Occupational Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Title:

Occupational Therapist

Reporting to:

Clinical Psychologist and Headteacher

Location:

Aurora Cedars School

Main Purpose

Responsible for supporting the development of the Occupational Therapy service in a Special Education Needs School setting. The post holder will provide Occupational Therapy Services in response to needs identified by assessment and as set out as part of a Statement of Special Educational Needs or Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), to enable students to fulfil their potential all aspects of their lives.

Key Accountabilities

Supporting the children, young people, and their families in all aspects of the childs occupational and functional development within their total environment of school, home and the wider community.

Key Duties

• To provide an Occupational Therapy Service, which is run in an efficient manner so that students needs are met effectively.

• To assess the occupational, functional and sensory limitations of children within their academic and wider settings.

• To write in-depth reports demonstrating clinical reasoning skills that are based on the analysis of findings from the assessments carried out.

• To work collaboratively with the child, their support network, and other agencies, in order to effectively communicate the needs of the child and how these needs can be best met.

• To deliver individualised interventions as outlined within the childs EHCP and identified through Occupational Therapy assessment.

• To advise and source, where appropriate, specialist equipment believed to help address the occupational needs of the child or young person.

• To liaise effectively with senior managers, SENCO and all teaching staff such that best practice is evidenced throughout the whole curriculum.

• To be professionally and legally accountable and responsible for all aspects of your own work including the management of students in your care.

• To be accountable for the delivery of Occupational Therapy programmes of own caseload by the relevant staff members, including Therapy Assistant and Teaching Assistants.

• To provide professional support and supervision as appropriate to Occupational Therapy Assistants.

• To provide Occupational Therapy training, support and advice to members of the multidisciplinary teams.

• To maintain and update professional expertise and competence in line with requirements of continued professional development

• To ensure compliance with Aurora policies, regulations and protocols.

• To maintain regular records of intervention using agreed protocols and in line with the code of professional conduct.

• To attend appropriate multidisciplinary student reviews and team meetings; promoting our culture of joint working with other disciplines and outside agencies.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Knowledge

The ideal candidate will:

• Ideally have post-graduate experience working as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist; however, newly graduate therapists will also be considered

• Have experience working with children and young people with a range of neurodevelopmental needs.

• Have knowledge of Sensory Integration Theory and delivering interventions based on Ayres Sensory Integration Theory.

• Have experience or knowledge of delivering provision through the EHCP process.

• Have a clear understanding of relevant protection procedures and health and safety procedures including safeguarding and manual handling procedures.

• Have knowledge of legislation relevant to Occupational Therapy, education and social care.

• Knowledge of the National Curriculum and school settings is desirable.

Skills

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, including report writing.

• Supportive, and with the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

• A creative and adaptable approach to work.

• Ability to design and develop individual intervention programmes.

• Ability to form good working relationships with a wide variety of people.

• Patience, determination to secure the very best for our students, and a positive attitude.

• A pragmatic approach to problem solving.

Experience

Previous experience in an Occupational Therapist role, preferably with children and young adults, ideal, but newly graduates also considered for role.

Requirements of Role

• A recognised degree in Occupational Therapy and current registration of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

• Ability to demonstrate and commit to continual professional development.

• High level of mental and physical stamina.

• A strong desire to make a difference to young people.

• Working with children in their home may be required.

• Driving Licence and Vehicle Business Insurance.

Additional Information

Our mission andoverarching aim within The Aurora Group is to 'Empower Uniqueness in all the children and young people in our care.

We seek to achieve this by enabling and creating environments conducive to high quality care, learning, therapeutic and clinical input for young people to take control of their lives and achieve the maximum level of independence, however this is defined by them or for them.

Our aim is to provide personalised programmes of outstanding education and care governed by The Aurora Way, which is a set of principles guiding all of our policy and practice. The Aurora Way is based on five values; Passion, Creative, Integrity, United and Excellence.

• As part of the Aurora Group all staff are expected at all times to behave and act in a way which promotes and contributes to the overall aims, values and ethos of the Company.

• All staff are required to participate in regular training and other learning activities, and in supervision, appraisal and development as required by the Companys policies and procedures

• All staff are required to participate in any relevant current and new legislative and regulatory activities as may occur from time to time.

This job description sets out a summary of the key features of the role. It is not intended to be exhaustive and will be reviewed and amended periodically to ensure it remains appropriate for the role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Essential Criteria:
• A recognised degree in Occupational Therapy and current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Member of RCOT

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

Aurora Care and Education Opco Ltd

Address

Aurora Cedars School

39 Compton Road West

Wolverhampton

WV3 9DW

Employer's website

https://www.the-aurora-group.com/ (Opens in a new tab)