The person appointed to this Senior Occupational Therapist post will work as part of the multi-disciplinary teams delivering a coordinated approach to patients in the Occupational Therapy Inpatient Service. This full-time position is permanent with the flexible possibility to move internally between acute specialities.

The successful candidate will work in conjunction with other team members in delivering an efficient service to meet the needs of the service user group and the objectives of the organisation.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of a complex inpatient caseload  including the provision of specialised assessment and treatment interventions.

The Senior Occupational Therapist will continue the development and maintain high standards of clinical practice within this area through clinical evaluation, audit opportunities and evidence-based practice.

The Senior Occupational Therapist will contribute to a structured process for their own supervision and that of staff grade occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and students as required.

This campaign will run in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA).

The CPSA is responsible for establishing the principles that should be followed when making an appointment. These are set out in the CPSA Code of Practice. The Code outlines the standards that should be adhered to at each stage of the selection process and sets out the review and appeal mechanisms open to candidates should they be unhappy with a selection process.

The CPSA Code of Practice can be accessed via https://www.cpsa.ie/.

The RCSI Hospital Group includes the following hospitals

• Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9
• Cavan General Hospital, Cavan
• Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
• Louth County Hospital, Dundalk,
• Monaghan General Hospital, Monaghan
• Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda
• Rotunda Hospital, Dublin 15

The Academic Partner for the Group is the RCSI. RCSI Hospital Group provides a national service and a regional service to Dublin and the North East and is committed to the provision of world-class care, exceptional clinical services with respect and compassion.

Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown is a major teaching hospital providing a range of acute medical and surgical services, day care, outpatient, diagnostic and support services.  Emergency services are provided on a 365-day, 24 hour basis.  Multi-disciplinary teams representative of medical, nursing, allied health professionals, management and general support staff play a pivotal role in the development, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of these services. 

The hospital is affiliated to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) for medical education, to Dublin City University (DCU) for nursing education and to University College Dublin (UCD), Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and the Institute of Technology for allied health professional education.

Connolly Hospital is one of 8 hospitals in the RCSI Hospitals Group covering a population of over 800,000 people.  Connolly Hospital’s Catchment Population of over 331,000 covers Dublin West, North Kildare and South Meath.

Professional / Clinical

The Senior Occupational Therapist will:

• Be responsible for the maintenance of standards of practice of self and staff appointed to clinical / designated area(s)
• Be responsible for managing own caseload and for assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of treatment programmes for service users according to service standards
• Ensure the quality of documentation of all assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, reports and discharge summaries are in accordance with local service and professional standards
• Foster and maintain professional working relationships with colleagues, front line managers, and other healthcare personnel in the team
• In conjunction with the Occupational Therapist Manager In Charge III be involved in service planning and development by anticipating the changing needs of the service and service users for the inpatient service
• Provide direction and support to ensure the continuing development of the occupational therapy staff grades and students in the Occupational Therapy Service
• Demonstrate a commitment to research and evidence-based practice, identifying and contributing to research, clinical evaluation and audit opportunities
• Assist /be responsible as designated for the day-to-day running of the Inpatient acute Occupational Therapy Service by supervising staff, prioritising and allocating work
• Communicate verbally and / or in writing results of assessments, treatment / intervention programmes and recommendations to the team and relevant others in accordance with service policy
• Participate in teams as appropriate, communicating and working in co-operation with other team members
• Attend review meetings, team meetings, case conferences, ward rounds etc. as designated by Occupational Therapist Manager In Charge III
• Ensure that staff in the designated service area(s) arrange and carry out duties in a timely manner, within settings appropriate to service user’s needs, and in line with local policy/guidelines
• Be responsible for adhering to existing standards and protocols and for leading out on the development and maintenance of standards / strategies for quality improvement and outcome measurement
• Seek advice and assistance with any assigned duties in line with principles of evidence-based practice and clinical governance
• Be responsible for promoting positive staff morale and team working in conjunction with the Occupational Therapist Manager In Charge III
• Incorporates national and international Evidence Based Occupational Therapy Practice (EBOTP) into their practice
• Ensure that professional standards are maintained in relation to confidentiality, ethics and legislation
• Operate within the scope of Occupational Therapy practice within Ireland and in accordance with local guidelines
• Will adhere to the Ethics for Occupational Therapists from CORU and the AOTI.

Education and Training

The Senior Occupational Therapist will:

• Participate in all mandatory training programmes
• Participate in continuing professional development including in-service training, attending and presenting at conferences / courses relevant to practice, contributing to research etc. as agreed by the Occupational Therapist Manager In Charge III
• Engage in professional clinical Occupational Therapist supervision as designated by the Occupational Therapist Manager In Charge III
• Engage in peer support with Senior Occupational Therapist colleagues
• Be responsible for the direct supervision of Staff Grade Occupational Therapists and or Occupational Therapy Assistants assigned to them on the inpatient service
• Manage, participate and play a key role in the practice education of student therapists, undertaking fieldwork supervisor responsibilities as required
• Take part in teaching / training / supervision of other Occupational Therapy and non-Occupational Therapy staff / students and attend practice educator courses as appropriate
• Assist in the induction of newly hired / qualified occupational therapists as designated by the Occupational Therapist Manager In Charge III
• Update knowledge of occupational therapy by personal study, attending lectures and courses
• Develop and maintain competence in current developments in all clinical areas relevant to their remit and the implications which they may have for clinical practice
• Participate in department run training programmes / courses in the speciality area for internal and external occupational therapists / specialist clinicians.

Research & Development

The Senior Occupational Therapist will:

• Undertake research relevant to their clinical practice in collaboration with peers / colleagues
• Promote occupational therapy practice in line with relevant research and evidence base
• Initiate or participate in innovations in uni / multidisciplinary practice in collaboration with the Occupational Therapist Manager In Charge III and members of the multidisciplinary team
• Disseminate information through seminars and publications, as appropriate
• Network with other clinical specialists in the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI), education providers and other professional bodies to exchange and enhance knowledge base and practice
• Engage with the relevant Advisory Group of the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI).

Health & Safety

The Senior Occupational Therapist will:

• Promote a safe working environment in accordance with Health and Safety legislation
• Be aware of and implement agreed policies, procedures and safe professional practice by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards
• Actively participate in risk management issues, identify risks and take responsibility for appropriate action
• Report any adverse incidents in accordance with organisational guidelines.

Administrative

The Senior Occupational Therapist will:

• Be responsible for the co-ordination and delivery of service in designated area(s)
• Review and allocate resources within the designated area, in collaboration with the Occupational Therapist Manager In Charge III and relevant others
• Promote good working practice and uniformity of standards of best practice
• Promote quality by reviewing and evaluating the Occupational Therapy service regularly, identifying changing needs and opportunities to improve services, in collaboration with the Occupational Therapist Manager In Charge III and relevant others
• Develop and implement service / business plans, quality initiatives, audits etc. and report on outcomes in collaboration with the Occupational Therapist Manager In Charge III
• Collect and evaluate data about the service user group and demonstrate the achievement of the objectives of the service
• Identify Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which are congruent with the hospital’s service plan and departments’ targets and develop Action Plans to address identified KPI targets
• Oversee the upkeep of accurate Healthcare Records and other documentation in line with best clinical governance, organisational requirements and the Freedom of Information Act, GDPR and provide reports and other information / statistics as required
• Represent the department / team at meetings and conferences as appropriate
• Liaise with the Occupational Therapist Manager In Charge III regarding the needs, interests and perspective of Occupational Therapy staff
• Promote good team working, and a culture that values diversity
• Participate in the management of Occupational Therapy stock and equipment in conjunction with the Occupational Therapist Manager In Charge III
• Engage in IT developments as they apply to service user and service administration
• Keep up to date with developments within the organisation and the Irish Health Service
• Plan leave (including annual / study) and cover within the clinical speciality to ensure that occupational therapy cover is adequate across the service
• Perform such other duties appropriate to the office as may be assigned by the Occupational Therapist Manager In Charge III.

The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Candidates must have at the latest date of application:

1. Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc.

Candidates for appointment must:

(a)        Hold one of the following qualifications:

   (i)       Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Dublin awarded to graduates on successful completion of the four-year University of Dublin pathway/programme to this award.

                                                  Or

   (ii)      Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy) from University College Cork.

                                                  Or

   (iii)     Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy) from the National University Ireland, Galway.

                                                   Or

   (iv)     Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (Professional Qualification) from University of Limerick.

                                                    Or

   (v)      Hold an Occupational Therapy qualification recognised by the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU. Please see list of acceptable Occupational Therapy qualifications: https://coru.ie/health-and-social-care-professionals/education/approved-qualifications/occupational-therapists  

                                                    AND

(b)        Be registered on the Occupational Therapists Register maintained by the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU.

                                                     Or

Applicants who satisfy the conditions set out in Section 91 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, (see note 1 below), must submit proof of application for registration with the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU. The acceptable proof is correspondence from the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU confirming their application for registration as a Section 91 applicant.

                                                      AND

(c)        Have a minimum of 3 (three) years post qualification satisfactory and recent experience in occupational therapy.

                                                        AND

(d)        Have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and professional ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

Note 1: Section 91 candidates are individuals who qualified before 30 September 2016 and have been engaged in the practice of the profession in the Republic of Ireland for a minimum of 2 years fulltime (or an aggregate of 2 years fulltime), between 30th September 2011 and 30th September 2016 are considered to be Section 91 applicants under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. 

2. Annual Registration

 (i) On appointment, practitioners must maintain annual registration on Occupational Therapists Register maintained by the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU.

                                                             AND

(ii) Practitioners must confirm annual registration with CORU to the HSE by way of the annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).

3. Health

A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

4. Character

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

5. Age

The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act, 2018* set 70 years as the compulsory retirement age for public servants.

 * Public Servants not affected by this legislation:

Public servants recruited between 1 April 2004 and 31 December 2012 (new entrants) have no compulsory retirement age. Public servants recruited since 1 January 2013 are members of the Single Pension Scheme and have a compulsory retirement age of 70.

Post specific requirements, additional qualification and/ or experience:

• Essential that the candidate has postgraduate experience working as an occupational therapist in an acute care setting.
• Demonstrates evidence of continuing professional development relevant to adults in an acute care setting, including seating and 24-hour posture management.

The above must be specified / documented in your Resume for you to be considered for shortlisting for this competition.

Other requirements specific to the post:

• AOTI membership or equivalent desirable. 

The Senior Occupational Therapist will demonstrate the above as follows:

• Demonstrate clinical knowledge, clinical reasoning skills and evidence-based practice appropriate to carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the role in line with relevant legislation and standards.
• Demonstrate a proven record of clinical / academic achievement in participating in continuing professional development.
• Demonstrate an appropriate level of understanding of the Occupational Therapy process, the underpinning theory and its application to the role.
• Demonstrate evidence of having applied / used appropriate assessment tools and treatments and a knowledge of the implications of outcomes to service users.
• Demonstrate the ability to lead on planning and managing the delivery of an optimum service in an effective and resourceful manner.
• Demonstrate ability to take initiative and to be appropriately self-directed.
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively evaluate information and make appropriate decisions.
• Demonstrate a commitment to and the ability to lead on the delivery of a high-quality, person-centred service.
• Demonstrate an ability to manage and develop self and others in a working environment.
• Demonstrate the ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Display effective communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to collaborate with colleagues, families, carers, etc.
• Demonstrate the ability to follow line management directions appropriately and to utilise supervision effectively.
• Demonstrate evidence of commitment to continuing professional development
• Demonstrate a command of the English language to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role
• Demonstrate a willingness to engage and develop IT skills relevant to the role.

Professional Expertise

Has a command over the technical/ professional skills and knowledge required within the job holder’s role and continues to upskill to maintain high professional standards and continuous professional development requirements.

Commitment to Quality & Risk Management

The ability to focus on understanding stakeholder’s needs and expectations and to respond effectively and efficiently to them. Has a good knowledge of and is committed to offer a quality service through the achievement of goals, accreditation standards, other organisation/department standards and risk management frameworks and guidelines.

Problem Solving & Decision Making

Identifies and solves problems by understanding the situation, seeking additional information, developing and weighing alternatives, and choosing the most appropriate course of action given the circumstances.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

Speaks and writes clearly, fluently and effectively to both individuals and groups; communicates in a manner that will persuade, convince and influence others, to motivate, inspire or encourage them to follow a particular course of action.

This Job Description is intended as a basic guide to the scope and responsibilities of the position and is subject to regular review and amendment. The role holder will be required to be flexible in this position and is expected to facilitate working additional hours on occasion, when requested.

The RCSI Hospital Group is an Equal Opportunities Employer.