Senior Occupational Therapist

Reporting to the Head of Cancer Rehabilitation Services, you are an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team both within a centre and in a home environment. You will facilitate and enable clients to achieve maximum functional performance, both physically and psychologically, in everyday living skills regardless of life expectancy. You will conduct comprehensive assessments, identifying life roles and activities (occupations) that are meaningful to clients, and addressing any barriers to their engagement in these activities. You will also perform other professional duties associated with the care of the patient and work closely with their family members and caregivers to ensure effective execution of prescribed therapy plans or programmes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assess physical function, activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental ADLs (iADLs) and psychosocial or behavioral health needs of the patient.

• Identify specific cancer related cognitive deficits affecting occupational roles, and provide compensatory training to successfully complete intended tasks.

• Focus on what is most important to the patient to accomplish, taking into consideration the available resources and support systems, as well as the environments in which the patient wants and is able to participate in. This includes aspects relating to work, rest, leisure and social activities.

• Ongoing screening and monitoring of performance deficits and improvements throughout survivorship to modify the ongoing multidisciplinary intervention plan to meet changing needs.

• Training on therapeutic range of motion exercises and modalities techniques to manage common cancer related impairments such as De Quervain, trigger fingers and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy.

• Tailoring an individualised lifestyle approach to allow participation in important roles such as parenting, managing the home and working. Strategies include, but are not limited to, conserving energy and managing fatigue engaging in leisure activities develop coping and problem solving skills.

• Develop and support the coping and caregiving skills of both the patient and the family or caregivers.

• Responsible for leading the decision-making process of selection, care and management of assistance aids and devices.

• Contribute to palliative and end of life care through maximising and facilitating:

1. psychosocial or behavioural health

2. leisure and social participation (e.g. community outings)

3. rest and sleep

4. caregiving

5. optimise ADLs and iADLs (e.g. home modifications)

• Responsible for keeping detailed and well-written records and other relevant documentation on patient's activities and progress for patient evaluation.

• Responsible for creating and providing accessible, efficient and seamless services including managing and developing your clinical caseload.

• Responsible for the development and implementation of cancer rehabilitation initiatives related to occupational therapy in collaboration with the rehabilitation team, across disciplines and other relevant stakeholders.

• Contribute to the promotion of SCS cancer rehabilitation services and research initiatives.

• Assist in training and supervision of therapy assistants, junior occupational therapists and occupational therapy students.

• Conduct annual budgeting exercise for discipline related items.

Key Requirements

• At least 5 years of relevant experience.

• Recognised Degree in Occupational Therapy from a university accredited by the Ministry of Health and the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC).

• Full AHPC registration.

• Experience working with cancer patients is an advantage.

• Experience in congestive/manual lymphedema drainage is an advantage.

• Proficient in Complete Decongestive Therapy (manual lymphatic drainage, compression bandaging/garments, exercises, skin care).

• Skilled in fatigue management, neurological rehabilitation techniques, and relaxation techniques for anxiety reduction.

• Process-oriented with strong attention to detail.

• Good coaching and mentoring skills.

• Able to design and develop new occupational therapy rehabilitation programmes, processes, and documentation.

• Compassionate, patient, and committed to working in an oncology rehabilitation centre and palliative home-based care environment.

• Able to handle interpersonal challenges with professionalism and maturity.