Highly Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Exciting opportunities have arisen for an enthusiastic and highly committed individual to work within this unique and vibrant OT team. Are you a band 7 looking for a new role or a band 6 thinking I would like to take the next career steps? If so, we are looking for you!

We are looking for a positive and creative band 7 OT to join our mainstream school service. You will have your own clinical caseload, providing specialist assessment and intervention for children aged 5-19 within schools and clinic.

You will have opportunities to lead and influence service development and support the professional development of other staff and OT students. You will work closely with and be supported by the leadership team.

Main duties of the job

You will work with children with a range of complex health and physical disabilities and Special Educational Needs (SEN) attending mainstream and special schools across Harrow.

There will be regular opportunities to work with the MDT team in both assessment and treatment.

You will manage your own caseload, travelling between schools and working alongside teaching staff to ensure highly specialist therapy programmes are in place for the children under their care.

You will be able to work collaboratively with children/young people (CYP), parents/carers and with colleagues in Health, Education and Social Services, in service planning, policy and delivery of services to this specific client group.

The post holder will be able to develop their supervision skills through supervision and support of Associate practitioners, band 6's and students.

Job responsibilities

1. To communicate complex patient related information effectively to ensure collaborative working with multidisciplinary team members across health, education and social services and the voluntary sector.
2. To co-ordinate the day-to-day provision of Occupational Therapy input for CYP with special needs, prioritising workloads and resources to ensure CYPs needs are met.
3. To manage a highly specialist and complex caseload of CYP with SEN particularly those attending specially resourced provisions for CYP with Physical Disability.
4. Lead clinician for provision of comprehensive specialist assessment and differential diagnosis of individual children and neonates with diverse and complex presentations using a range of specialist assessments/techniques.
5. Using highly specialist manual handling techniques.
6. Referring on to other services/professionals as appropriate.
7. Using specialist knowledge and demonstrating advanced skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management and wider issues relating to service provision for pre-school/school children.
8. Writing reports reflecting highly specialist knowledge and providing specific advice for statutory assessment of special educational need.
9. To work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team in School.
10. To advise on manual handling risk assessment, access school environments and provision of specialist equipment.
11. To lead project working groups aimed at achieving team objectives particularly those relating to clinical specialism.
12. To provide line management/clinical supervision to more junior Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants and lead their Personal Development Plans (PDPs) and appraisals.

Person Specification

Other

Essential

• Car Driver

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised Occupational Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
• Health Professions Council - Licence to Practice
• Evidence of CPD in portfolio including attendance of specialist short courses relevant to CYP with special needs/disability
• Training in Moving and Handling people with disabilities
• Member of College of Occupational Therapy

Desirable

• Advanced training up to Masters level equivalent in area of Paediatric Occupational Therapy.
• Member of College of Occupational Therapy

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience of working with pre-school and school aged children with complex needs.
• Extensive experience of assessment, treatment and management of CYP with complex needs.
• Experience of teaching other professionals/parents.
• Experience of clinical audit and research.

Desirable

• Knowledge of a range of specialist aids, equipment and seating systems.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Well established knowledge of assessment tools and appropriate therapeutic interventions relevant to CYP with complex needs.
• Working knowledge of the roles of other professionals in Health, Education and Social Care involved with CYP.
• Understanding and application of standards of record keeping and reporting.
• Clinical governance/audit.

Attitudes, aptitudes, personal characteristics

Essential

• Excellent organisational skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with children and young people of all ages and abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal (English).
• Negotiation and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work in an unpredictable environment and to prioritise own and others workload.

Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Alexandra Avenue Health & Social Care Centre Primary Care Hub,
275 Alexandra Ave,
Harrow,
HA2 9DX