Specialist Children's Occupational Therapist

NHS; Catford; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000

Job description

Specialist Children's Occupational Therapist

We are seeking an experienced and innovative Occupational Therapist to join our team.

The post holder will need to have clinical experience in Occupational Therapy working with children and young people from birth to nineteen years with a range of clinical conditions and disabilities.

The post holder will provide specialist occupational therapy assessment and interventions to children and young people, managing a caseload of clients with a variety of developmental disabilities. The children and young people will present with a range of occupational therapy needs relating to self care, play and school activities.

Main duties of the job

1. To select, administer and apply a specialist level of analysis to standardised and non-standardised assessments, tools and materials specific to paediatric occupational therapy, in order to provide diagnostic and predictive information and contribute to accurate diagnosis, prognosis and intervention.
2. To use a specialist level of skills in negotiating, agreeing and setting goals with the family and other professionals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely (SMART) and address key occupational performance needs.
3. To monitor, evaluate and modify intervention against set goals in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness, negotiating new goals where appropriate.
4. To provide varied modes of intervention e.g. group settings, advice/consultation, teaching others.
5. To contribute to the overall development of the occupational therapy service as the service evolves in line with organisational changes, holding responsibility for defined projects.
6. To work in a range of community settings including special schools under the supervision of senior staff.
7. To involve the child or young person and their carers throughout intervention and to work co-operatively with other professionals and agencies in meeting their needs.
8. To identify the need and where appropriate assess and plan appropriate management/intervention to meet the assistive technology needs of children (orthotics, equipment for home and school including special seating and postural management, AAC, mobility equipment and environmental controls).
9. To be responsible for ordering, referral, liaison with other agencies and/or joint assessments and appropriate after care such as training, setting up equipment and reviewing progress.
10. To undertake risk assessments in relation to children on caseload.
11. To assess for and advise others in determining appropriate and safe use of equipment and to assess the competence of others (school staff, family, carers) to carry out advice regarding safe use of equipment.
12. To address consent throughout involvement with a child and aim to work cooperatively with parents, teaching staff and other professionals.
13. To work with families from a variety of social, economical and cultural backgrounds and respond appropriately to clients needs.
14. To work with families and children with additional vulnerability and provide appropriate support (e.g. Children in care, children with terminal illness/degenerative conditions, child protection, challenging behaviours).
15. To adapt own style of communication to meet the differing needs of children and families e.g. use of an interpreter, sign language, uncomplicated language or pictures and symbols.
16. To record and maintain all client contact information and data in client files or on electronic recording system in an accurate and contemporaneous manner, adhering to local and national policies and guidance.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

• Diploma / Degree in Occupational Therapy.
• HCPC registration.
• BAOT member.
• Undertaken a range of relevant postgraduate courses / Preceptorship.
• Post registration training in specialist field.
• Training in postural management.

Experience

• Experience as an Occupational Therapist working with children and young people and to have the ability to be able to work effectively with this client group.
• Experience of community work, multidisciplinary team working and to show the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• To have experience of administering standardised assessments and interpreting results.
• To have experience of using outcome measures.
• Some experience in developing and providing education and teaching programmes to other professionals and students.
• Experience of participating in audit and evidence based projects.
• Evidence of actively participating in the running of groups, in-service training and MDT groups, and evaluating their effectiveness.
• Experience of working with clients with neurological conditions or learning disability experience.
• Research experience.

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.

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum pro rata plus HCAS.