audit and ensuring the service is developed and evaluated

   f)   To identify all risk areas and evaluate.

Organisational Relationships

   a) Liaise and communicate effectively with multi-disciplinary team members and
      Consultants within the above Speciality.

   b) Effectively communicate with the Occupational Therapist Manager and advise
      on significant changes in referral patterns.

   c) Effectively communicate with all members of the Multidisciplinary Team in
      assisting the Team to achieve targets and developments

   d) Undertake team building and assume responsibility for supervision of
      Occupational Therapy staff.

   e) To plan Annual Leave within the clinical area to ensure Occupational Therapy
      cover is adequate.




Page 2 of 7                            Title of Role           Date of Document Drafted
                           Organisational Relationships

   (a) To plan Annual Leave within the clinical area to ensure Occupational Therapy
       cover is adequate.

   (b) To maintain an environment conducive to learning and development.

   f)   To notify the Occupational Therapy Manager of sick leave in accordance with
        hospital policy

   g) To maintain an environment conducive to learning and development.

Clinical Responsibility

   a) Deliver quality, specialist services to in-patient and outpatients within the
      Acute Medicine Service and developing the remit to Oncology

   b) Direct the clinical service provision of Occupational Therapy Staff within the
      Acute Medicine Service or any other Clinical area as designated by the
      Occupational Therapy Manager offering support, direction and supervision as
      specified.

   c) Attend and participate at ward meetings, ward rounds, journal clubs, and
      special interest groups.

   d) To maintain personal professional skills required for the specialist area and to
      act as a resource for all other members of staff.

   e) Ensure positive representation of the Occupational Therapy Service at all
      times.

   f)   To comply with the guidelines of the European Communities (Medical
        Devices) Regulations, 1994 for Manufacturing of Custom-made Medical
        Devices.

   g) Be responsible for practice education of Occupational Therapy Students.

   h) Undertake and participate in clinical audit as required.

   i)   To submit monthly Statistics in accordance with departmental requests and
        HSE Metrics

   j)   Undertake the development of protocols and pathways for select patient
        conditions.

   k) Participate in the development of Policies and Procedures.

   l)   To be responsible for the care and maintenance of equipment and other such
        duties as assigned by the Occupational Therapy Manager.

   m) To ensure that an efficient system of stock control is maintained.




Page 3 of 7                           Title of Role              Date of Document Drafted
Managerial Responsibilities


   (a) Be responsible for daily administration duties and overall management of
       caseload.

   (b) To be responsible for accurate documentation within the departmental policy
       & procedures and maintain up-to-date patient records.

   (c) Attend and participate at ward meetings, ward rounds, conferences, and
       journal clubs for both in/out patients.

   (d) Participate in the development of Policies and Procedures.

   (e) Attend and participate in in-service training programmes.

   (f) Work with Occupational Therapist Manager to enhance the development of
       the Occupational Therapy Services within the Acute Medicine Service and the
       Occupational Therapy Department

   (g) To engage in Research projects as appropriate or required.

   (h) Assist with performance management for Staff Grade Occupational Therapy
       staff.

   (i) Adhere to Health and Safety regulations within the workplace at all times.

   (j) Be responsible for control of infection within the Department.


General Responsibilities and Accountabilities

1. Confidentiality
   You will be aware of the confidential nature of Hospital work and in particular, the
   right of patients to confidentiality.
2. Policies & Procedures
   You are required to familiarise yourself with and adhere to all policy and
   procedural documents relevant to your position.
3. Hygiene Standards
   The highest standard of hygiene must be maintained in the Hospital at all times
   and all staff members are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Hospitals
   requirements and standards with regard to hygiene. It is the responsibility of all
   staff to have a fundamental understanding of their individual responsibility in
   maintaining departmental & site hygiene standards.
4. Health and Safety
   Ensure that effective safety procedures are in place to comply not only with the
   Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 but also within the spirit of the
   Hospital’s mission, vision and values, and they are known and followed by staff.
   You are required to familiarise yourself with the requirements of employees under
   the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and to promote a work
   environment that is compliant with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act
   2005. Each staff member is individually responsible for ensuring that the Hospital
   remains a safe place to work.



Page 4 of 7                          Title of Role            Date of Document Drafted
5. Information Technology
   Ensure the most effective and efficient use of developments in information
   technology for administrative support in a manner, which integrates well with
   systems throughout the organisation.

6. Business Continuity Management
   Business Continuity Management (BCM) is a holistic management process that
   identifies potential impacts that threaten an organisation and provides a
   framework for building resilience and the capability for an effective response that
   safeguards the interests of its key stakeholders and reputation” (BS 25999) All
   Staff employed in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital are obliged to:
              -        make themselves familiar with the Organisational Business
                       Continuity Plan
              -        attend BCM education sessions provided for them
              -        make themselves familiar with their individual roles as set out
                       in their departmental business continuity plan if applicable and
                       or the Organisational business continuity plan


Note:
These duties and responsibilities are reflection of the present service requirements and may be
subject to review and amendment to meet the changing needs of the Hospital. The incumbent
__________ (insert job title here) will be required to maintain, enhance and develop their
professional knowledge, skills and aptitudes necessary to respond to a changing climate. The
job description must be regarded as an outline of the major areas of accountability at the
present time, which will be reviewed and assessed on an on-going basis.




Page 5 of 7                              Title of Role              Date of Document Drafted
                 PERSON SPECIFICATION
CRITERIA          ESSENTIAL                                  DESIRABLE
Qualifications   A Qualification recognised by the
                 Department of Health & Children

                  (a) The Bachelor of Science (Honours)
                  in Occupational Therapy from the
                  University of Dublin, NUI Galway, or
                  University College Cork or,

                  (b) The Master of Science from the
                  University of Limerick or,

                  (c) A Diploma from a College of
                  Occupational Therapy, or,

                  A recognised qualification at least
                  equivalent to (a) or (b) or (c) which
                  complies with the Minimum Standards
                  of Practice Education in Ireland
                  (Revised: March 2008


Experience       A minimum of at least 3 years post          It is desirable that the
                 qualification experience.                   successful candidate will
                                                             have a special interest in
                 Experience in the clinical area and the
                 Acute Hospital setting is essential         Oncology



Organisational
Knowledge
Professional
Knowledge

Core              Management skills                          Human Resource skills
Competencies      Clinical skills
                                                             Presentation Skills
                  Leadership skills
                  Communication & Interpersonal skills
                  Time management
                  Understanding of Service Planning


Special           Ability to contribute to service           I.T. skills
Aptitudes         development                                Change management skills
                   Audit, evaluation


Circumstances




Page 6 of 7                        Title of Role           Date of Document Drafted
PLEASE NOTE:
All overseas applicants must have their qualifications validated by the
Department of Health & Children. Applicants requiring validation contact:
Ms. Annette Lyons, Validation Office Professional Education, Health and Social
Care Professionals, HR Directorate HSE, Merlin Park, Co. Galway
Tel: +353 (091) 77509 Fax: +353 (091) 775863. Email: annette.lyons@hse.ie




Page 7 of 7                       Title of Role         Date of Document Drafted