Job responsibilities
Please see the job description for the details regarding the post
Communication and working relationship
Communicate complex condition-related information from assessment to clients, carers, families and members of the multidisciplinary team/other professions in a way that is accessible and easily understood. This will include facilitating strategies for people with communication disorders where barriers to understanding may exist
Demonstrate empathy with clients, carers, families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to communication exist, or sensitive issues are being dealt with. Patient, carers and family will frequently have difficulty accepting the information provided
Form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging difficulties
Employ good presentation skills to promote multi-disciplinary and interagency liaison and collaborative practice to a broad range of audiences including other professionals and users
Write reports reflecting knowledge of paediatrics that can be accessible to both lay and professional people
Contribute to clinical pathways both multi and uni-professional by discussing own and others input around clients needs, ensuring a well-coordinated care plan
Deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible
Demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues
Analytical and judgement
Demonstrate specialist Occupational Therapy knowledge across a range of therapeutic interventions
Use knowledge and experience to inform sound clinical judgement/decision making for case management
Integrate evidence from a variety of sources to make a differential diagnosis, of occupational performance, seeking advice as appropriate
Demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers and mentors and identify own strengths and development needs
Planning and organisation
Responsible for organising and planning own caseload to meet service and patient priorities. Readjusting plans as situations change/arise
Responsible for the supervision and co-ordination of Occupational Therapy Technicians on a daily basis
Responsible for the supervision of Band 5 staff on a regular basis
Responsibility for patient/client care, treatment and therapy
Undertakes all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner including professional and legal accountability and clinical risk management for all aspects of own work
Some aspects of work will involve delivery of the care as part of a multidisciplinary, multi-agency team. Otherwise to be the sole professional with responsibility for that patients episode of care and for onward referral as required
Perform advanced therapeutic assessment of children who present with developmental problems, long term conditions and may have severe communication impairment, learning disability, complex and severe physical and sensory disability
Use advanced questioning and communication, manual assessment techniques and clinical reasoning skills to provide a diagnosis and prognosis enabling the delivery of an individualised occupational therapy treatment programme. This includes but is not exclusive to the appropriate selection of referrals for inclusion in a range of treatment and management options, including neuro developmental, motor co-ordination, sensory differences, specialised equipment and environmental adaptations.
Supervision takes the form of annual appraisal with line-manager plus planned management supervision, clinical supervision on a planned regular basis. Clinical work is not routinely evaluated. Access to advice and support is available from peers, the paediatric team and clinical manager
Responsible for own caseload as an autonomous practitioner
Responsible for tasks and duties as delegated by the Clinical Team Manager or Specialist Childrens Occupational Therapist.
To use routine outcome measures and goal-based approach, collaboratively with service users, in ways that inform treatment and clinical care
Work closely with clients, carers, and families agreeing decision making relevant to the patient/client management
Co-produce specialist clear care plans based on best practice with children, young people and their families/carers
Ensure care plans are written in an understandable format for the child, young person and their family/carer
Provide specialist Occupational Therapy intervention including 1:1 / group therapy, parent/ carer-based interventions and consultancy/coaching mentoring within a range of community settings. Outcomes to then be evaluated To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures
To always consider safeguarding and child protection issues, following relevant policies and procedures and receiving safeguarding supervision as required
Responsibility for policy and service development implementation
Deputise for the Clinical Team Manager or Specialist Occupational Therapist in their absence, taking responsibility for operation management of the team, allocating and organising the work of less experienced occupational therapist and assistant staff to meet priorities on a daily basis
Provide children and young people with the opportunity to express their views in an age appropriate way, to have their opinions considered and to be able to influence the shaping of services
Interpret and assist in the implementation of local and national guidelines, policies and procedures affecting the development of childrens services
To follow their employers policies, procedures and guidance as well as professional standards and guidelines
Responsibility for finance, equipment and other resources
Work to the financial policies and procedures as laid down by the employer
Take appropriate care of equipment entrusted to them for use
Responsible for maintaining a clear desk policy and protecting all confidential information in accordance with the organisations policies and procedures
Required to act responsibly in terms of providing best value practice and protecting service resources
Responsibility for any specific materials you are required to use, maintaining their general standard and ensuring that adequate supplies are maintained
Ensure all equipment used is maintained to the required standard to ensure patient and staff safety
Maintain stock control, ordering supplies in a timely manner through the agreed process
Complete an assessment, order, set up the provision of specialist equipment for identified children. Demonstrate to parents/ staff how to maintain and adjust as appropriate
Responsibility for human resources, e.g. supervision, training, HR advice and management
Contribute to the delivery of a range of training opportunities, as appropriate using a broad range of technology to develop and deliver
Supervise the work of Occupational Therapy Technicians and/or Integrated Therapy Assistants where necessary
Mentor and supervise newly qualified occupational therapists as required
Access clinical supervision at the frequency determined by the organisation
Oversee the caseload management of newly qualified staff and Occupational Therapy Technicians
Demonstrate the ability to target training (formal and informal) appropriately to the needs of course participants, reflecting and evaluating training provided.
To participate in the appraisal process
Ensure prompt action is taken in raising issues with regard to staff performance, sickness, attendance levels and any disciplinary, capability or grievance matters
Responsibility for information resources and administrative duties
Responsible for accurate and timely inputting of data into relevant data collection system to ensure workload is accurately reflected
Responsible for the inputting of accurate and contemporaneous case notes on the relevant clinical systems in line with professional and organisational standards
A sound knowledge of IT
Computer literate
Ensure all employers policies, procedures and guidelines are followed
Complete all statutory and mandatory training as required by the employer
Identify and manage risks through incident reporting when appropriate
Take part in activities designed to improve service delivery or quality of care such as staff surveys, participation and service development
Responsibility for research and development
Participates in clinical audit
Participate in clinical research as appropriate
Freedom to act
Acts as an autonomous professional
Works within codes of practice as defined by Royal College of Occupational Therapy and HCPC
Works within organisational policies and procedures
Please contact us to discuss the post more fully.
