Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Job responsibilities

Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist Childrens Therapy Team

Job Description

Service:

Childrens Therapy Team

Job Title:

Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Responsible For: (through line management structure)

Therapy Assistants, Students and Volunteers

Responsible To: (through appraisal process)

Therapy Manager

Job Purpose:

To provide specialist occupational therapy to babies and children with Cerebral Palsy and similar neuro-developmental conditions, aged 0-5. Providing a child centered, family focused approach to enable children to reach their full potential and actively participate.

Job Context:

Provision and delivery of specialist paediatric occupational therapy to preschool aged children.

Personal Requirements for the Role:

1. To have comprehensive knowledge of the causes, diagnosis and presentation of cerebral palsy and its associated and similar conditions in babies and young children.

2. To have knowledge on the impact of disability on the individual child and their family and be able to offer intervention that maximises function and participation and provides support in the planning of their future.

3. To have a comprehensive knowledge of a wide range of therapeutic evidence-based interventions used with babies and children with cerebral palsy.

4. To have a theoretical knowledge of relevant paediatric standardised assessments and the ability to practically apply these where necessary.

5. To be able to facilitate holistic family centered interventions. Including the planning and management of therapy intervention, the ability to negotiate implementation and encourage engagement with families.

6. To be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and ability to empathise. This role requires you to be able to discuss complex and sensitive issues, related to neurodisability, to children and their family/carer(s).

7. To be able to adjust communication to the individual child taking into consideration the childs age and comprehension level. This may include the use of written communication, gesture and augmented communication aids. Consider the childs family/carer(s) communication needs where there may be difficulties due to their own communication difficulties, denial and grief.

Qualifications:

BSc degree in Occupational therapy with substantial post graduate experience, especially with experience in paediatrics

The Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) registered.

Key Tasks:

1. Be responsible for a designated caseload of babies and children and manage this efficiently and effectively with regards to clinical priorities.

2. To undertake specialist assessment of the individual child and their familys needs ensuring that their personal goals and priorities are taken into consideration with an emphasis on current and future participation in all areas of their daily life.

3. Consider the childs physical, sensory, emotional, social and cognitive abilities and needs when planning, implementing, coordinating and evaluating treatment with consideration for the short and long term needs of the child and their family/carer(s).

4. Identify when children and their family need to access other services and refer accordingly.

5. Evaluate treatment and management plans through the use of a childs individual goals and review on a timely basis.

6. Complete relevant assessments of therapy equipment, alongside other professionals as required. Set up equipment and demonstrate to the childs family/carer(s) how to use safely, advise on use and monitoring.

7. Access local community equipment stores for the provision of equipment. Liaise with education and health and social care teams as needed. Provide families with advice and information of alternative sources of equipment and funding as required.

8. Provide a cohesive coordinated service through attending and /or giving advice towards the childs annual review, Team around the Child (TAC), Team around the Family (TAF), Health/medical reviews and other meetings as required. Provide written reports, as required, for the childs Education & Health Care Plan (EHCP) and any other clinical appointments/ reports. Liaison with relevant education, social, health or other professionals involved with the child and their family. Attend Educational tribunals at the request of the education or health authority or parents.

9. Follow all safeguarding processes and act promptly where there are any concerns.

10. Have a thorough understanding of health and safety in the workplace, the use of clinical risk assessment and the importance of clinical governance.

11. To have active involvement in the clinical supervision and training of colleagues, volunteers and students, and to offer training to others outside agencies where appropriate.

12. Attend team meetings, in-service training and mandatory training sessions.

Legislation and Health and Safety

1. Be professionally and legally accountable, ensuring Occupational Therapy is carried out in accordance with relevant policies, procedures and standards of White Lodge, and those of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) and HCPC.

2. Keep detailed, clear and accurate clinical records including ensuring appropriate risk assessments are completed. Ensure all paperwork is filed correctly and securely.

3. Ensure that all therapy equipment, materials and tools are clean and safe and fit for purpose.

Continuing Professional Development of Self and Others

1. Be responsible for your own continued professional development and recording of this in accordance with current HCPC and RCOT guidelines.

2. Maintain up-to-date clinical evidence-based knowledge of assessment, treatment and management of children with neurodevelopmental disability. Undertake further internal and external training as appropriate feeding back new knowledge and contributing to service changes.

3. Actively explore the use of new philosophies of intervention, assessments & treatments. Implement and evaluate them and make appropriate service changes in discussion with therapy manager.

4. Attend and actively participate in supervision, appraisals, and staff meetings.

5. Provide training for parents, carers, students and other professionals.

White Lodge General Employment Policies

To work within the context of all the organisations policies and procedures.

To work in a way consistent with the principle of equal opportunities and promoting anti-discriminatory attitudes.

To be aware of and sensitive to the impact of class, gender, race and prejudice on attitudes, professional relationships and professional judgement and be willing to intervene.

To maintain confidentiality at all times and to ensure respect for, proper observance of and adhere to the organisation's confidentiality policy for all staff.

To ensure all relevant aspects of Health and Safety requirements are known and adhered to, ensuring the health and safety of staff and volunteers at all times.

To undertake any other duties which are consistent with the post.

This job description is subject to periodic review and it is expected the post holder will contribute to the active development of the role as the needs of the organisation alter.

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc degree / Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• Registered with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Evidence of post graduate qualifications within paediatrics / Neurodevelopment

Desirable

• Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists
• Student supervision or teaching skills course

Experience

Essential

• 5 years post graduate work experience
• Minimum of 2 years experience within the field of Paediatrics Neurodisability

Desirable

• Specialist experience in the field of neurodevelopment and early intervention
• Experience of teaching (e.g.: students, therapy assistants, other professionals)
• Evidence of participation in audit and service review
• Evidence of participation in a regular in-service training program

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Autonomous practitioner who is able to work unsupervised at a specialist level
• Ability to supervise and appraise staff
• Broad knowledge of current best evidence based practice in Paediatric Neurodisability
• Ability to plan, coordinate, implement and evaluate appropriate occupational therapy treatment for babies and children with Cerebral Palsy and similar conditions.
• Able to demonstrate highly specialist clinical reasoning skills during assessment and intervention
• Ability to manage own caseload, assessing and treating complex babies and children
• Committed to own continuous professional development and evidenced based practice, and for that of the team
• Evidence of up to date continuous professional development including training, courses, reflective practice
• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to a childs family and carer(s)
• Effective communication skills including negotiation skills
• Evidence of using initiative and being self motivated
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well within in a team
• Demonstrate good time management skills and ability to work under pressure
• Effective written communication, including accurate record keeping and report writing
• Competent IT skills
• The emotional capability to be able to cope with potentially distressing situations e.g.: treating babies and children who have life limiting illness, progressive conditions or lifelong neurodisability where quality of life and/ or prognostic issues are discussed

Desirable

• Demonstrate knowledge of clinical governance through examples of participation in projects to improve the experiences and service provision of child and their families.

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).