Neonatal Occupational Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will

1. Utilise advanced skills and support to facilitate high quality, individualised care to infants and parents/carers in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, at all times ensuring that the needs of the infant and their family are placed at the centre of care delivery.
2. Demonstrate active participation and leadership in projects and activities that support developmental care and the units priorities. (Bliss Friendly, etc)
3. Be engaged in clinical evaluation and audit activity in partnership with the wider AHP/Unit team.
4. Demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical Responsibilities

• To carry a designated clinical caseload including highly complex and diverse patient groups and prioritise that work efficiently, taking into account clinical and service priorities using specialist knowledge to underpin decisions.
• Apply an enhanced level of understanding of the effect of preterm birth, perinatal problems and congenital disabilities on the development and occupations of infants and their families and make appropriate recommendations for intervention and support.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of individualised infant and family-centre developmental care, using evidence-based practice to support clinical outcomes as appropriate, this includes:
  • detailed occupation-based, neurodevelopmental, and neuro-behavioural observations of infants using specialist skills to assess physiological, motor, sensory, state regulation and cognitive behaviours
  • analysis and synthesis of findings to develop individual goals and care plans in collaboration withnursing, medical and therapy staff.
  • monitor implementation and update plans as needed
• Use advanced clinical assessments including Prechtl General Movements Assessment, Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (NBAS), Newborn Individualised Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP).
• Provide specialist support for colleagues and the families of babies in managing expectations around potential recovery, helping them to understand and plan for short/long term disability.
• Apply an enhanced level of understanding about the impact of the environment on the wellbeing of infants, families and staff, making recommendations regarding adapting the environment for optimal benefits. This will include evaluating and recommending developmental care aids and adaptations, and modifications to the environment at large.
• Support discharge planning and transitions to paediatric, outpatient and community services for caseload, providing relevant information to unit discharge team and internal paediatric and community teams.
• Provide individual patient equipment as required, such as splints, and positioning equipment. To issue such equipment with due regard to safety of the equipment, and in line with legal, national and local guidelines.
• To use established time management skills, to be flexible in response to demands from parents, unit team members on a day-to-day basis.
• To recognise boundaries of own extended practice as it develops and to manage associated clinical risk at all times.
• Ensure that all clinical records are kept in accordance with professional guidelines and local trust and network policies.

The post requires a flexible approach to working and a 7-day working pattern may be required, also cover of statutory and public holidays, maintaining the competency required to work as the sole occupational therapist within this clinical area.

Communication

• To effectively share information with parents/carers and other professionals regarding an infants condition and treatment progress, in relation to therapy goals, whilst being sensitive to their prior level of knowledge and understanding. Use interpreters to facilitate understanding as needed.
• Implement effective coaching strategies with families using an individualised infant and family-centred approach to promote parent participation.
• Use formal and informal reporting mechanisms including digital platforms, to communicate and liaise with other professionals, patients families/ carers, and other agencies to ensure co-ordinated service delivery.
• To develop and maintain sound, collaborative working relationships with therapy colleagues, medical and nursing staff, referring clinicians and other appropriate professions and agencies in the provision of neonatal services.
• Establish effective communication pathways that enhance patient care with referrers from inside and outside the Trust, including GPs, community therapy teams and staff working in regional Trusts, and that discharge information is communicated to referrers in a timely and appropriate manner at all times.
• Attend and contribute to ward rounds, developmental care ward rounds, discharge planning meetings and other meetings relevant to patient care.
• Taking the lead role in MDT rounds in turn with other members of the team promoting FICare principles to facilitate parental involvement.
• To manage informal conflicts, disagreements and complaints using highly developed interpersonal and negotiation skills, appropriately utilising support from clinical specialist and line manager as required.
• To represent the neonatal unit and profession at Trust-based working groups and provide highly specialist knowledge to these groups.
• Participate in the Neonatal Operational Delivery Networks wider AHP professional groups and have an understanding of wider neonatal network and national interests.
• To manage workload and assist other members of the team to make appropriate priorities so that staff are not under undue pressure, particularly in times of annual, sick or study leave.
• To provide emotional support for team in potentially difficult work situations such as physical or verbal aggression or other stresses of work or managing adverse incidents.

Education and Training

• Maintain ones own professional development, skills and knowledge base including up to date and relevant research, locally and nationally.
• Prepare and participate in lectures, seminars and demonstrations to other therapists, student therapists and other disciplines as appropriate, internal to the Trust and externally to network or nationally.
• To ensure planned in-service training for the team is appropriate i.e., related to client group, service needs and efficient use of time.
• Foster, encourage and facilitate the development of evidence-based projects
• To advise nursing staff on individualised neonatal programmes, including but not exclusive to positioning, developmental activities, stretching exercises, equipment use, self-soothing strategies, environmental management, etc.
• To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities, using reflective practice and maintain a portfolio that indicates personal development
• To participate in/initiate research and evaluation of the neonatal specialist OT /developmental specialist/neonatal developmental therapist postand service provision, publishing findings as appropriate.
• To keep abreast of relevant clinical issues and research in the field of neonates and paediatrics in order to ensure clinical effectiveness.

Policy and Service Development

• To actively develop in the neonatal unit Developmental Care meetings, ward rounds, and specific service initiatives as required.
• To carry out an audit / project in the area of FICare in NICU which may result in contributing to the formulation of departmental policies and procedures.
• To attend staff meetings and other relevant meetings and to assist the Clinical Specialist neonatal OT by taking a lead in department initiatives to improve the service.
• Be aware of annual service objectives ensuring that practice reflects objectives set.
• Ensure that services are sensitive to the cultural diversity of the population and the personal, familial and cultural needs of individuals.

Leadership

• To have an active role in effective team working in the paediatric therapy department leading, assisting and supporting other therapists in the area of neonates.
• To manage workload and assist other members of the team to make appropriate priorities so that staff are not under undue pressure, particularly in times of annual, sick or study leave.
• To provide emotional support for team in potentially difficult work situations such as physical or verbal aggression or other stresses of work or managing adverse incidents.

Training and Development

• To ensure that clinical practice is in line with national and local Occupational Therapy clinical guidelines.
• To be involved in clinical governance issues by keeping up to date with developments in assessment and treatment approaches, undertaking audits to evaluate practice and participating in research projects.

Information Management

• Maintain comprehensive, accurate and timely patient notes and records in accordance with department policy, and to ensure safekeeping and confidentiality of those records and records.
• Keep comprehensive records of activity in accordance with local and national requirements, using departmental IT software systems as required.
• To use computer skills to support role, including EPR, PIMs, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, e-mail, MS Teams, Attend Anywhere

Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential

• Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
• State Registration HCPC
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development including attendance at recent post graduate courses relevant to the clinical field

Desirable

• Recognised post-graduate qualifications
• Evidence of recent study at a higher level
• NBO/NBAS, NIDCAP, FINE I/II, SI

Experience

Essential

• Relevant postgraduate Occupational Therapy NHS clinical experience, preferably inclusive of neonatal care
• Knowledge and experience of a range of assessment and interventions/approaches in neonatal and paediatric care
• Knowledge of child development, common neonatal and paediatric conditions and in-depth knowledge of developmental disabilities and factors influencing early infant development
• Experience in developing the OT's role

Desirable

• Membership of speciality groups
• Previous Band 7 experience
• Knowledge and experience of using a wide range of different infant assessments e.g., Bayley Scales of Infant Development, NBO, NBAS, Prechtl General Movement Assessment

Skills and abilities

Essential

• Demonstrated ability to conduct occupation-based assessment
• Application of Occupational Therapy models of practice and evidence-based practice
• Management of a varied neonatal or paediatric caseload with evidence of skills in both acute and community settings
• Ability to manage caseloads, prioritise workloads and work independently
• Demonstrate problem solving approach and sound clinical decision making to facilitate a timely discharge.
• Demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of assessment techniques and tools
• Ability to take an overview of the service, and to initiate and contribute to its development. Demonstrate an understanding of health and safety, importance of confidentiality and equal opportunities in relation to patient care and departmental operation.
• Developing and providing education and teaching programmes to other professionals and students

Desirable

• Experience in collecting and evaluating audit and quality assurance programmes and participating research
• Involvement in the training and education of others (i.e., carers, staff, and educators)
• Contributes to research and/or innovation within the profession and specialty and across professional teams.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals

Whinney Heyes Road

Blackpool

FY3 8NR

Employer's website

https://www.bfwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)