Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist: National Burns Unit, Dublin

Role Title:Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist: National Burns Unit Job Reference Number:002360 Closing Date:Sunday, 7th June 2026 Purpose of the Role: The Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist will provide advanced clinical knowledge and expertise to lead, develop and deliver a specialist occupational therapy service to patients with burn injuries on the National Burns Unit, including those with complex acute and rehabilitative needs. The post holder will also contribute to service delivery within the wider plastics and orthopaedics hand therapy teams, in line with service needs. This is a new post that will complement the existing resource and will join an expanded dedicated multidisciplinary team on the National Burns Unit. The Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist will possess skills and expertise greater than that expected of a senior occupational therapist, in particular related to clinical leadership, service development, clinical audit, education and research. The National Burns Unit provides specialist care for patients with burn injuries of all severities, including thermal, chemical, electrical and inhalation injuries. The Burns Occupational Therapy service works as part of a specialist inter-disciplinary team comprising Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Medical Social Work, Speech and Language Therapy, Clinical Nutrition, Nursing and Plastic Surgery. The post-holder will provide expert assessment and intervention across the acute and rehabilitation phases of burn care, including wound and scar management, splinting and positioning, functional rehabilitation, psychological support and community reintegration. The post-holder will provide senior clinical decision-making throughout the patient journey, from the acute phase of admission through to long-term outpatient follow-up and community discharge planning. This service aims to; Provide specialist burns rehabilitation to optimise functional outcomes and quality of life. Deliver expert scar and wound management including splinting, compression therapy and positioning to prevent and manage joint contractures. Support psychological adjustment and promote patient and family wellbeing throughout the burn recovery journey. Facilitate timely and safe discharge planning to support community reintegration, including return to work, education and daily activities. Lead and contribute to the development of evidence-based clinical protocols and pathways for burns rehabilitation. Promote and deliver comprehensive functional assessment and goal-directed rehabilitation. Identify the occupational needs of the person with a burn injury, selecting the most appropriate rehabilitation pathway to meet those needs. Collaborate to deliver seamless services that are integrated with smooth transitions between different care settings. Reduce readmission rates and complications through provision of effective outpatient burns rehabilitation and follow-up pathways. Clinical: Demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning and critically evaluates interventions. Be responsible for assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation of intervention for service users according toBritish and European Burn standards. Collaborate with service user, family, carers and other staff in goal setting and treatment / intervention planning. Maintain effective liaison with other multi-disciplinary team members by attending relevant meetings and through verbal and written reporting. Management&Administrative: Provide clinical leadership in the day-to-day running of the service by supporting and supervising staff, prioritising and allocating work. Communicating effectively within a team. In conjunction with the Occupational Therapist Managers, contribute to the development and implementation of procedures, policies and guidelines while adhering to existing standards and protocols. Participate in ongoing standard setting, outcome measurement, clinical audit and research. Assist the Occupational Therapist Managers in service planning and strategic development according to service and patient needs. Lead out on the ongoing development of the Occupational Therapy service within this speciality. Promote the role of Occupational Therapy within the area and throughout the organisation. Act as a role model for Occupational Therapy staff and contribute to positive team morale Balance clinical demands with non-clinical responsibilities, e.g. (service development, supervision, administration, CPD, research etc.) through effective time management and organisation. Develop effective relationships and links with relevant colleagues to identify and operationalise appropriate patient pathways to deliver seamless patient centred care. Maintain statistics and record activity in accordance with departmental requirements. Participate and cooperate with legislative and regulatory requirements in relation to Health and Safety as outlined in the Safety, Health and Welfare Act 2005 and the Hospital Safety Statement. Education, Training&Development: Act in an advanced clinical advisory role to colleagues. Act as a clinical resource within the department sharing knowledge and expertise to develop clinical skills and enhance the quality of the occupational therapy service provided. Provide professional supervision in accordance with the Occupational Therapy Department policy and participates in own professional supervision with OT Managers or delegate. Represent the profession, HSCPs and organisation at local, national and international level regarding speciality. Maintain and develop specialist expertise and knowledge by actively engaging in continuing professional development. Participate in postgraduate education in specialist field as appropriate. Be responsible for maintenance of standards of practice of self and designated staff. Keep abreast of current developments and emerging practices and the implications that they may have for clinical practice. Provide expert advice and training to network, national and international colleagues in the field. Manage, participate and play a key role in the practice education of student therapists and promote and engage in the teaching / training / support of others as appropriate. Research and Audit: Ensure that service provision is evidence-based and up to date with best practice guidelines. Actively instigate, participate in, complete and publish relevant research projects and/or clinical audits that are appropriate and achievable in collaboration with the Occupational Therapy Managers. Maintain professional networks with other clinical specialists, AOTI, education providers, special interest groups etc. to exchange and enhance knowledge base. Required: 1. Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc Candidates for appointment must: Be registered, or be eligible for registration, on the Occupational Therapists Register maintained by the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU. And Have five years full time (or equivalent) years post qualification clinical experience of which four years full time (or equivalent) must be consecutive in the required area of specialismrelating to burns rehabilitation, plastic surgery including hand and upper limb trauma. And Demonstrate a proven record of clinical excellence. And Professional Development and Practice: Candidates must demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the required area of specialism, in the form of post-graduate qualifications or relevant courses. And Candidates must demonstrate achievement in the areas of clinical audit, quality improvement initiatives, practice development, teaching and research. And Have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability, management, leadership and professional ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office. And Provide proof of Statutory Registration on the Occupational Therapists Register maintained by the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU before a contract of employment can be issued. 2. Annual Registration On appointment, practitioners must maintain annual registration on the Occupational Therapists Register maintained by the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU. And Practitioners must confirm annual registration with CORU to Human Resources, St Jamess Hospital by way of the annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC). And Demonstrates experience in assessment and treatment of patients with burn injuries, including scar management, treatment of complex burn injuries to the hand and upper limb, advanced splinting skills, compression therapy and functional rehabilitation. Experience in the treatment of plastic and orthopaedic hand and wrist injuries. Demonstrates significant achievement in standard setting, service development, clinical audit and research relevant to this specialty. Desired: Post graduate education and courses relevant to the specialty area.TPBN1_IJ