Specialist Occupational Therapist, Band 6 Rehabilitation

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Skills and Responsibilities

Provide high quality, evidence based occupational therapy provision for children and young people, in partnership with other members of the multi-disciplinary team and education services.

Undertake specialist occupational therapy assessments of children with a range of needs including highly complex needs.

Develop therapy goals, in collaboration and with the child and family carers, as well as the MDT, to maximise recovery and facilitate the participation of the child in their daily life.

Devise and carry out therapeutic interventions that are developmentally appropriate, goal directed, and occupation centred both in terms of means and outcome.

Use observational and standardised outcome measures to monitor and evaluate each childs progress and adjust intervention/programmes, as necessary.

Contribute to the assessment of the child/young persons upper limb and support provision of interventions to maintain or improve upper limb range and function where possible.

Assess and advise on specialist equipment and liaise with social services and relevant others on its provision. This may be loaned equipment for use at The Childrens Trust or recommendations of equipment for long-term use on return to home.

Assess, evaluate, and recommend discharge/transition plans for children/young people within the multidisciplinary team framework.

Contribute to child related reports, including looked after children and annual review reports asrequired, and assist with the collation of these as required, in a timely manner and in line withorganisational targets.

Contribute to child related meetings, meetings with parents, MDT meetings, and liaison with external agencies where appropriate.

Keep appropriate and accurate intervention records, fulfilling legal, professional and all other requirements of The Childrens Trust.

Work flexibly in terms of hours, including the ability to work an early evening (weekly) and one weekend day, per calendar month.

To undertake other or additional duties that are within your skills and abilities, as the organisation may reasonably require from time to time.

Communication

Communicate effectively with children/young people, applying the principles of consistent communication.

Facilitate effective communication with families and members of the Multidisciplinary Team.

Recognise barriers to effective communication and be able to reduce these as appropriate.

Attend and contribute to Multidisciplinary Team meetings, to discuss individual children/ young people and service in general, as required e.g., reviews, case conferences, parents evenings, clinics, etc.

Maintain clear and concise documents and records, in accordance with The Childrens Trust Policy.

Ensure documents are managed confidentially at all times.

Manage informal complaints, in line with The Childrens Trust polices and contribute to the resolution of written complaints, and as they occur taking immediate action where necessary.

Management of Self and Others

Provide support and supervision for junior team members and students, within area of responsibility, providing direction, motivation, and support to achieve key objectives.

Participate in the annual Performance Development Review and monthly supervision sessions, as required by The Childrens Trust, both as Appraiser and Appraise.

Manage time effectively, prioritising, and delegating work appropriately and as required.

Governance

Read and implement all policies, procedures, and risk assessments, pertinent to working practice and keep up to date with changes as and when they occur.

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, with support from Highly Specialist Therapists/ Heads of Therapy.

Continue the audit cycle, by evaluating any changes implemented as a result. This should include the adoption of evidence informed practice, the trial of emerging interventions and the cessation of interventions, where evidence is insufficient and other approaches are indicated.

Recognise and critically appraise situations where the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of the service are compromised and take appropriate action to resolve the situation, with support from Highly Specialist Therapists Heads of Therapy.

Critically reflect on own performance and that of other staff; and use this evaluation to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of future practice.

Undergo The Childrens Trust Risk Assessor training, in order that all activities are risk assessed and documented in the most appropriate format. Ensure that detailed risk assessments are completed, as required.

Actively participate in local clinical governance activities.

Career Long Learning, Education and Research

Undertake all mandatory training, in line with The Childrens Trust policy.

Advance personal knowledge, understanding and skills in line with identified learning needs, by making appropriate use of a variety of learning and development resources and opportunities, e.g. by attending courses/ lectures, contact and involvement with relevant special interest groups and visiting other departments organisations and by conducting Literature Reviews.

Prepare appropriately for Performance Development Reviews, identifying learning objectives and setting targets; identify opportunities for professional development in order to meet continuing professional development requirements.

Participate in in-service competency training programmes and teaching sessions, as appropriate.

Contribute to service development projects in line with departmental and organisational priorities.

Limits of Authority and Problem Solving

Make day-to-day decisions regarding occupational therapy requirements for children and young people, based on case load, including recommendations for specialist equipment.

Responsible for day-to-day time management and prioritisation of workload, taking into account the needs of the whole service.

Monthly formal supervision.

Provides formal supervision monthly to junior Therapists and/or Multidisciplinary Technicians.

Supporting the Occupational Therapy Team and house-based multi-disciplinary team in delivery of an effective service.

Any other duties as required.

Professionalism

Meet current HCPC and Royal College of Occupational Therapists standards with respect to professionalism, and to keep up to date with any changes.

Be responsible for maintaining registration with HCPC and other Professional Bodies.

Adhere to the policies and procedures of The Childrens Trust.

Health and Saftey

Adheres to all Health and Safety guidelines, principles and regulations to perform your role and comply with The Childrens Trust policies and procedures.

Provide evidence of 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 over coming 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 appropriately and effectively to all constructive feedback.

Motivates self and other.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Member of British Association of Occupational Therapists
• Maintains a portfolio of CPD in line with regulatory body standards
• Willing to participate in any relevant training identified to develop skills required to carry out duties including extended role activities

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 2 years experience post qualification
• Experience of working with children/young people and/or acquired brain injury
• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of working with families
• Ability to support the delivery of complex and sensitive information to a vulnerable patient group and their families

Desirable

• Previous experience as an OT working with children with developmental conditions, including using developmental assessments and providing therapy to address occupational performance
• Experience of paediatric postural management including assessment for wheelchairs and specialist equipment and upper limb interventions to support activities of daily living
• Working with children with complex communication needs

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Clinical assessment and intervention skills relevant to children and young people with acquired brain
• injury
• Sound clinical reasoning skills, analysing a variety of evidence and presenting this in a relevant format e.g., report; presentation
• Workload management including delegation of tasks
• Competent in supporting junior colleagues in using reflective practice tools and ability to give clear and effective feedback
• Competent IT skills in order to collect and interpret data, present reports, and compile presentations
• Competent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills with professionals, families, and children
• Risk assessment skills
• Reflective practice skills, able to reflect on own practice and adapt according to feedback
• To provide advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of occupational therapy, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care
• Liaising with colleagues within the Trust (including case conferences, ward rounds and discharge planning) and local services (referring hospitals and community services - health, education, and social
• care) to ensure integrated and coordinated continuity of care of the child.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of a therapy role

Desirable

• Clinical assessment and treatment of upper limb including splinting, conducting postural assessments and ROM

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children and young people with acquired brain injury and complex disabilities
• Competent skills in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel
• Knowledge of current research, clinical audit, and service evaluation methods

Desirable

• Understanding of physical, communication, behavioural and emotional changes after acquired brain injury (ABI)

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to cope with working in a demanding environment
• Flexible and can do attitude towards competing workload commitments
• Highly motivated and reliable
• Commitment to the vision and promises of The Childrens Trust

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.

Employer details

Employer name

The Children's Trust

Address

The Childrens Trust

Tadworth Court

Tadworth

Surrey

KT20 5RU

Employer's website

https://www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/jobs (Opens in a new tab)