Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, Band 8a (Rehabilitation)

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• To be an occupational therapy clinical expert in the management of children and young people with acquired brain injury and neurodisability.
• Provide leadership to the occupational therapy team, providing innovative, high quality and evidence based, occupation focussed interventions.
• To use expert knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning skills to provide highly specialist support and advice to the paediatric occupational therapy team in rehabilitation.
• Develop and lead on an identified area of occupational therapy clinical specialism.
• To assess for, plan, deliver and evaluate interventions for children within a multidisciplinary team setting.
• To produce functional and participation-based goals in collaboration with the child / young person, family, and MDT.
• Lead on and undertake specialist upper limb assessments of children with highly complex needs e.g., multiple co-morbidities, neurodisabilities, through standardised and non-standardised assessments and clinical observations.
• Lead on upper limb rehabilitation and postural care, supporting implementation of the organisations upper limb pathway and evidence based upper limb rehabilitation interventions.
• Offer advanced knowledge and skills in the management of children with rehabilitation needs.
• Ensure the team offer occupation and participation focussed interventions as part of personalised treatment planning.
• Lead on and deliver specialist occupational therapy interventions, e.g., OPC, COOP.
• To assess for and implement use of neurotechnology within therapy sessions e.g., virtual reality, anti-gravity devices.
• To work collaboratively with families to maximise engagement in therapy sessions, support management of their childs needs and promote confidence in meeting their childs needs.
• To keep appropriate and accurate intervention records which fulfil legal, professional and the requirements of The Childrens Trust.
• To contribute to child related reports as required and assist with the collation of these as required in a timely manner.
• To provide clinical cover across the service during episodes of staff shortage/heavy workload to ensure effective service delivery.
• Undertake other or additional duties that are within your skills and abilities, as the organisation may reasonably require from time to time.

Communication

• To communicate effectively with children, families and colleagues using effective, professional, and appropriate strategies.
• To demonstrate a commitment to involvement and collaboration with children and families across the service. This will include involving the child or young person, as well as parents and carers, in the decision-making process regarding occupational therapy needs. This includes the need for discussion of challenging and emotive subjects with families and children regarding long term needs and possible outcomes.
• To lead occupational therapy staff meetings and other meetings when appropriate, as directed by the Head of Rehabilitation Therapies.
• Lead on and manage formal complaints, in line with The Childrens Trust polices and contribute to the resolution of written complaints.

Management of Self and Others

• Participate in the overall day-to-day leadership and development of the physiotherapy service, to ensure an efficient and safe service for all.
• Ensure all physiotherapy services meet NHS England service specifications and contractual obligations.
• To provide supervision and clinical support to the occupational therapy team in rehabilitation and students to meet individual and service needs.
• Represent the Therapy Team on behalf of the Head of Rehabilitation Therapies, as requested.
• Participate in the annual Performance Development Review and monthly supervision sessions, as required by The Childrens Trust, both as appraiser and appraise.
• Advise the Head of Rehabilitation Therapies regarding resources and equipment needs, including shortfalls.
• Manage time effectively, prioritising, and delegating work, as required.
• Organise and deliver an occupational therapy CPD programme, offering training and development opportunities for the team.
• Lead on talks, workshops, presentations and lectures at internal and external training sessions, conferences etc.
• Be aware of a range of research methodologies in order to design, plan and conduct evaluation and research projects to address issues arising from practice, and to critically evaluate the research of others.
• Have the ability to submit an abstract or poster to local or national conferences with support as needed.

Governance

• Read and implements all policies, procedures, and risk assessments, pertinent to working practice and keeps up to date with policy change as they occur.
• Critically evaluate new intervention methods and implement where appropriate.
• Actively participate in clinical governance meetings as required.
• Critically evaluate practice through clinical audits and by appraisal of the information gained, in combination with current knowledge of evidence-based practice; identify opportunities for service improvement and development.

Professionalism

• Meet current HCPC and RCOT standards with respect to professionalism and to keep up to date with any changes.
• Understand what is required of therapy professionals by HCPC with respect to Fitness to Practice.
• Be responsible for maintaining registration with HCPC and RCOT.
• Adhere to the policies and procedures of The Childrens Trust.
• In addition to The Childrens Trust policies, the Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist is governed by, and should adhere to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency for Occupational Therapists and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists standards.
• Responsible for day-to-day time management and prioritisation of workload, taking into account the needs of the whole service.
• Monthly formal supervision ensuring reflection and documentation.
• Support recruitment processes, as requested by the Head of Rehabilitation Therapies.
• Maintain professional boundaries and professionalism at all times.
• Committed to demonstrating the organisations values and behaviours at all times.

Health and Safety

• Adheres to all health and safety guidelines, including infection prevention and control.
• Provide evidence of a valid NHS Covid Pass or acceptable proof of Covid vaccination or medical exemption and all vaccinations (or medical exemption) required for the post.
• Adhere to manual handling procedures and complete mandatory manual handling training.
• Promotes the health and safety of others.
• Uses the incident reporting and risk assessment system (IRAR), to identify and report risks and incidents/actions if directed.
• Responsible for identifying and mitigating risk within the work environment.

Wellbeing and Emotional Resilience

• Maintains a positive approach and outlook when dealing with change and overcoming challenges and problems.
• Recognises own limitations, develops realistic goals, and uses support network resource when or if necessary.
• Treats challenges and problems as a learning experience.
• Remains organised and focused when under pressure.
• Responds constructively to feedback and or criticism.
• Motivates self and others.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of current research in acute brain injury in paediatrics.
• Knowledge of relevant outcome measures relating to acute brain injury and/ or paediatric neurology.
• Knowledge of current research and evidence-base, clinical audit, and service evaluation methods.
• Formal and informal clinical assessment and intervention skills relevant to children and/or adults with ABI/ neurodisability.
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children and young people with complex disabilities.
• Flexible, can do, solution focused attitude to competing commitments in workload.

Desirable

• Understanding of physical, communication, behavioural and emotional changes, and long-term impact of acquired brain injury (ABI).

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of five years clinical experience post basic qualification.
• Experience in neuro rehabilitation; adults or paediatric.
• Experience of assessment and delivery of upper limb rehabilitation.
• Experience of service development and quality improvement.

Desirable

• Experience of working with children/young people and/or acquired brain injury/ neurodisability.
• Experience of undertaking complex postural assessments.
• Experience of leading a team.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Workload management including delegation of tasks.
• Excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex or potentially distressing information to parents/carers and managing conflict when appropriate.
• Analytical and creative problem-solving skills in unpredictable situations, synthesising a variety of evidence and presenting this in a relevant format e.g., report; presentation.
• Workload management including delegation of tasks and day-to-day team leadership.
• Reflective practice skills able to give clear and effective feedback and support others to develop.

Desirable

• Clinical assessment and intervention skills relevant to children and young people with ABI/ neurodisability.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Commitment to the promises of The Childrens Trust.
• Physically fit and able to comply with trust manual handling guidelines. Able to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities.
• Flexible and can do attitude to competing commitments in workload .
• Highly motivated and reliable.
• Ability to cope working in a demanding environment.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Diploma Occupational Therapy.
• HCPC registration.
• Continuous Professional Development above the regulatory body standards.
• Willing to undertake training if requested including upper limb & coaching.

Desirable

• Member of Royal College of Occupational Therapist.
• Post graduate Diploma or Masters or studied at that level.
• Evidence of successful completion of post-basic training or courses.

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).