Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Job responsibilities

Main responsibilities

Work with individuals, families, carers, communities, special educational schools, and other agencies to undertake a generic and specialist assessment of patients/clients using clinical reasoning skills and a range of appropriate assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition.

Formulate and deliver an individual treatment programme using specialist assessment, reasoning skills and treatment skills based on a sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and a range of treatment options.

Evaluate patient progress, reassess, and alter treatment programmes using an accepted/appropriate range of techniques, reporting back to and have regular support and advice from a senior clinician.

Demonstrate the promotion of healthy lifestyle practices to the public by teaching and brief intervention skills.

Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care.

Work within own sphere of practice.

Managerial/leadership (including financial/physical resources and staffing)

Demonstrate leadership by:

Support and deliver change within sphere of practice, when and where indicated, to improve service delivery.

Influence, motivate, support and enable others to contribute towards the effectiveness and success of the team.

Provide specialist advice and guidance; to work with colleagues to ensure best practice across all disciplines in the assessment, treatment, and long-term management of a complex paediatric case load.

Youll be expected to work autonomously with a defined workload, that youll prioritise and ensure effective time management is embedded in your practice.

Manage resources to ensure they relate to the overall objectives and responsibilities of the team.

Train, supervise and performance manage staff and students including the use of formal appraisal documentation.

Undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by senior staff.

Clinical

Responsible for the assessment of care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care without supervision and act as a named practitioner.

Implement care/intervention based on research and any post registration course undertaken.

Responsible for equipment used in carrying out clinical duties, ensuring competence to use the equipment and that of other practitioners using it.

Provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of treatment and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.

Provide professional clinical advice as appropriate.

Learning and development

Maintain own professional/personal development (CPD) by keeping abreast of new trends and developments, and incorporate them as appropriate into your work, supporting junior staff to do likewise.

Ensure all mandatory training is up to date.

Be an active member of relevant training programmes attending and delivering presentations at staff meetings/tutorials, attend relevant professional short courses and be a reflective practitioner.

Participate in the supervision scheme as supervisee and supervisor, when appropriate.

Clinical governance/research audit

Adhere to the appropriate Registrant Body Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and comply with local and national standards of practice.

Support the formulation and implementation of clinical and operational practice and procedure as appropriate.

Ensure the principles of clinical governance are incorporated in service delivery by maintaining a high-quality service based on agreed clinical standards.

Identify and minimise clinical and non-clinical risk to minimise risk of harm to patients, staff, and visitors.

Undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices using evidence-based practice projects, audit, and outcome measures.

Support research activity and assist in developing a research and evidence-based culture within the service.

Participate in practice development, evaluation, audit and research activities relevant to the service to promote evidence-based practice.

Communication

Communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise potential and to ensure understanding of their condition.

Communicate effectively and work collaboratively within the team, with other members of the Trust, social care providers and secondary care partners. Educate professionals to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary integrated service including forms of verbal/written reports, referrals to other agencies.

Demonstrate professional sensitivity and empathy during the emotional demand of high exposure to distressing circumstances on a day-to-day basis, for example when patients are receiving bad news.

Assess capacity, gain valid informed consent, and work within a legal framework with patients and carers who may have difficulties understanding complex information due to speech and language difficulties, sensory loss, learning difficulties, depression etc. Act as an advocate for the patient and continually demonstrate effective communication skills with patients, carers, and others.

Maintain accurate, legible, concise, and contemporaneous records in accordance with Registrant Bodies guidelines.

Maintain tact and diplomacy and use highly developed communication skills when working in situations which may become hostile/antagonistic.

Respect confidential information obtained during your work and dont discuss such information without the consent of the patient/client, or a person entitled to act on their behalf, except where disclosure is required by law or by the order of a court or is necessary in the public interest.

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional qualification appropriate to role
• Registered with the HCPC
• Formal post graduate qualification relevant to specialist area of practice
• Assessor/Mentor/ Practice Educator Training

Experience/knowledge

Essential

• Experience of receiving supervision and supervision of staff
• Evidence of working within paediatric setting, and specialist knowledge
• Evidence of effective partnership working
• Demonstrate the application of research and evidence-based practice within the specialist field
• Understanding of local, national, professional policies/guidance eg. Mental Capacity Act, Vulnerable Adults Procedure and Child Protection
• Demonstrate an understanding of own scope of practice and the implications for self and others
• Ability to recognise own behaviour and its impact on others
• Evidence of introducing service developments and innovation
• Evidence of active engagement in developing others
• Demonstrate experience of problem-solving approaches
• Mental Capacity Act
• Vulnerable Adults Procedure and Child Protectio
• Evidence of understanding and the application of leadership and management principles

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to delegate & coordinate
• Ability to work to deadlines. Good organisational/time management skills
• Ability to utilise assessment skills and tools effectively including assessment of sensory seeking behaviours and complex seating
• Able to present factual information and refer questions to others where appropriate
• Ability to identify risk and minimise risk effectively
• Ability to reflect on experience and identify lessons learnt
• Computer literate
• Willingness to travel to perform duties
• Able to deal with sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy
• Demonstrate experience of managing difficult situations
• Good organisational/time management skills
• Ability to problem solve
• Demonstrate a proactive approach to health and safety
• Able to develop effective interpersonal relationships with clients, colleagues and the wider team

Desirable

• Presentation skills

Values

Essential

• Continuous Improvement
• Accountability
• Respectfulness
• Enthusiasm
• Support
• High professional standards
• Responsive to service users with a strong customer service belief
• honest and transparent
• Discreet
• Change oriented

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).