Job responsibilities
SECTION 1- MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:
To work as part of the Interdisciplinary Integrated Service for Children with Additional Needs (ISCAN) Team to provide Occupational Therapy assessment, diagnosis and treatment of children with additional needs and/or complex and long term conditions in a variety of settings including nurseries, schools, special schools, the childs home and clinics.
To work closely with the integrated team to set joint goals with the child and family and devise therapeutic programmes. To teach the devised programme to parents, carers and educational staff to ensure therapy is fully integrated into the childs management plan.
To manage a caseload of clients, using evidence based/client centered principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
To delegate appropriate work to therapy support staff within the multidisciplinary team.
To be responsible for maintaining own records of intervention in care pathways and for completing own contact data.
To contribute to the training of the team, students of all disciplines and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
To contribute to service development projects including patient care pathways with the support of service team leaders.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
To be responsible for delivery and monitoring of the therapy component of the childs care, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
To be accountable for own clinical actions, ensuring adherence to professional code of conduct.
To co-ordinate and attend relevant clinical meetings plus meetings in other settings, eg schools.
To organise and lead client related meetings as appropriate, e.g. Person Centred Planning (PCP) or Early Help Assessment (EHA) meetings.
To recognise the need to work with interpreters or bilingual co-workers as appropriate.
To contribute to the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice by providing timely and detailed reports and recommendations that comply with departmental guidelines.
To organise assessments to identify the most appropriate equipment to meet a childs needs, involving outside agencies where necessary. To follow departmental criteria for ordering, issuing and retrieval of equipment. To issue and install equipment, carrying out risk assessments as appropriate. To train users and carers to ensure safe use of equipment.
To monitor and review all equipment issued to ensure its continued suitability and safety.
To demonstrate correct handling techniques to parents and carers when assessing and treating a child with motor impairment.
To be responsible for the supervision of therapy assistants within the team and for delegating appropriate tasks.
To maintain up-to-date knowledge of local and national changes in legislation.
To make and implement recommendations which contribute to service development.
To participate in and contribute to departmental audit.
To participate in staff meetings and integrated team development meetings.
To assist in the development, use of and actively promote care pathways and protocols within the Childrens Integrated Service as identified by team leaders.
To lead sessions, e.g. journal clubs which show evidence of ability to accurately appraise and evaluate current research and show evidence of application of practice.
To maintain accurate, comprehensive and timely treatment records in line with Trust Policies.
To maintain timely, accurate statistics and other records as requested by the service and the Trust.
To provide specialist reports and discharge summaries as relevant to practice setting.
To provide written reports to a variety of agencies detailing the progress of interventions.
To be an integral member of the ISCAN Team, representing
Occupational Therapy providing advice to other professionals.
Responsibility for Patient Care
To be responsible for the safety and welfare of children, colleagues and yourself during the treatment period, in accordance with professional standards and health and safety regulations.
To provide on-going reassessment and evaluation of response to treatment and adjust goals and SMART targets accordingly.
To motivate children during treatment programmes and towards therapeutic goals.
To manage children with complex, long term conditions such as Cerebral Palsy and have the ability to recognise the need to refer to other health professionals and agencies e.g. Paediatricians and Social Care and to seek advice from more senior staff when needed.
To offer evidence-based therapy.
To assist patients, service users and carers/relatives during incidental contacts.
Responsibilities for Physical and Financial Resources
To assess for and issue or recommend a range of equipment deemed necessary for the child.
To use therapeutic equipment safely.
To ensure safe and effective use of equipment, resources and consumables at all times.
Responsibility for Policy and Service Development and Implementation
To be aware of, comment on and/or actively participate in changes on policies, procedures or service developments.
To be familiar with and adhere to national and local clinical guidelines.
To embrace and support line management by completing service development initiatives and contribute to service improvements within the workplace.
To ensure attendance at all mandatory training and to attend regular team meetings with at least 75% attendance.
Responsibilities for Human Resources and Leadership
To support new or less experienced work colleagues to adapt to the workplace.
To be aware of and observe all HE policies and know where to access these.
Responsibilities for Teaching and Training
To actively contribute to in-service training by attendance at and participation in in-service training, peer group review and other internal training opportunities.
To participate in training and development activities which are relevant to the job role.
To assist in the development, use of and actively promote care pathways and protocols within the Childrens Integrated Service as identified by team leaders.
To contribute to sessions, e.g. journal clubs which show evidence of ability to accurately appraise and evaluate current research and show evidence of application of practice.
Research, Development and Audit
To participate in audit as required by the Department and Trust.
To use audit results, current research and national guidelines to recommend changes to service delivery and to demonstrate evidence-based practice.
To maintain own competency to practice through CPD activities and maintain a CPD portfolio which reflects personal development.
Participate in the Personal Development review scheme as an attendee and be responsible for complying with an agreed Personal Development Plan to meet set objectives.
SECTION 2- KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Communications
To gain informed consent and negotiate agreed goals.
To communicate sensitively and effectively with patients, families and carers regarding patient care and treatment options.
To communicate effectively with all other health sector and outside agencies to exchange and gather information and problem solve.
To provide written reports, targets and letters in a timely manner, presenting complex information in a clear and accessible way.
Planning and organising
To prioritise, organise and plan own day to day workload and activities in order to meet the demands of the job role.
To be able to travel within the requirements of the post.
To take responsibility for arranging Person Centred Planning (PCP) and other meetings as appropriate.
Responsibilities for data and information resources
To keep accurate records of assessments and treatments in accordance with Trust and professional standards including the production of reports to other Health Professionals, Social Care and other agencies.
To maintain patient information confidentiality in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
SECTION 3- EFFORT AND ENVIRONMENT
Physical Skills and Effort
To follow the Trusts moving and handling policy in line with patient handling guidelines.
To hold a current full driving licence.
To be IT literate and have knowledge of National Care Record System (Lorenzo).
