Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Job responsibilities

This is a challenging and varied role. Day to day you will be conducting assessments, writing reports (Initial, Review and EHCP assessments) and running therapy sessions (groups or individual).

You will work from various venues e.g. clinics, schools (including special schools), nurseries and the child's home within SE Surrey.

The post holder will provide a high standard of Occupational Therapy within the services covered by the department and perform comprehensive assessments of children some of whom will have complex needs.

To will devise child centred treatment plans through selective techniques and graded activities to ensure that the individuals full potential is developed or maintained.

To work as an autonomous practitioner, undertaking a significant clinical caseload, working without direct supervision but with access to a Band 6 Occupational Therapist for regular clinical supervision.

To ensure professional competence is maintained by participating in all CPD opportunities and maintaining a portfolio.

Principal duties to include:

This list is intended to summarise the key responsibilities and is not intended to cover every task that may be required of the role: -

• To manage potentially stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner.
• To supervise Occupational Therapy students and therapy assistants where appropriate.
• To communicate effectively with all disciplines involved in a child's care both those from within the organisation and those outside, ensuring effective multidisciplinary working.
• To communicate complex and sensitive information to clients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news relating to their rehabilitation potential.
• To attend relevant multi-professional and multi-agency meetings as appropriate, in order to ensure appropriate management of clients.
• To attend and actively participate in staff meetings, ensuring understanding of information imparted.
• To apply a flexible approach in communicating both verbally and non-verbally with clients, carers and other professionals.
• To ensure timely and effective communication with the Occupational Therapy leadership team on all professional matters.
• To effectively plan the daily management of a caseload of children linked to allocated work.
• To respond to urgent referrals and occasionally unpredictable work patterns. To prioritise clinical work and balance other patient related and professional activities as the department requires.
• To administer specialist assessments used to identify functional and environmental needs impacting on the child's functional performance.
• To implement, within your clinical practice the standards and policies in each specialty and where applicable propose changes to working practice.
• To use and maintain sound clinical reasoning skills throughout the therapeutic process to ensure best practice and identify risk.
• To assess clients, carers and other professionals understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with clients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
• To use a range of treatment/ management options in formulating programmes of care.
• To formulate accurate prognoses through standardised and non-standardised assessments and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive therapy/discharge plans.
• To evaluate children's progress, re-assess and alter treatment programmes if required.
• To effectively plan the daily management of a caseload of children.
• To communicate any changes in care plan or treatment approach to other Occupational Therapists/Assistants as necessary, e.g. part time team members.
• To evaluate children's progress, re-assess and alter treatment programmes if required.
• To produce appropriate information for the use of service users.

This job description is not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake such other duties from time to time as are consistent with the responsibility of the grade.

Please refer to full job description included in the supporting documents.

This job description is subject to review and development from time to time in liaison with the post holder. As an employee of Central Surrey Health Ltd you will be required to adhere to all the organisations policies and procedures.

Experience

Essential

• -Knowledge of legislation and government policies.
• -Adhere to Professional code of ethics, boundaries.
• -Ability to establish rapport with colleagues, clients and carers.
• -Manage own time and prioritise caseload.
• -Use supervision effectively to identify professional development needs. Evidence of CPD Portfolio.
• -Awareness of Evidence -Based Practice and application to professional practice.
• -Ability to present self in professional and appropriate manner.
• -Understands and responds to needs of the team demonstrates effective team and interagency working.
• -Good verbal and written communications skills.
• -Understands the importance of documentation and confidentially.
• -Demonstrable evidence of prioritizing and problem solving.
• -Ability to select, analyse and interpret assessments.
• -Willingness to be flexible and adaptable in response to demands of the post and work in different locations.

Desirable

• -Previous experience of working with Children in the field of Occupational Therapy and / or other fields.
• -Specialist knowledge of paediatric conditions.
• -Fieldwork supervisor.
• -Understanding of research techniques.
• -Use of Electronic Patient records.
• -To be a member of a professional body or special interest group e.g. RCOT.

Skills and Other

Essential

• - Car owner/driver. Ability to travel between sites and to external meetings.
• - Able to work as a team member
• - Flexible worker
• - Punctual and reliable
• -Able to deal with difficulties involving colleagues/clients
• - Computer literate with word, powerpoint and excel
• Please see attached job description and person specification for further detail

Qualifications

Essential

• - B.S.C Hons or diploma equivalent in OT
• - Health Care Professionals Council License to Practice (please continue to apply if pending registration number due to being newly qualified)

Desirable

• - Specialist courses relevant to specialty e.g. school AMPs, CO-OP, Essentials in Occupational Therapy, Sensory integration etc.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).