Occupational Therapist - Triage and Assessment LeadNHS

Job summary

Be the Occupational Therapist who makes the difference first

Are you an Occupational Therapist who enjoys thinking on your feet, solving problems and making timely decisions that help people get the right support at the right time?

We're looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Occupational Therapist to join our Triage and Assessment Team within Wolverhampton's Independent Living Service.

This is not a traditional caseload-based OT role.

You will be part of a small, supportive team of experienced therapists who are the front door to Occupational Therapy and Independent Living Services. Every day brings something new. You'll use your professional judgement to triage referrals, complete strengths-based assessments, identify risks, provide immediate advice and guidance, and ensure residents receive the most appropriate support as quickly as possible.

For the right person, this is an exciting opportunity to develop advanced clinical reasoning, decision-making and risk management skills while making a real difference to people's independence and wellbeing.

Main duties of the job

Why choose this role?

• No long-term caseload management
• Fast-paced and varied work
• Opportunity to use your clinical judgement every day
• Supportive team environment with experienced Occupational Therapists
• Flexible and virtual ways of working
• Make a difference at the earliest point in a person's journey
• Gain expertise in equipment, adaptations, assistive technology and independent living solutions
• Be part of a service recognised for its commitment to prevention, independence and strengths-based practice

What you'll be doing

• Triaging Occupational Therapy and Independent Living referrals.
• Completing telephone and virtual assessments.
• Identifying levels of risk and urgency.
• Providing advice, information and self-management strategies.
• Recommending equipment, adaptations and assistive technology.
• Supporting timely interventions that prevent crises and promote independence.
• Working closely with community Occupational Therapists, Reablement, Health, Housing and Adult Social Care colleagues.
• Ensuring people are directed to the most appropriate pathway and support at the earliest opportunity.

Job description

Occupational Therapist- Triage and Assessment Lead

Job Purpose:To provide a responsive Occupational Therapy triage and assessment service, ensuring that adults and children receive the right support at the right time. The post holder will act as a first point of contact for Occupational Therapy referrals, undertaking strengths-based assessments, applying clinical reasoning and risk management skills, and identifying appropriate interventions that maximise independence and wellbeing. This includes providing advice, information, equipment, adaptations, assistive technology and signposting to relevant services

Main responsibilities:

Assessment and Triage

Screen and triage Occupational Therapy referrals.

Undertake telephone, virtual and face-to-face assessments where appropriate.

Identify levels of need, risk and urgency.

Prioritise referrals in line with service criteria and agreed pathways.

Determine the most appropriate intervention or onward referral.

Occupational Therapy Practice

Apply strengths-based and person-centered approaches.

Assess functional ability and occupational performance.

Identify solutions that promote independence and reduce reliance on long-term services.

Recommend equipment, minor adaptations and assistive technology where appropriate.

Provide advice and guidance to individuals, families and carers

Corporate and Professional Responsibility

To have responsibility for own professional practice, as defined within corporate guidelines and priorities.

Adhering to Occupational Therapy and HCPC professional standards.

Take responsibility to ensure the practice and learning of other staff where appropriate to include registered and non-registered staff.

To ensure that Customer Outcomes are achieved

Take responsibility for own practice.

Apply the principles of holistic practice using reasoning skills to analyse and prioritise workload and outcomes.

Take responsibility in this area to ensure the practice of other staff, where appropriate.

Quality assuring and authorising own outcome led assessments within an agreed budgetary envelope.

Ensure assessments are focused on supporting independence, demonstrating optimum and proportionate use of available resources across the community.

Safeguarding

Ensure that vulnerable children/adults are safeguarded by appropriately identifying and reporting potential abuse in accordance with local safeguarding policy and practice procedures.

Performance/Supervision

Active participation in the supervision process to improve performance and enhance confidence in own Occupational Therapy practice.

Provide professional supervision and support to others when/ where appropriate to include OT students.

Staff Development/Coaching

To actively participate and where necessary take responsibility for receiving and providing staff development opportunities to apply critical reflection and analysis to inform decision making.

Resource Use

To take responsibility for the identification of suitable resources to meet the assessed needs of individuals and carers informed by evidence based practice.

Administration/Meetings

To take responsibility for working in accordance with systems and quality standards for communication and administration in accordance with council and legal duties and responsibilities.

Service Development

To participate in activities that will create opportunities for new and different outcomes for individuals and carers that will maximise fewer financial resources.

Specialist Skills and Knowledge

To contribute to identifying, developing and evaluating specialist skills and knowledge in own and others practice.

To be up to date and have an understanding of all legislative requirements impacting on assessment and care management for adults and children.

Joint Working

To demonstrate the ability, skills and knowledge to engage and make competent assessments of need with individuals, families, groups, communities and carers that identifies relevant partners who need to be involved in further intervention.

Risk Assessment & Management

To ensure to apply risk assessment in accordance with legislative and procedural requirements whilst adhering to the principles of maximising choice, control and potential.

Equality & Diversity

To be responsible for ensuring self-practice reflects and promotes the principles of equality and diversity and are compliant with the current legislation.

Core Skills

Collaborative Practice: Building effective relationships with individuals, carers and professionals that promote engagement, shared decision making and strengths based outcomes.

Virtual Assessment and Triage: Undertaking telephone and virtual Occupational Therapy assessments to identify functional abilities, needs, risks and priorities, using professional judgement to determine the most appropriate intervention or pathway.

Enablement: Supporting individuals to maximise independence, wellbeing and participation in daily activities through advice, guidance, self management strategies, equipment and assistive technology solutions.

Clinical Reasoning and Decision Making: Applying Occupational Therapy knowledge and evidence based practice to analyse information, prioritise referrals, assess risk and make timely decisions regarding support and intervention.

Problem solving: Identifying occupational performance difficulties and developing practical, person centred solutions that promote independence and prevent escalation of need.

Risk Assessment and Management: Assessing and managing risk through information gathering, professional judgment and proportionate decision making, ensuring individuals receive the right support at the right time.

Equipment, Adaptations and Independent Living Solutions: Using knowledge of equipment, minor adaptations, assistive technology and community resources to support safe and independent living, primarily through virtual assessment and advice.

Abilities

Demonstrate the ability to undertake strengths based Occupational Therapy triage, screening and assessment using telephone, virtual and digital approaches.

Apply professional judgement and clinical reasoning to analyse information, identify risks, prioritise referrals and determine appropriate interventions or pathways.

Effectively gather, interpret and evaluate information from individuals, carers, professionals and records to support timely decision making.

Communicate complex information clearly and confidently, providing advice, guidance and recommendations to individuals, families, colleagues and partner organisations.

Work autonomously within a fast paced duty environment, managing competing demands and responding flexibly to changing priorities.

Model and promote effective information sharing, ensuring compliance and information governance, safeguarding and professional standards.

Demonstrate the ability to manage uncertainty and incomplete information whilst making proportionate, defensible decisions that promote independence and well-being.

Utilise knowledge of equipment, assistive technology, adaptations and community resources to identify practical solutions that support independent living.

Maintain accurate, timely and person centred records using electronic case management systems.

Build effective working relationships with health, housing and social care partners to facilitate coordinated and timely responses.

About us

Who we're looking for

We're looking for a registered Occupational Therapist who:

• Enjoys problem solving and decision making.
• Is confident communicating with people, families and professionals.
• Can assess risk and prioritise effectively.
• Is motivated by helping people maintain independence.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment.
• Wants to be part of a supportive and innovative team.
• Is committed to strengths-based, person-centred practice.

Whether you already have experience in community Occupational Therapy, hospital discharge, adaptations, reablement or social care, we'd love to hear from you.

What our team says

"Every day is different. We help people access the right support quickly and often make an immediate difference to their independence. The role gives you the opportunity to use your Occupational Therapy skills creatively while working in a really supportive team."

Join us

At Wolverhampton, Occupational Therapy is at the heart of our vision for prevention, independence and helping people live the lives they want to lead.

If you're looking for a rewarding role where your professional judgement, creativity and Occupational Therapy skills are valued every day, we'd love to hear from you.

Help people find the right support at the right time, and start their journey towards greater independence.