Umalini Kathirgamanathan

1. During and following the capability procedure and development plan you failed to reach and maintain the required standards expected of a Band 5 Occupational Therapist in that you:

(a) Failed to adequately manage your case load in that:

i. you were unable to work autonomously to manage your case load;
ii. you needed to be accompanied by a senior therapist while completing assessments;
iii. you were unable to manage a full case load;
iv. you were unable to record patient notes in a timely manner.

(b) Displayed poor assessment skills in that you:

i. were unable to complete assessments independently;
ii. were inconsistent in your approach and ability to manage and assess risk, resulting in colleagues intervening to avoid incidents occurring;
iii. were unable to accurately assess patient needs;
iv. lacked direction during assessments;v. were unable to communicate clearly and appropriately with clients during assessments;
vi. issued equipment without assessing the appropriateness of it;
vii. failed to consistently identify patients’ basic mobility and handling needs;
viii. were unable to consistently problem solve and independently identify treatment plans and goals;

(c) Failed to communicate clearly and appropriately with staff members, patient and family members, in particular:

i. in situations where the patient has complex needs or felt challenged by the family;
ii. failed to adapt communication style to suit patient needs; iii. your poor communication skills impacted upon your ability to build rapport with patients;
iv. you failed to employ appropriate listening skills, questioning techniques and appropriately read non-verbal and verbal cues;
v. Failed to appropriately communicate patient information to colleagues in verbal and written format.

(d) Your clinical competence was deficient in that you:

i. Failed to provide clinical reasons for your actions;
ii. Failed to consistently respond in a timely manner to situations;
iii. Were unable to prescribe and fit basic equipment independently;
iv. Failed to consistently consider the safety aspects when assessing and fitting equipment;
v. Failed to problem solve and identify plans of intervention;
vi. Failed to identify patients’ basic mobility and handling needs and address them independently; (

e) Did not maintain accurate and complete patient notes appropriately in that you:

i. NOT PROVED
ii. On more than one occasion failed to complete patient notes.

(f) Failed to provide sufficient evidence to pass your preceptorship.

2. NOT PROVED 

3. The matters set out in paragraphs 1.a to 1.d, 1.e.ii and 1f constitute lack of competence.

4. The matters set out in paragraphs 1.e.i and 2 constitute misconduct.

5. By reason of that lack of competence and/or misconduct your fitness to practise is impaired