Childrens Occupational Therapist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To be professionally and legally accountable for caseload of clients with complex needs with supervision. 

Professional/Clinical Responsibilities

To manage the risk and clinical responsibility for junior staff and own caseload, and for the supervision of the caseload of both junior Therapy staff and support staff with supervision

To have a  working knowledge of social care, education, health, housing and voluntary organisations eligibility criteria and relevant policies and procedures, to be able to effectively refer the client to these services.

To have a sound  range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills to engage effectively with clients and their carers to gain consent and active participation in treatment by developing a therapeutic relationship based on trust and negotiation within the legal framework with those clients who lack capacity to consent.

To select and apply to standardised and non-standardised Paediatric Therapy and professional assessments tools using highly specialised co-ordination, dexterity, observation and communication skills with supervision.

To plan, implement and review client centred individual and/or group interventions, using meaningful graded activity based on sound knowledge of evidence based practice, clinical reasoning and Therapy models of practice and specialised co-ordination, dexterity, observation and communication skills.

To use highly specialist skills to interpret and analyse complex clinical, social and environmental factors to contribute to accurate diagnosis and prognosis of a wide range of complex health conditions and recommend the best course of intervention, and the development/review of treatment and discharge plans.

To negotiate with client/carer to identify and formulate client centred, specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely (SMART) goals using the specialist assessment information and to complete the designated outcome measures with supervision.

To ensure junior staff and own  and verbal and non-verbal, written and electronic client records, reports and activity data are maintained and kept up to date in accordance with professional and Trust record keeping standards.

To provide verbal or written reports / letters. To represent the Therapy Service and / or clients at multi-disciplinary / multi-agency meetings and contribute to statutory assessments & multidisciplinary decision making with supervision.

To provide Therapy expertise at appropriate local and regional working parties or meetings to develop, implement and redesign service delivery.

To have a sound knowledge of specialist disability equipment for children and be responsible for the safe and competent use of all therapy equipment and to ensure junior staff and clients / carers attain competency prior to use.

To have a working knowledge of appropriate legislation and comply with the Professional Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and Professional standards for Therapists and ensure that junior staff are aware of these.

To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients, and be responsible for the provision of a service which is sensitive to these needs.

To review, reflect and analyse own practice, performance and ethical issues through effective use of operational and clinical supervision and performance development review and provide guidance to junior staff.

To participate in appraisals and personal reviews and work to achieve agreed set objectives.

To participate in research opportunities, and demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them to practice and disseminate findings at a local level.

To participate in appropriate training and development activities.

To demonstrate sound leadership skills through participation in designated projects

To participate and demonstrate ongoing personal and professional development through development opportunities, networking and a Continuous Professional Development portfolio in order to maintain professional competence and fitness to practice as a Band 6  Therapist.

To provide highly specialised advice, teaching and training opportunities to clients, carers.

To be an accredited Therapy fieldwork educator and to provide and support Therapy fieldwork placements

To provide and support opportunities for teaching and training of staff, other students for example medical, nursing, work experience and other professionals.

To ensure that all staff consciously review mistakes, complaints and incidents/ near misses as well as successes to improve performance and the level of customer care.

To develop and maintain effective professional communication networks with clients, carers, multidisciplinary team and other professionals / organisations.

To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.

To assist the Childrens Occupational Therapy Service Lead, in interpreting and implementing professional and clinical guidelines, Trust policies and procedures and to have a sound working knowledge of relevant national and local targets /initiatives, to promote and develop quality improvements appropriate to the needs of the service

To work with the Childrens Occupational Therapy Service Lead, to develop and implement Therapy objectives in line with the Service Specifications.

To work effectively as a member of the multidisciplinary team to influence service improvements and to support the planning and achievement of local objectives.

To contribute to the induction of all new Therapy staff and students and other new staff and students.

To actively participate in the Therapy for Family Health, meetings and for disseminating information and addressing issues raised.

To facilitate the identification of training needs of the junior and support Therapy staff through appraisal and contribute to the development, formation and delivery of the Therapy for women & Childrens, training plan.

To respond to informal complaints about the Therapy for children, and to contribute to the investigation of a complaint, and assist in implementing any changes to the practice as a consequence.

To effectively manage risk by ensuring that  junior and support staff are aware of their obligation to comply to Health and Safety guidelines, and maintain safe environment and working practices

To be responsible for engaging all junior therapy staff and assist in practice development / redesign, evaluation, audit and research activities as appropriate and relevant to the service.

To assist in maintaining and developing departmental therapeutic resources, and co-ordinate an annual stock take.

To assist the Childrens Occupational Therapy Service Lead, to review service delivery through analysis and interpretation of performance reports.

To have a sound knowledge of the principles of housing design and technical plans to advise junior staff and families on housing adaptations and to be able to recommend appropriate adaptations to the Disabled Facilities Grant officers.

To be responsible for organising and running therapeutic individual sessions and groups with a designated caseload of clients using specific technical knowledge and skills.

To treat abnormal tone, including splinting to achieve optimal positioning.

To provide the correct positioning, seating and pressure relief of clients with complex needs and to refer and liaise with other services as required under supervision.

Managerial Responsibilities

To assist the Childrens Occupational Therapy Service Lead in the operational Management and promotion of the Family Health Division Therapy service, delegating tasks to junior and support staff as appropriate.

To notify the Manager for Therapy of staff absences when senior staff are not available.

To be responsible for the supervision and performance development review of identified junior staff in line with Trust

General 

The post holder will be required to have access to independent means of transport for work purposes to travel across the Trust and to other agencies.