Overview
Post Title: Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist - Pathfinder
Post Status: Permanent
Department: Occupational Therapy
Location: Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9
Reports to: Line Manager Title: Mr. Paul Bernard
Salary: Appointment will be made on Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist scale (€69,998 - €81,228) at a point in line with Government pay policy.
Hours of work: Full-time (1.0 WTE)
Closing Date: Friday 16th May 2025 @ 12 noon
Responsibilities
Accountability: The clinical specialist occupational therapist is accountable to the occupational therapy manager in charge III, Beaumont Hospital.
Professionalism:
* Represent the occupational therapy profession and promote the profile of occupational therapy throughout the organisation, nationally and internationally.
* Demonstrate sound clinical reasoning based on experience and clinical expertise in care of the elderly service areas.
* Respect the values, beliefs and needs of patients and staff and include patients in decision-making processes as appropriate.
* Interpret standards of practice in relation to care of the elderly, as well as professional codes of conduct, professional and organisational policies ensuring they are incorporated into occupational therapy service practice.
* Recognise when it is appropriate to refer decisions to a higher level of authority and include colleagues in the decision-making process.
* Promote initiatives that will ensure a high standard of professional practice development in line with improved patient care.
* Demonstrate understanding and respect for the roles of all members of the MDT.
* Keep up to date with developments within the care of the elderly service in own organisation, professional body, nationally and internationally and apply to practice as appropriate.
* Manage own work-life balance and support others with same.
* Contribute professional expertise to wider organisational initiatives/committees/steering groups at local, national and international level.
* Provide specialist support to the care of the elderly service and staff.
* Assist the Advanced Paramedic in responding to medical and traumatic emergencies when an Emergency Ambulance is not immediately available, where timely intervention is critical to a life-threatening emergency.
Managing a Caseload:
* Demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills in completing occupational therapy assessments and interventions with patients referred to the Pathfinder team.
* Prioritisation and planning skills to ensure patients are placed on the appropriate pathway and the timely completion of onward referrals to other services.
* Demonstrate an advanced proficiency in screening and prioritising patients according to clinical needs using clinical reasoning skills.
* Ensure collaboration with other relevant MDT colleagues for complex patient presentation to ensure holistic approach to patient care.
* Balance clinical demands with other responsibilities (e.g., research, administration, service development, teaching, CPD, staff supervision) through effective time management and organisational skills.
Communication:
* Communicate oral and written information in a clear, concise, and well-structured manner appropriate to the content and the target audience.
* Build and maintain effective relationships with colleagues at clinical and management levels within the Pathfinder service.
* Facilitate and maintain open communication within own service and department.
* Promote and foster effective cross-discipline communications and evaluation processes with MDT colleagues.
* Deal constructively with obstacles and conflict to ensure patient-focused decision-making within the MDT.
* Build relations and links with community colleagues, working together to promote and enhance appropriate patient pathways.
* Ensure that communication with patients and families/carers is appropriate and timely.
* Present lectures, service evaluation, audit, and research projects at local, national, and international levels.
* Negotiate clearly and effectively with relevant stakeholders.
Planning, Maintaining and Evaluating a Quality Service:
* Demonstrate an advanced level of clinical knowledge and skills in care of the elderly presentations and risk factors, providing senior support in decision-making for other staff.
* Demonstrate advanced clinical skills in care of the elderly, assisting with advanced diagnostic, prognostic, and patient management within the service.
* Demonstrate advanced knowledge of care pathways appropriate to patients and proactively work with senior MDT colleagues to design and implement processes to improve care for patients.
* Recognise appropriate services and supports to optimise patient outcomes and identify the need for appropriate onward consultation or referral.
* Design and implement processes and procedures to ensure the highest standards of practice are met in the Pathfinder service by establishing governance systems.
* Report emerging risk issues to the occupational therapy manager as indicated.
* Work collaboratively with the MDT to identify, plan, and implement interdisciplinary practices.
* Contribute to steering group level and assist with developing and implementing strategic service and business plans, quality initiatives, audits, etc., based on up-to-date evidence-based practice, and report on outcomes in collaboration with the occupational therapy manager and other stakeholders.
* Liaise with steering group regarding evaluating and advising on optimal resource utilisation for effective service delivery and outcomes.
Leadership and Service Development:
* This service will involve a collaborative leadership approach between BH OT/PT departments and the National Ambulance Service.
* Liase with personnel from Dublin Fire Brigade and NAS in relation to referrals and follow-up of cases.
* Understand the principles of operational management of the Pathfinder service and be responsible for day-to-day management of this clinical speciality area.
* Act as an expert occupational therapy clinical resource for the Pathfinder service and students.
* Promote the role of occupational therapy service in the Pathfinder service nationally and internationally.
* Joint leadership with key stakeholders regarding clinical decision-making in the Pathfinder service.
* Identify and prioritise the requirements of the Pathfinder service within a changing environment.
* Develop guidelines for safe and effective practice in the Pathfinder service.
* Refine and advance occupational therapy practice in elderly care and develop links with national and international networks.
* Represent occupational therapy in the Pathfinder service at national and international levels as required.
* Deputise for the occupational therapy management team as required.
* Explore and champion new initiatives, practices, and models of care to improve patient outcomes.
* Identify opportunities to contribute to strategic planning, e.g., business case development.
* Develop and implement new service initiatives with stakeholders such as physiotherapy managers and MDT members.
* Assist in recruitment of staff.
* Act as a role model for staff in clinical competence and attitude.
* Collate and analyse workload statistics for departmental review and planning.
Evidence-Based Practice:
* Demonstrate advanced knowledge of evidence related to elderly services.
* Apply this knowledge to local practice, working with colleagues to achieve high standards of care.
* Monitor and evaluate interventions' effectiveness and modify as needed based on new evidence.
* Ensure adherence to clinical standards and guidelines within the Pathfinder service.
* Design processes to meet service demands based on understanding of trends and demands.
Research:
* Understand research principles and methodologies underpinning clinical practice.
* Lead and facilitate relevant research projects.
* Collaborate with stakeholders on research initiatives.
* Coordinate and promote departmental research aligned with strategic plans.
* Publish and disseminate research findings locally and nationally.
* Explore innovative research avenues related to elderly care.
* Identify evidence gaps and facilitate research to address them.
Act as a Clinical Resource:
* Act as an advanced clinical advisory resource for colleagues and MDT.
* Identify need for onward consultation.
* Represent the profession/HSCPs at various levels for elderly services.
* Serve as an advanced clinical advisor nationally and internationally.
Continuing Professional Development:
* Identify personal and professional learning needs and seek support accordingly.
* Facilitate staff development through planned learning and supervision.
* Provide feedback and be receptive to feedback.
* Evaluate and implement training needs for staff in the Pathfinder service.
* Provide education, supervision, mentoring, and support for senior staff.
* Contribute to MDT education and interprofessional learning activities.
* Plan, deliver, and evaluate training and health promotion activities.
* Identify learning opportunities within occupational therapy and MDT contexts.
* Provide placements and guest lectures in elderly care.
Note: The above duties are not exhaustive; the post holder may be required to perform other duties and contribute to post development as needed.
Qualifications
Selection Criteria:
Selection criteria outline the necessary qualifications, skills, knowledge, and experience for successful performance in the role. Applications will be assessed based on these criteria.
Mandatory Qualifications:
* Hold a qualification approved by the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU.
* Possess a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Occupational Therapy from NUI Galway, Trinity College Dublin, or University College Cork.
* Or a Master of Science from the University of Limerick.
* Or a Diploma from a College of Occupational Therapy.
* Or a recognised equivalent qualification validated by the Department of Health.
* Minimum of 5 years post-qualification experience, with at least 3 years in older persons' care, across various settings.
* Proven record of clinical and academic achievement in the specialist area.
Desirable Qualifications:
* Postgraduate education in the clinical area.
* Relevant pre-hospital emergency care experience.
* Experience at clinical specialist level.
Further Information:
For inquiries:
* Name: Paul Bernard
* Title: Occupational Therapy Manager
* Email: paulbernard@beaumont.ie
* Phone: 01 8092520
Hospital Website: www.beaumont.ie
Management Unit: www.beaumont.ie/hr
Particulars: The position involves working 35 hours on a rota between 8 am and 8 pm, Monday to Friday, with potential flexibility as the service develops.
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