Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Job summary

:

Occupational Therapists within our teamwork with children from birth to 19 years, providing assessment, intervention, and advice to promote inclusion and optimise the functional participation of children and young people in daily activities, to enable them to achieve what they want, need and have the potential to do. We support and empower them and their families and educate other professionals and agencies working with them.

Job responsibilities:

Key Tasks & Responsibilities:

To provide a high-quality children and young peoples occupational therapy service to a caseload of children and young people with a variety of physical, learning, and social needs (including children with statutory needs, , Education Health & Care Plans, Safeguarding and Child Protection issues/concerns) in a variety of community settings To carry independently a caseload of children across a range of settings within the multidisciplinary team, to support children and young peoples occupational therapy needs as appropriate This role is based in the community working within homes, clinics, special and mainstream schools with children aged between 0-19 years The post holder is expected to travel across the county independently Communication: To empathetically communicate condition related information from assessment to children, carers, families, and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions To evaluate outcomes and provide advice to others regarding the management and care of children To support, reassure and advise families and carers to engage in the therapeutic process and provide specific information about neurodisability conditions To deal with initial concerns and complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties To give information and advice to enable children, their parents/carers and other professionals working with the child, to carry out therapy interventions and ensure ongoing support between professional treatment sessions To prepare and write reports for Education Health Care Plans, multi-disciplinary assessments and reviews To work jointly with other professionals within the multi-disciplinary team and attend joint case conferences To liaise and work with other members of the multi-disciplinary team: Therapists, Teachers, Clinical Psychologists, Special Educational Needs Teachers, Consultant Community Paediatricians and Safeguarding teams To give appropriate information to children, parents/carers, and other professional staff regarding therapy programmes To maintain working relationships within Education To keep adequate records on patients, to maintain confidentiality in respect of this information, and comply with the Trusts record keeping policy To attend professional meetings Analytical and judgemental: To use clinical judgement, supervision, and service pathway information to make decisions and prioritise caseload needs To use a variety of formal and informal assessment and observation methods to collect information about a child and their difficulties with function and occupation and use this information to set goals in collaboration with the child and family To use agreed Outcome Measures to monitor and measure progress To participate in Service audits Planning and organisational Skills: To manage a caseload effectively, booking appointments, prioritising need and using clinics and opportunities for multi-disciplinary working effectively to meet the needs of the children Clinical Duties: To be accountable for a clinical caseload for children with a range of conditions providing appropriate assessments and intervention programmes To work within agreed service pathways to identify the childs difficulties, undertake assessments and treatment using clinical reasoning skills and enable them to participate in activities and occupation To assess the needs of children and young people and to formulate plans regarding appropriate complex bespoke specialist equipment. To set up and monitor equipment, instructing patients/carers on its safe use To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment interventions to measure progress and ensure effectiveness. To maintain and develop professional competence through continuing professional development, and to develop the ability to reflect on and evaluate training attended To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice and using clinical supervision as appropriate To ensure effective partnership always working with other members of the health team, Social Care, Education, and voluntary bodies in the best interests of the child To take responsibility for discharging clients according to clinical need and/or Trust procedure. To understand when to make onward referrals to other agencies to assist in the diagnosis and treatment options of children on own caseload, as well as advising other members of staff Governance: To contribute to and be pro-active in the identification of service improvement To participate in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of service developments within the service based on audits, questionnaires, reflective practice, meetings, surveys, and data collection To assist in the piloting of new services, prioritisation of caseloads and alternative methods of working To contribute to the development of clinical standards and guidelines, and to inform service policies, including the use of research in evidence-based practice To make suggestions about possible improvements or changes to the service which may of benefit to children, families, or the organisation To undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research 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 participate in clinical and quality frameworks for the Paediatric Occupational Service. 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 Royal College of Occupational Therapists To participate in the planning and development of the service, holding responsibility for defined and delegated projects Leadership and management: To work with and provide supervision and training for Occupational Therapy Students and OT Support Workers and Technicians To actively participate in clinical and peer supervision Information Resources: To use IT systems to record patient data in line with agreed systems of working To use IT systems to access and contribute to service development and accurate record keeping Research & Development: To contribute to clinical effectiveness arrangements and participate in audit and research relevant to your role and clinical setting Person Specification

Education & Qualification

Essential

Degree or equivalent diploma in Occupational Therapy HCPC Registration Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio

Desirable

Membership of Specialist Interest Group (Children, Young People and Families) Membership of RCOT

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

Demonstration of clinical assessment and intervention knowledge Knowledge, training, and experience of a range of treatment techniques and approaches

Desirable

Previous Band 5 experience or evidence of working on clinical cases Experience and working knowledge of children Knowledge /experience of the impact of a child's disability on occupational performance and the child's family / carers Facilitation and involvement in audit and understanding of quality issues

Skills & Abilities

Essential

Clinical experience including individual and group work Assessment, planning, implementing, and evaluating treatment, complying with professional and service standards Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities Ability to analyse clinical, professional, and ethical issues Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance. Ability to organise and respond efficiently to information. Teamwork and effective communication/ negotiation skills Ability to build effective working relationships with multi professional teams, children, and carers Ability to cope working in emotional environments with parents/carers Ability to understand the child and families / carers culture and diversity and provide services appropriate to individual needs Able to carry out moderate to intense physical effort through concurrent activities

Desirable

Experience of supervisory role in clinical supervision

Personal Qualities

Essential

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

Desirable

Ability to travel to all rural locations to carry out post

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