Team Lead Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Duties:

·         To autonomously carry a designated clinical caseload of complex and diverse inpatient paediatric patients, who present with a wide range of neurological and/or functional deficits.

·         To be able to prioritise a designated caseload efficiently, taking into account clinical and service priorities using highly specialist knowledge to underpin decisions.

·         To be competent in the assessment of all domains of impairment, activity and participation as defined in the ICF, and their impact on a child’s occupational performance.

·         To be competent in the use of standardised and non-standardised assessments, screening tools and outcome measures specific and/or relevant to the paediatric neurological and non-neurological population

·         Identify the key performance areas that the child and family wish to prioritise and formulate child centred goals for rehabilitation.

·         To be able to use expert clinical reasoning to select appropriate OT intervention approaches and to be able to work flexibly to adapt this approach to meet the needs of the child and family.

·         To be competent in assessing the need for, and the prescription of, assistive technology and/or adaptive equipment to enhance the child’s function and occupational performance; making recommendations to clients/ carers, Social Services Occupational Therapists, Schools and Educational Institutions.

• To issue such equipment with due regard to safety of the equipment, and in line with legal, national and local guidelines.

·         To understand the effect an acquired disability has on both the child and the function of the family unity and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the child’s social and physical environment.

·         To monitor, evaluate and modify interventions in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.

• To keep abreast with emerging evidence within the specialist field of practice, and adapt assessment and management accordingly, particularly in line with any change in national guidance.

·         To lead on production of clinical guidelines and local policies ensuring evidence based, implemented and audited.

• To work collaboratively with other multidisciplinary team members and participate fully in the interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation.
• Liaise with external support services to facilitate case management activity such as requesting and attending stakeholder meetings, making recommendations for the type of services and level of input the child requires; educational provision and EHCP entitlement.
• To provide expert advice and guidance to other professions within the multidisciplinary team, and other health/educational/social care professions involved with the child and young person in order to promote the child’s successful reintegration to community and full engagement in home life, school life and social life.
• Assist with clinical cover in other paediatric areas as required.

·         Promote children’s well-being, safeguarding them from harm, and working within agreed policies for reporting concerns including concerns about colleagues.

Communication

·         To be highly skilled in communicating with children of all ages and abilities, including those with cognitive communication difficulties and/or challenging behaviours.

·         Provide children, families and other carers with specialist advice or instruction to promote the understanding of the aims of occupational therapy and to ensure consistent patient management, including the use of specialist equipment and therapy programmes.

·         To provide and receive information from patients, carers and other professionals regarding a patient’s condition and treatment progress. This will include the sharing and receiving of some complex and/or sensitive information.

·         To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximize rehabilitation potential and to improve understanding of the condition, facilitating the best possible communication outcome e.g. use of interpreters, visual aids etc.

·         To establish robust communication networks with patients, carers, care agencies, Multidisciplinary team members, Education services and other agencies such as the charity sector

·         To promote awareness of the role of Occupational Therapy within the team, negotiating priorities where appropriate.

·         To be integral in discharge planning including liaison with community staff and providing timely discharge reports.

·         To take an active part in departmental meetings.

·         To ensure open lines of communication within own team and guide junior staff in effective communication skills.