100% Hand Occupational Therapist

About the job

About the offer

Lavaux Hospital is a private foundation recognised as being of public interest, a member of the Vaud Hospitals Federation. It is located in Cully (Bourg-en-Lavaux), in the heart of the vineyards and close to public transport, the school and the Lavaux nursery.

An extension project is planned for 2027, with the services moving into new premises currently under construction on the hospital site.

Within our establishment, our multidisciplinary teams support patients with professionalism and kindness to promote their recovery, autonomy and quality of life, through comprehensive and personalised care. The hospital notably offers services in rehabilitation, acute geriatrics, palliative care and medico-social accommodation.

As part of the opening of an outpatient occupational therapy clinic specialising in hand pathology within our establishment, we are looking for:

An experienced hand occupational therapist at 100%

Clinic opening

This is a new activity: the clinic does not yet have a patient base and no specialised hand therapy occupational therapy team is currently in place.

You will be the first occupational therapist of the clinic and will play a central role in its opening, organisation and the gradual development of its patient base, in connection with the head of the occupational therapy service.

This position requires confirmed clinical expertise and solid practical experience in hand therapy, in order to be able to provide specialised care independently from the start of your employment.

Responsibilities

• Prepare the opening of the clinic by participating in the choice of equipment, the organisation of the premises and the definition of procedures and the patient pathway.
• Actively contribute to the development of the patient base, notably by presenting the clinic's services and developing relationships with prescribing doctors, hand surgeons and network partners.
• Assess the analytical and functional capacities of the hand and wrist: joint mobility, strength (grip and pinch), sensitivity, trophicity and impact on the patient’s activities.
• Define individualised therapeutic goals with patients, implement care adapted to their pathology and reassess their progress.
• Design and carry out motor and sensory rehabilitation interventions, as well as care for pain, oedema and scars, according to indications.
• Promote functional recovery and autonomy in daily activities, leisure and professional activity.
• Design, produce, adapt and monitor custom-made orthoses (static, dynamic or postural), according to indications and care protocols.
• Advise patients on assistive devices, activity and environment adaptation, joint protection and ergonomics.
• Support patients in understanding their pathology, the precautions to be taken and the implementation of a suitable home exercise programme.
• Participate in the supervision of students and trainees, when the organisation and development of the activity allow.
• Ensure clinical documentation and activity monitoring, and contribute to the continuous improvement of the quality and safety of care.

Profile sought

Technical skills

• Bachelor HES-SO in occupational therapy or equivalent qualification recognised by the Swiss Red Cross, supplemented by a CAS in hand therapy or equivalent training.
• Several years of clinical experience in hand therapy essential, enabling specialised care to be provided independently from the start of employment.
• Mastery of specific hand assessments, conservative and postoperative care, as well as the manufacture and adaptation of custom-made orthoses.
• Ease in using common IT tools and in writing documentation related to care.
• Experience in an outpatient clinic and in developing an activity or a network of prescribers is a significant asset.

Human skills

• Strong motivation to participate in the opening and development of a specialised hand pathology activity.
• Excellent interpersonal, listening and communication skills with patients, their relatives and teams.
• Confirmed clinical autonomy, critical thinking and sense of responsibility, with the ability to work without a specialised hand therapy colleague on site at the start.
• Initiative, ability to build a professional network and aptitude to collaborate with internal and external partners.
• Excellent organisational skills, priority management and adaptability to the gradual development of the patient base.

We offer

• A position within a human-scale institution, recognised for the quality of its services.
• The opportunity to take part in the creation and development of a specialised hand therapy clinic, in connection with the head of the occupational therapy service and the institution’s partners.
• Active participation in the implementation of this new activity, notably in the choice of equipment and the layout of the clinic.
• Opportunities for continuing education and professional development.
• Working conditions governed by the collective labour agreement of the Vaud parapublic health sector (CCT San Vaud).

Start date: 1 April 2027