Paediatric Occupational Therapist - Band 7 - ICPS

Job responsibilities

Job summary:

The post provides a specialist assessment and advice service to school age children and young people with a neurodisability

This role is based in the community working within, schools, homes and clinics

This post has been created to support Suffolk County Councils Inclusion Services, including the provision of information for all elements of the statutory process

Job responsibilities:

Key Tasks & Responsibilities:

To provide and maintain evidence based and up to date information and advice around best practice Occupational Therapy interventions for children with complex neurodisabilities, including difficulties with sensory processing and modulation, in order to inform and guide the Local Offer within Health and Education Services. This will include information for Tribunals and the EHCP process.

To provide timely and evidence based assessments and OT interventions, with agreed goals and outcomes, for children who have complex neurodisabilities and sensory processing or modulation difficulties

1. Communication:

• To ensure effective partnership with other members of the health team, social care and education in the best interests of the child and young person

To provide information and signposting for children, young people and families to relevant universal and specialist services in the local area and beyond where appropriate.

• To write professional reports for a range of audiences, including professional advice for statutory assessments and tribunals

To actively build relationships and networks with other professional groups and services in the locality.

To develop skills in motivating clients and /or carers to engage in the therapeutic process.

To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.

2. Analytical and judgemental:

• To monitor and evaluate assessments to measure and ensure effectiveness
• To use comprehensive risk assessment skills, demonstrating the ability to act appropriately to ensure safety of others and self when working as a lone Practitioner

To provide regular data analysis with trends and forecasts to support service delivery.

To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects/collect and provide research data as required.

To participate in audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within and across the service to help develop and improve services to children and their families.

To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate.

To operate in accordance with the policies and guidelines of the Paediatric Occupational Therapy Service, HCPC and the College of Occupational Therapists.

3. Clinical Duties:

To manage and prioritise a specialist clinical caseload of children as agreed with the Specialist Education Services Team Lead/NHS OT Team Leads

To provide highly specialist advice, assessment and support to children and young people, families, and the wider Education service

To provide timely and evidence-based assessments and OT interventions, with agreed goals and outcomes, for children who have complex neurodisabilities and sensory processing or modulation difficulties

To provide an integrated OT service and offer sensory strategies, advice and training to support and meet identified needs in line with agreed pathways and packages of care

To provide advice, support and training to schools and settings, SES colleagues, and to other colleagues in Family Services and the Psychology and Therapeutic Service.

To Support the Multi-Disciplinary approaches of the Local Authority Graduated Response.

To maintain and develop clinical expertise which is essential for professional registration and best practice, identifying areas where support or development/learning is required.

To undertake appropriate referrals to partner agencies.

To provide information and signposting for children, young people and families to relevant universal and specialist services in the local area and beyond where appropriate.

To provide evidence based information and advice to inform and guide the Local Offer within Health and Education Services.

4. Governance:

To participate effectively in supervision, team meetings and professional development of self and others

To contribute to and be pro-active in the identification of potential service improvement. To participate in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of service developments within the specialism based on audits, questionnaires, reflective practice, meetings, surveys, and data collection

5. Leadership and management:

To provide leadership, supervision and training for Occupational Therapy Staff, Occupational Therapy Students and Therapy Assistants and Technicians in conjunction with the Team Leads and Complex Pathway Leads of the Paediatric Occupational Therapy Service.

To contribute to and be pro-active in the identification of potential service improvement. To participate in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of service developments within the specialism based on audits, questionnaires, reflective practice, meetings, surveys, and data collection.

• To initiate the development of clinical standards and guidelines in own speciality, and to inform service policies, including the use of research in evidence-based practice
• To provide clinical placements and take responsibility for contributing to the assessment of OT students.

6. Information Resources:

To maintain effective clinical records around service delivery in line with WSFT policies

To keep adequate records on patients, to maintain confidentiality in respect of this information, and comply with relevant record keeping policies.

Qualifications

Essential

• Diploma/BSc in Occupational Therapy.
• HCPC Registration.
• Eligible for Criminal Records Bureau clearance - enhanced
• Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio.
• Compliance with Professional Code of Conduct for OT.
• Sensory Integration Practitioner (minimum of SI modules 1-3)

Desirable

• Occupational Therapy Student Educator qualification.
• Membership of RCOT
• Other specialist paediatric courses relevant to role. Sensory Processing / Difficulties training

Experience

Essential

• Experience and working knowledge of Paediatrics as specialist area.
• Demonstration of clinical interventions to an advanced level of skills
• Knowledge of child development, paediatric conditions, and in-depth knowledge of developmental disabilities.
• Knowledge and experience of the impact of a childs disability on occupational performance and the childs family / carers
• Facilitation and involvement in audit and understanding of quality issues.
• Contribution to clinical education.
• Supervision of junior staff and students.
• Documented evidence of lifelong learning.

Desirable

• Previous Band 7 experience or evidence of working on highly complex cases

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions relevant to clinical specialism.
• Knowledge and application of standardised assessments relevant to Paediatric Occupational Therapy.
• Knowledge and prescribing of childrens equipment.
• Understand and implement standards, including risk management.
• Knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy models of practice.
• Understanding of Occupational Therapy outcome measures.
• Computer literacy.
• Detailed knowledge and application of relevant legislation and current best practice within clinical specialism i.e. NICE guidance for Children.
• Detailed knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application in Childrens Services.

Desirable

• Research interest and literature research experience
• Audit Skills

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to travel to rural locations to carry out post
• Ability to handle children and equipment, frequently exerting moderate physical effort for long periods.
• Ability to cope with frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances.
• Flexibility in approach to service delivery.

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).