Job Description
Overview 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 Hand Therapy (Hand / Upper Limb Service for the Plastics and Orthopaedic Services (hereafter will be referred to as Hand Therapy). The successful candidate will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of their relevant complex patient caseload, the assessment and treatment of the Hand Therapy / Upper Limb Service. The Hand Therapy service is staffed by 3 whole time equivalent posts: 2 at clinical specialist grade and one at a senior grade. The Regional Plastic Surgery Service for the RCSI Hospital Group is based in Connolly Hospital and the Occupational Therapy Department provides the Hand Therapy input for this speciality. The occupational therapy service has 2 clinical specialists posts in Hand Therapy. Connolly Hospital manages a high percentage of trauma patients compared with the volume of elective patients. 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 Senior Occupational Therapist will develop and maintain high standards of clinical practice within this area through clinical evaluation, audit opportunities and evidence-based occupational therapy practice. The Senior Occupational Therapist will contribute to a structured process for education of senior and staff grade colleagues, undergraduates and other disciplines in collaboration with the clinical specialist occupational therapists on the service as required. Reporting relationship will be to the Clinical Specialist Hand Therapist and Director of Clinical Services. Essential Criteria 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: 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 as an occupational therapist. And Have satisfactory and recent clinical post graduate experience as an occupational therapist in the practise of Hand Therapy preferably in an acute physical hospital setting. And This clinical experience must have been gained as an occupational therapist in the practice of Hand Therapy in one or a combination of plastics / orthopaedics / trauma / rheumatology / burns specialities. 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 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). 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. Character Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character. Post specific requirements, additional qualification and/ or experience: Essential that the candidate has recent satisfactory experience in working in an acute Hand Therapy Service preferably in an acute care teaching hospital. Evidence of experience with acute hand injuries in hand therapy Evidence of experience in splinting acute hand and upper limb injuries in hand therapy Evidence of relevant postgraduate Continuing Professional Development (CPD) relating to hand therapy in Plastics / Orthopaedics / Trauma / Burns such as a BAHT qualification from the UK or CHT from ASHT or equivalent in the USA or a recognised third level Higher Education Institute (HEI) (relevant to the post). Other requirements specific to the post AOTI membership desirable. IAHT / BAHT / ASHT membership desirable. *Relevant attachment* Senior Occupational Therapist Hand Upper Limb Service - Plastics and Orthopaedics