Job description

Job responsibilities

Specific duties include but are not limited to:

Undertake holistic assessments of patients, considering health conditions, functional ability,job demands and environmental factors.

Undertake workplace assessment of patients including those with diverse or complexpresentations of various health conditions health using advanced clinical reasoning skillsand ergonomic/environmental and psychosocial assessment techniques to determineimplications upon work performance and productivity.

Lead on complex workability conversations and assessments where clinical expertise is required.

Develop and document personalised workability plans

Apply proficient clinical reasoning to determine fitness for work, including may be fitscenarios.

Provide clinical oversight and review/approve may be able to work recommendationsmade by non-clinical staff.

Deliver evidence-based advice on reasonable adjustments, return-to-work planning andvocational rehabilitation.

Provide specialist clinical advice and supervision to social prescribing/work and healthcoaches.

Work collaboratively with:

• GPs and primary care teams
• Work and health coaches
• Social Prescribers
• employers (where appropriate)

Support case discussions, triage processes and escalation pathways for complex patients.

Contribute to integrated care planning linking health and employment support.

Contribute to delivery of the Fit Note Reform Pilot model, including triage, assessment andfollow-up.

Support implementation of a single patient conversation model, integrating the workabilityssessment with WorkWell support within primary care.

Participate in service design, innovation, and continuous improvement through a test-and-learn approach.

Promote a function-focused, strengths-based model of care.

Communicate complex and sensitive information to patients regarding:

• their ability to work
• prognosis and functional impact

Produce clear, evidence-based written reports and workability plans for patients and employers.

Liaise effectively with multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders.

Maintain accurate and timely clinical records and data in line with service requirements.

Support monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the pilot programme

Work within clinical governance frameworks, escalating concerns appropriately.

Ensure compliance with GDPR, safeguarding and information governance

Person Specification

Other Requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel across PCN locations where required;
• Flexibility to meet service needs;
• Commitment to safeguarding, equality and inclusion.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of implementing evidence-based assessment and intervention with regards to physical, cognitive, perceptual, psychological, sensory and social functioning.
• Experience of evaluating recommendations according to health care needs and job role / performance competencies or requirements using a comprehensive range of intervention options.
• Analysis of Occupational performance/participation, with health and medical aspects.
• (Biopsychosocial and environmental factors, physical, sensory/communication/interaction, cognitive/executive function,
• neurodivergence and mental health).
• Confident with activity analysis.
• Multi-disciplinary professional team working experience.
• Experience of managing a case load, whether a larger caseload or smaller but more complex cases.
• Sensitivity to a diverse range of clients and evidence of responding to their different needs.
• Able to provide a service to a diverse range of people to promote good relations and equality.
• Experience of developing positive relationships with relevant stakeholders (managers, unions, employees etc.) .
• Good understanding of equality diversity and belonging and how they affect the workplace.
• Experience of handling conflict and managing sensitive issues to achieve positive outcomes.

Desirable

• Experience working in primary care or community settings ;
• Experience with return-to-work planning and workplace assessments;
• Experience contributing to service development or innovation projects

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualifications and training
• B.Sc. Degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent, approved by the HCPC;
• Registration with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC);
• Adhere to professional standards for Occupational Therapy Practice, as detailed by the HCPC and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), legal and professional responsibilities;
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Postgraduate training in vocational rehabilitation, occupational health, ergonomics or related field ;
• Membership of RCOT or relevant specialist networks

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Strong understanding of: biopsychosocial model of health and work; functional assessments and activity analysis .
• Ability to conduct workability or functional assessments .
• Understanding of current work and health issues and an ability to keep abreast of current initiatives and best practice.
• Knowledge of employment issues, workplace adjustments and Equality Act 2010 .
• Good understanding of relevant consent and confidentiality legislation/GDPR.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) .
• Ability to write evidence-based reports and advice around reasonable adjustments, incl. return to work plans, including use of the Allied Health Professional (AHP) Health and Work Report where applicable.
• Ability to tailor advice, both verbal and written, to the target audience, e.g. GPs, employers/ managers, HR, Insurance groups etc.
• Ability to manage a caseload and prioritise effectively .
• Ability to work across organisational boundaries.

Desirable

• Knowledge of primary care systems and social prescribing models ;
• Experience of data collection, evaluation and reporting ;
• Coaching or motivational interviewing skills.