Senior Children's Occupational Therapist (South)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see our job description for more details.

Communication and working relationship

To communicate complex condition-related information from assessment to clients, carers, families and members of the multidisciplinary team/other professions in a way that is accessible and easily understood. This will include facilitating strategies for people with communication disorders where barriers to understanding may exist

To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers, families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to communication exist, or sensitive issues are being dealt with. Patient, carers and family will frequently have difficulty accepting the information provided

To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging difficulties

To employ good presentation skills to promote multi-disciplinary and interagency liaison and collaborative practice to a broad range of audiences including other professionals and users

To write reports reflecting knowledge of paediatrics that can be accessible to both lay and professional people

To contribute to clinical pathways both multi and uni-professional by discussing own and others input around clients needs, ensuring a well-coordinated care plan

To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible

To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues

Analytical and judgement

To demonstrate specialist Occupational Therapy knowledge across a range of therapeutic interventions

To use knowledge and experience to inform sound clinical judgement/decision making for case management

To integrate evidence from a variety of sources to make a differential diagnosis, of occupational performance, seeking advice as appropriate

To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers and mentors and identify own strengths and development needs

Planning and organisation

To be responsible for organising and planning own caseload to meet service and patient priorities. Readjusting plans as situations change/arise

To be responsible for the supervision and co-ordination of Occupational Therapy Technicians on a daily basis

To be responsible for the supervision of Band 5 staff on a regular basis

Responsibility for patient/client care, treatment and therapy

Undertakes all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner including professional and legal accountability and clinical risk management for all aspects of own work

Some aspects of work will involve delivery of the care as part of a multidisciplinary, multi-agency team. Otherwise to be the sole professional with responsibility for that patients episode of care and for onward referral as required

To perform advanced therapeutic assessment of children who present with developmental problems, long term conditions and may have severe communication impairment, learning disability, complex and severe physical and sensory disability

To use advanced questioning and communication, manual assessment techniques and clinical reasoning skills to provide a diagnosis and prognosis enabling the delivery of an individualised occupational therapy treatment programme. This includes but is not exclusive to the appropriate selection of referrals for inclusion in a range of treatment and management options, including neuro developmental, motor co-ordination, sensory differences, specialised equipment and environmental adaptations.

Supervision takes the form of annual appraisal with line-manager plus planned management supervision, clinical supervision on a planned regular basis. Clinical work is not routinely evaluated. Access to advice and support is available from peers, the paediatric team and clinical manager

To be responsible for own caseload as an autonomous practitioner

To be responsible for tasks and duties as delegated by the Clinical Team Manager or Specialist Childrens Occupational Therapist.

To use routine outcome measures and goal-based approach, collaboratively with service users, in ways that inform treatment and clinical care

To work closely with clients, carers, and families agreeing decision making relevant to the patient/client management

To co-produce specialist clear care plans based on best practice with children, young people and their families/carers

To ensure care plans are written in an understandable format for the child, young person and their family/carer

To provide specialist Occupational Therapy intervention including 1:1 / group therapy, parent/ carer-based interventions and consultancy/coaching mentoring within a range of community settings. Outcomes to then be evaluated

To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures

To always consider safeguarding and child protection issues, following relevant policies and procedures and receiving safeguarding supervision as required

Responsibility for policy and service development implementation

Deputise for the Clinical Team Manager or Specialist Occupational Therapist in their absence, taking responsibility for operation management of the team, allocating and organising the work of less experienced occupational therapist and assistant staff to meet priorities on a daily basis

To provide children and young people with the opportunity to express their views in an age appropriate way, to have their opinions considered and to be able to influence the shaping of services

To interpret and assist in the implementation of local and national guidelines, policies and procedures affecting the development of childrens services

To follow their employers policies, procedures and guidance as well as professional standards and guidelines

Responsibility for finance, equipment and other resources

To work to the financial policies and procedures as laid down by the employer

The post holder will take appropriate care of equipment entrusted to them for use

The post holder is responsible for maintaining a clear desk policy and protecting all confidential information in accordance with the organisations policies and procedures

The post holder will be required to act responsibly in terms of providing best value practice and protecting service resources

To take responsibility for any specific materials you are required to use, maintaining their general standard and ensuring that adequate supplies are maintained

Ensure all equipment used is maintained to the required standard to ensure patient and staff safety

Maintain stock control, ordering supplies in a timely manner through the agreed process

Complete an assessment, order, set up the provision of specialist equipment for identified children. Demonstrate to parents/ staff how to maintain and adjust as appropriate

Responsibility for human resources, e.g. supervision, training, HR advice and management

Contribute to the delivery of a range of training opportunities, as appropriate using a broad range of technology to develop and deliver

Supervise the work of Occupational Therapy Technicians and/or Integrated Therapy Assistants where necessary

To mentor and supervise newly qualified occupational therapists as required

Access clinical supervision at the frequency determined by the organisation

To oversee the caseload management of newly qualified staff and Occupational Therapy Technicians

To demonstrate the ability to target training (formal and informal) appropriately to the needs of course participants, reflecting and evaluating training provided.

To participate in the appraisal process

Ensure prompt action is taken in raising issues with regard to staff performance, sickness, attendance levels and any disciplinary, capability or grievance matters

Responsibility for information resources and administrative duties

To be responsible for accurate and timely inputting of data into relevant data collection system to ensure workload is accurately reflected

To be responsible for the inputting of accurate and contemporaneous case notes on the relevant clinical systems in line with professional and organisational standards

To have a sound knowledge of IT

To be computer literate

To ensure all employers policies, procedures and guidelines are followed

To complete all statutory and mandatory training as required by the employer

To identify and manage risks through incident reporting when appropriate

To take part in activities designed to improve service delivery or quality of care such as staff surveys, participation and service development

Responsibility for research and development

Participates in clinical audit

Participate in clinical research as appropriate

Freedom to act

Acts as an autonomous professional

Works within codes of practice as defined by Royal College of Occupational Therapy and HCPC

Works within organisational policies and procedures

Please also contact us for any additional information or to discuss the post.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• oDegree in Occupational Therapy
• oHCPC registration
• oDiploma level specialist training or experience

Desirable

• oPost-graduate certified courses specific to children's needs (e.g. Sensory training; ADOS, 3di etc)

Knowledge

Essential

• oTo work within trust clinical guidelines and Royal College of OT and HCPC standards. To have working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own quality and safety of practice
• o Extensive knowledge of Occupational Therapy models of practice and specialist approaches
• oExtensive knowledge of legislation affecting clinical practice such as manual handling, housing and SEND
• oKnowledge of a wide range of Occupational Therapy assessment tools appropriate to meet a wide range of needs in the paediatric population
• oKnowledge and use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures
• oWell-developed knowledge and understanding of legislation around SEND
• oKnowledge of normal child development and a broad range of paediatric conditions
• oSubstantial clinical experience in a range of children's OT assessment and interventions
• oCommunity based Children's Occupational Therapy experience
• oEvidence of working as an autonomous practitioner
• oDeveloped skills in working with individuals and families with physical and sensory needs

Desirable

• oResearch skills

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Lescaze Office

Shinner's Bridge

Totnes

TQ9 6JE

Employer's website

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