Experienced Occupational Therapist

We are looking for a motivated Occupational Therapist to work within our Rheumatology and Hand Occupational Therapy Service providing specialist timely, holistic assessment and intervention for individuals over the age of 18 whose current needs are primarily due to a rheumatological condition or hand condition / injury. You will be expected to have experience in the specialist assessment of occupational performance and impact of conditions on hand function along with knowledge and experience in providing advice to promote self-management of rheumatology conditions e.g. joint protection advice, coping strategies, hand exercises.

You will also have experience of fatigue management education, supporting the implementation of the principles into daily routines and experience in supporting individuals to return to valued social, leisure, and sport activities and vocational rehabilitation to support returning to work, volunteering, or education along with clinical skills and experience in the assessment for, prescription of off the shelf and fabrication of custom splints.

The main focus of this role will be to use specialist knowledge of Rheumatological and hand conditions and clinical reasoning skills to select relevant assessment and treatment approaches for that individual. You will ensure the client is at the centre of everything you do, therefore working collaboratively with the individual and those close to them to identify the areas of difficulty and how it impacts on daily activities (occupation), routines, and roles in life that matter to them.

This could be in everyday self-care tasks, work or leisure. The post holder will be expected to co-produce and implement a timely, relevant, realistic, goal orientated, rehabilitation programme. Assessment and intervention will be delivered in outpatient appointments or the occasional home visit and includes the following:

• Advice on coping strategies, including joint protection techniques, energy conservation / fatigue management, ergonomic advice including workstation set-up.
• Hand exercises - to improve strength and flexibility.
• Provision of splints (custom made or off the shelf)
• Relaxation techniques
• Hand Therapy (Injuries only)
• Graded functional / remedial activities.
• Desensitisation/mirror therapy
• Scar management
• Improve AROM of the hand through splinting (static and dynamic), manipulation, home exercise programmes, heat treatment, icing and general advice and support on hand function.

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.

We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services. We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers. Our services are provided in:

• Four main hospitals:
  Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth;
  Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen;
  Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
• Five community hospitals:
  Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire;
  Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
• Two integrated care centres:
  Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
• 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 99 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
• Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services