Reporting to the Head, the Occupational Therapist (OT) in oncology and palliative care is an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team within a centre as well as in a home environment. You will facilitate and enable the client to achieve maximum functional performance, both physically and psychologically, in everyday living skills regardless of life expectancy. You will do this by making a comprehensive assessment, identifying life roles and activities (“occupations”) that are meaningful to clients, and addressing barriers to performing these activities. You will also perform other professional duties associated with the care of the patient and work closely with family members and care-givers 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 providing 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:
- Psychosocial or behavioural health;
- leisure and social participation (e.g. community outings);
- rest and sleep;
- caregiving; and
- 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
- Conduct an annual budgeting exercise for discipline related items
- Assist the Head in training and supervising occupational therapists
Key Requirements:
- At least 5 years’ experience
- Degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited university recognized by the Ministry of Health under the Allied Health Professions Act (AHPC)
- Full registration with AHPC
- Experience in congestive manual lymphedema drainage would be an advantage.
- Able to extract issues from interactions/conversations with clients and families so that such matters can be looked into promptly by Rehab and Hospice Care teams.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to work both independently and as a part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Able to work effectively with doctors, nurses and other stakeholders in delivering optimal patient care and services
- Able to handle interpersonal challenges amicably
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications
- Ability to use statistical packages effectively would be an advantage
- Bilingual and ability to communicate in local dialect is preferred
- Experience in working with cancer patients would be an advantage.
