Would you like to work in a highly innovative day-care neurological (re-) habilitation centre with opportunities to further your professional education and career?
Are you prepared and ready to push boundaries, combine your clinical work with a human rights-based approach, and help us to consolidate our position as an international leader in service delivery for those with a severe Acquired Brain Injury (sABI)? Make Life and Living with a severe Acquired Brain Injury (sABI) possible?
The An Saol Foundation’s National Centre in Santry, Dublin, is the first of its kind in Ireland and offers an exciting new opportunity to shape the long-term (re-) habilitation services for those with a sABI.
Our objective is to translate research into the effective and efficient practice of life-long neurological (re-) habilitation. We collaborate with Irish and international universities and rehabilitation centres. Our programmes are informed by best international practice and provide access to state-of-the-art therapy equipment, including robot-assisted gait training and a TechLab with some of the latest augmented and assisted communication (AAC) tools.
Following a successful international, HSE-lead, review of its pilot phase, the An Saol Foundation’s National Centre for Life and Living with a sABI is now consolidating and expanding its services, funded by the HSE (Section 39).
We are looking for an exceptional Senior Occupational Therapist to contribute to an ambitious, energetic, and highly committed team. You will need excellent interpersonal, organisational and communication skills. Initiative, flexibility and adaptability, as well as patience and proven team working skills are essential.
Senior Occupational Therapist (Neurology/Neuro-Rehabilitation)
The Senior OT is responsible for the efficient and effective assessment, planning and delivery of the appropriate (re-) habilitation programmes to our clients, together with an interdisciplinary team and lead by a clinical manager.
They constitute a key member of the (re-) habilitation team, responsible for providing clinical leadership and expertise in OT related matters, managing resources and guiding junior staff, ensuring quality and safety of services, and promoting innovation and research in the field.
The Senior OT reports directly to, assists, and, where necessary, deputises for the Clinical Manager.
The responsibilities of the An Saol Foundation’s Senior OT include:
- Participate in assessments, clinical diagnosis and treatment of clients with complex neurological needs.
- Formulate and execute individual OT programmes to meet service and client needs, ensuring that rehabilitation services meet the highest standards of clinical excellence, safety, and patient-centredness, and comply with relevant regulatory requirements and guidelines.
- Provide OT intervention where there may be barriers to understanding, due to speech/hearing/visual impairment and cognitive/perceptual difficulties.
- Provide clinical supervision and facilitate the learning and development of staff grade therapists and therapy assistants, ensuring that the services are provided in a safe, effective, and patient-centred manner.
- Work in close conjunction with other therapists and families to facilitate clients reaching their full potential.
- Organise and contribute to/lead in-service training sessions in conjunction with other therapists.
- Evaluate client progress as well as develop and implement comprehensive discharge plans where appropriate.
- Use OT-related resources, including equipment and facilities, ensuring that they are used effectively and efficiently.
- Shape and develop the service offered by the Centre, developing and implementing strategies to improve the quality and efficiency of (re-) habilitation services, including the development of clinical pathways, protocols, and guidelines.
- Support other staff and the general development of the Centre, building and maintaining effective working relationships with other healthcare professionals, clients, and their families to ensure the delivery of integrated and coordinated care, and promote and participate in research and development activities, including clinical trials and other studies, to advance the field of sABI (re-) habilitation and improve patient outcomes.
The above job responsibilities are not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post.
Skills and Experience
- OT degree qualification, preferably at Masters level, or equivalent.
- Professional OT registration in Ireland.
- Proven experience in neurology and neurological (re-) habilitation, including the ability to analyse complex clinical data, identify problems and develop effective solutions.
- Proven experience in leadership and supervision, demonstrating the ability to motivate teams of healthcare professionals, coordinate services, and liaise with other healthcare professionals.
- Knowledge and understanding of neurophysiology and a wide range of approaches to the delivery of services to neurological patients, especially those with a sABI, including the ability to communicate clearly with patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
- Good time management and organisational skills with the ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Knowledge of the regulations and standards that govern healthcare services in Ireland. Relevant experience with different healthcare systems and settings would be advantageous.
Candidates have to be able to demonstrate their suitability for this position according to HSE guidelines (https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/jobs/eligibility-criteria/occupational-therapist-senior-july-2017.pdf) and HSE guided responsibilities for this position in areas such as professional and clinical leadership, education and training, quality safety and risk, personal health, and administration (further details provided on request).
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
Salary: €58,599 – €68,998
The projected salary will be in line with HSE salary scales and is dependent on experience.
(equivalent to Senior Occupational Therapist as per CONSOLIDATED SALARY SCALES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEMPI ACTS, THE PUBLIC SERVICE AGREEMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE PAY AND PENSIONS ACT 2017 and Department of Health Circular 3/2023; https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/final-1-march-2023-salary-scales.pdf)
About the An Saol Foundation CLG – Life and Living with a sABI
In 2016, the then Minister for Health, Simon Harris, T.D., approved funding for the initial national An Saol Pilot Project under a Section 39 Service Arrangement. Following the successful completion of the pilot phase, recognising that
“the An Saol model of service is distinctive and innovative and does not have a direct parallel elsewhere (…) allowing Irish disability services to play a leading role internationally(…)”,
the HSE recommended the continuation and expansion of the An Saol Foundation’s national service delivery.
The An Saol Foundation was originally established in 2014 by the family of Pádraig Schaler to provide adequate and ongoing support to people with a severe Acquired Brain Injury (sABI). It is a registered charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee. The Foundation received its initial funding through a generous donation from the parents of Sara Walsh (V 2015) and has since received financial support from various fundraising activities, donations and funded projects. The Foundation operates from its headquarters in Dublin and delivers its services in Dublin and beyond. To achieve its goals, the Foundation promotes awareness about sABI and neurological (re-) habilitation, supports research, delivers neurological (re-) habilitation services, raises funds, and engages in related support activities.
Please submit your application with a curriculum vitae and cover letter to: positions@ansaol.ie, subject line: Senior Occupational Therapist Position 2024.
Neurological (Re-)Habilitation Day Centre 