Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist, Rehabilitation, Band 7 inTadworth inTadworth PUBLISHED FRI 18 OCT 2024

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist to join our Rehabilitation Team. This role will require the successful candidate to provide a high quality, evidence based occupational therapy service, which promotes participation and functional activity of children and young people accessing neurorehabilitation, outpatient services and those on a step down pathway.

Our service delivery aims to promote outcome focussed interventions, safe care, function and participation of children and young people. You will provide clinical leadership to the allocated house-based Therapy Team, ensuring accountability and effective communication with other teams, creating a cohesive and collaborative multidisciplinary Therapy Team.

Staff benefits include London weighting, shuttle bus, and more Read more below

Clinical Skills and Responsibilities.

• Lead the provision of high quality, evidence based occupational therapy provision for children and young people in Children and Family Services in partnership with other members of the multidisciplinary team
• Undertake specialist occupational therapy assessments of children with a range of needs including highly complex needs
• Devise and carry out therapeutic interventions that are developmentally appropriate, goal directed, and occupation centred both in terms of means and outcome.
• Devise suitable, individualised occupational therapy programmes/strategies that fit within the childs daily routine, whether to be carried out by parents or members of the Multidisciplinary Team; these should be monitored, evaluated, and adjusted appropriately according to the needs of the child.
• Develop therapy goals, in collaboration and with the child and family/carers, as well as the MDT, to maximise recovery and facilitate the participation of the child in their daily life.

With experience of working in a complex environment, across a large and diverse workforce, you will be exceptionally organised with a high-level of attention to detail. You will naturally possess excellent inter-personal skills, and an ability to consult and positively engage with key stakeholders across the organisation.

Interview Date: To be confirmed.

About us

Clinical Skills and Responsibilities.

• Lead the provision of high quality, evidence based occupational therapy provision for children and young people in Children and Family Services in partnership with other members of the multidisciplinary team
• Undertake specialist occupational therapy assessments of children with a range of needs including highly complex needs
• Devise and carry out therapeutic interventions that are developmentally appropriate, goal directed, and occupation centred both in terms of means and outcome.
• Devise suitable, individualised occupational therapy programmes/strategies that fit within the childs daily routine, whether to be carried out by parents or members of the Multidisciplinary Team; these should be monitored, evaluated, and adjusted appropriately according to the needs of the child.
• Develop therapy goals, in collaboration and with the child and family/carers, as well as the MDT, to maximise recovery and facilitate the participation of the child in their daily life.
• Lead on delivering high quality, evidence based upper limb management for children and young people. This may include elements of service development and training of other members of the OT team.
• Assess for and fabricate splints and casts for function and to maintain range as part of the young person's rehabilitation programme. This will include providing guidance for caregivers/ members of the MDT to comply with the Equipment and Medical Device Policy.
• Support upper limb Botox intervention, carrying out pre- and post-assessment, devising post Botox treatment programmes and evaluating benefit for future Botox prescription.
• Offer liaison and joint work with specialist tertiary centres, contributing to upper limb reviews and management plans where necessary.
• Keep appropriate and accurate intervention records, fulfilling legal, professional and all other requirements of The Childrens Trust.
• Contribute to child related meetings and reports, including formulations, monthly meetings with parents, initial assessment reports and discharge reports, and assist with the collation of these as and when required, in a timely manner and in line with organisational targets.
• Assess for and organise provision of necessary therapy equipment. This may be loaned equipment for use at The Childrens Trust or recommendations of equipment for long-term use on return to home.
• Lead on and deliver a 24-hour rehabilitation approach to embed participation and therapeutic aims into everyday care
• Assess, evaluate, and recommend discharge/transition plans for children/young people within the multidisciplinary team framework.
• Be a positive and inspirational role model for all team members.
• Work closely with all members of the Multidisciplinary Team, as well as the child and family, to provide a fully integrated approach to the overall management of the child. This will include any home/school visits, professional child related meetings and/ or appointments, as required.
• Provide clinical cover across the service during episodes of staff shortage/heavy workload, in order to ensure effective service delivery.
• Work flexibly in terms of hours, in order to meet the needs of the service, including an early evening (weekly) and one weekend day, per calendar month.
• Represent the Therapy Team and The Childrens Trust when appropriate, deputising for the Head of Rehabilitation Therapies as required.
• Actively participate in and support the running of relevant meetings.
• To undertake other or additional duties that are within your skills and abilities, as the organisation may reasonably require from time to time.

Management of Self and Others

• Provide leadership to the rehab OT team for day-to-day management of service needs and provision. This may involve prioritising workloads and allocating staffing according to the needs of the rehab team caseload, especially at times where staffing is reduced due to leave or sickness.
• To ensure all members of the rehab OT team are aware of and adhere to the clinical competencies relevant for their area of practice. This may involve identifying training needs for the team or individuals.
• To support the head of the rehabilitation therapies in carrying out managerial duties, deputising for them where needed.
• Provide support and supervision for junior team members and students, within area of responsibility, providing direction, motivation, and support to achieve key objectives.
• Participate in the annual Performance Development Review and monthly supervision sessions, as required by The Childrens Trust, both as Appraiser and Appraise.
• Manage time effectively, prioritising, and delegating work appropriately and as required.

Communication

• Communicate effectively with children/young people (applying the principles of consistent communication).
• Facilitate effective communication with families and members of the Multidisciplinary Team.
• Recognise barriers to effective communication and be able to reduce these as appropriate.
• Attend and contribute to Multidisciplinary Team meetings, to discuss individual children/ young people and service in general, as required e.g. reviews, case conferences, parents evenings, clinics, etc.
• Maintain clear and concise documents and records, in accordance with The Childrens Trust Policy.
• Ensure documents are managed confidentially at all times.
• Attend regular meetings with the Multidisciplinary Team, to discuss individual children/young people and service in general, as required e.g. reviews, case conferences, parents evenings, clinics.
• Manage informal complaints, in line with The Childrens Trust polices and contribute to the resolution of written complaints, and as they occur taking immediate action where necessary.

Governance

• Read and implement all policies, procedures, and risk assessments, pertinent to working practice and keep up to date with changes as and when they occur.
• Critically evaluate practice through clinical audits and by appraisal of the information gained, in combination with current knowledge of evidence-based practice; identify opportunities for service improvement and development, with support from Highly Specialist Therapists/ Heads of Therapy.
• Continue the audit cycle, by evaluating any changes implemented as a result. This should include the adoption of evidence informed practice, the trial of emerging interventions and the cessation of interventions, where evidence is insufficient and other approaches are indicated.
• Recognise and critically appraise situations where the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of the service are compromised and take appropriate action to resolve the situation, with support from Highly Specialist Therapists/ Head of Rehabilitation Therapies.
• Critically reflect on own performance and that of other staff; and use this evaluation to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of future practice.
• Undergo The Childrens Trust Risk Assessor training, in order that all activities are risk assessed and documented in the most appropriate format. Ensure that detailed risk assessments are completed, as required.
• Actively participate in local clinical governance activities.

Career Long Learning, Education and Research

• Undertake all mandatory training, in line with The Childrens Trust policy.
• Advance personal knowledge, understanding and skills in line with identified learning needs, by making appropriate use of a variety of learning and development resources and opportunities, e.g. by attending courses/ lectures, contact and involvement with relevant special interest groups and visiting other departments/ organisations and by conducting Literature Reviews.
• Prepare appropriately for Performance Development Reviews, identifying learning objectives and setting targets; identify opportunities for professional development in order to meet continuing professional development requirements.
• Participates in in-service competency training programmes and teaching sessions, as appropriate.

Limits of Authority and Problem Solving

• Make day-to-day decisions regarding occupational therapy requirements for children and young people, based on case load, including recommendations for specialist equipment.
• Responsible for day-to-day time management and prioritisation of workload, taking into account the needs of the whole service.
• Monthly formal supervision.
• Provides formal supervision monthly to junior Therapists and/or Multidisciplinary Technicians.
• Supporting the Occupational Therapy Team and house based multi-disciplinary team in delivery of an effective service.
• Any other duties as required.

Professionalism

• Meet current HCPC and Royal College of Occupational Therapists standards with respect to professionalism and to keep up to date with any changes.
• Be responsible for maintaining registration with HCPC and other Professional Bodies.
• Adhere to the policies and procedures of The Childrens Trust.

Health and Safety

• Adheres to all health and safety guidelines, including infection prevention and control.
• Provide evidence of a valid NHS Covid Pass or acceptable proof of Covid vaccination or medical exemption and all vaccinations (or medical exemption) required for the post.
• Adhere to manual handling procedures and complete mandatory manual handling training.
• Promotes the health and safety of others.
• Uses the incident reporting and risk assessment system (IRAR), to identify and report risks and incidents/actions if directed.
• Responsible for identifying and mitigating risk within the work environment.

Wellbeing and Emotional Resilience

• Maintains a positive approach and outlook when dealing with change and overcoming challenges and problems.
• Recognises own limitations, develops realistic goals, and uses support network resource when or if necessary.
• Treats challenges and problems as a learning experience.