Clinical Specialist Children's Occupational Therapist - Adoption

Job description

Job responsibilities

The remit of this post includes both the development of, and provision of services to this new project - working with children and families across the North East of England.

The successful candidate will require the following skills:

Clinical

* To be able to identify at a specialist clinical level, the occupational performance difficulties experienced by children referred into the service, who have experienced adverse life events, developmental trauma and may have neurodevelopmental differences

* To work as an autonomous practitioner, making clinical decisions appropriate to the specialist level of knowledge skills and experience of a professional Occupational Therapist

* To provide Occupational Therapy assessment, support and clinical interventions to identified children, young people and their families and carers

* To work closely with team colleagues and wider professional groups involved with the children / young people, to encourage the development of environments that promote and support the child's independence and developing occupational performance skills

* To be a source of clincal expertise and advice for the wider multi-disciplinary team, to aid in diagnosis and planning of interventions and support for children, young people and families.

* To work in a collaborative manner with children, young people, families and carers as well as the wider team - agreeing and making decisions with the needs and wellbeing of the child at the centre.

* To negotiate team / individual therapy goals with the child/young person, parents/carers and relevant others involved in the child's care

* To communicate in a professionally appropriate manner with a range of people, being mindful of any additional requirements of children/young people and families with additional and/or complex needs

* To demonstrate empathy and maintain sensitivity at all times, considering the impact of potentially difficult or complex information to families of service users

* To recognise potential conflict and breakdown where it occurs and seek advice / take action to resolve it

* To maintain up-to-date knowledge on best available clinical evidence and be able to interpret and apply this evidence within service provision and development.

* To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance including the ability to audit own practice and that of others

* To maintain comprehensive contemporaneous clinical and statistical records in line with professional and service standards.

* To provide formal reports for statutory assessment and safeguard case conferences.

* To work as a sole Occupational Therapist within a wider multi-disciplinary / multi-agency team and take responsibility for seeking and responding appropriately to professional support from CDDFT Children's Occupational Therapy service

Organisational / Service Development

* To balance clinical and non-clinical duties to meet service demands and other duties related to the project.

* To collect and collate accurate and timely information relating to supplies, service activity and audit.

* To be flexible to the demands of the working environment, including unpredictable working patterns, hybrid working, deadlines and the impact of interruptions.

* To work within the Infection Control and Health & Safety Guidelines of CDDFT to deal with such situations as they arise eg. exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions etc.

* To operate safely within the community at all times using the Trust's Lone Worker system, and comply with local protocols within the Adoption Team.

* To participate in risk assessment of own work and the work of others, putting in relevant actions to reduce risk to service users and staff members when issues are recognised and/or higlighted

* To accurately use the appropriate electronic patient record system ensuring that clinically appropriate information is recorded in an accurate and timely way

* To plan and organise complex activities requiring co-ordination with various other parties and adjustment of plans. This may include school based assessments, community based training sessions, linking with multi-agency partners and liaising with children, young people and families

* Be responsible for representing the Occupational Therapy profession within the multi-agency team and across the wider parameters of children's services across the North East of England.

* Develop protocols of work and packages of care for the use of self and others.

* Participate in and contribute to service developments including Quality Improvement, Safety / Risk Management, Standards of Provision, Equality and Diversity etc

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• * Diploma, BSc or MSc in Occupational Therapy.
• * Current registration as a qualified Occupational Therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• * Evidence of Continuous Professional Development related to both general Occupational Therapy practice and to the clinical specialism of Occupational Therapy with Children, Young people and Families
• * A minimum of 4 years relevant post registration experience at band 6 level in a Children's Occupational Therapy field underpinned by specialist accredited courses (including attendance / membership of relevant clinical networks at a local or national level)

Desirable

• * Evidence of post-graduate study in the specialist field at Masters level or equivalent courses / qualifications / experience
• * Attendance at / participation in leadership and development programmes / service improvement initiatives with identified outcomes
• * Post graduate training and/or qualification in sensory based assessments and interventions for children and young people

Experience

Essential

• Relevant and considerable post-preceptorship experience of working with children, young people and families with additional needs
• * Considerable and current experience of working with children and young people who experience neurodiversity
• * some experience of working with children & young people who are looked after and may have difficulties related to trauma / attachment
• * Considerable experience of working within multi-disciplinary / multi-agency teams, particularly across health, education and social care
• * Considerable experience of providing approriate clinical advice related to Education, Health and Care plans (EHCPs)
• * Considerable experience of managing and monitoring caseload
• * Experience of clinical audit and knowledge of clinical governance requirements

Desirable

• * Some experience of working with children and young people who have been looked after, adopted and/or experiencing trauma / attachment difficulties
• * Experience of delivering presentations / training sessions to groups of professionals and / or parents and carers
• * Experience of multi-agency collaboration in service development and/or strategic developments
• * Experience of participation in quality assurance / quality improvement projects

Statutory Registration

Essential

• Qualified Occupational Therapist registered with H.C.P.C.

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• * Have specialist in depth knowledge and practical skills in the assessment and treatment of children and young people with neurodiversity and/or children who are in the looked after system.
• * Highly developed clinical skills in the assessment and treatment of children and young people with a range of occupational performance difficulties affecting daily function
• * Evidence of leadership skills including time management and organisation; effective caseload management; supervision / leading other staff within a team
• * Excellent communication and interpersonal skills - including the ability to negotiate, motivate, empathise and positively engage with people at all levels, including service users, families and carers, colleagues, and other professionals on a local and national level.
• *Excellent presentation skills using a variety of methods - face to face and virtual

Desirable

• * Knowledge of trauma informed care and it's application to the Occupational Therapy approach
• * Understanding and clinical application of audit and research projects
• * Delivery of sensory based training sessions to parents/carers and/or teaching staff
• * Participation in service improvement projects

Special Requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel independently across the North East Region to fulfill the requirements of the post.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a hybrid manner

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).

Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Chester Le Street Community Hospital

Front Street

Chester Le Street

County Durham

DH3 3AT

Employer's website

https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)