Specialist Occupational Therapist, Rehabilitation in Tadworth

Clinical Skills and Responsibilities

• Provide high quality, evidence based occupational therapy provision for children and young people, in partnership with other members of the multi-disciplinary team and education services.
• Undertake specialist occupational therapy assessments of children with a range of needs including highly complex needs.
• Develop therapy goals, in collaboration 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.
• Devise and carry out therapeutic interventions that are developmentally appropriate, goal directed, and occupation centred both in terms of means and outcome.
• Use observational and standardised outcome measures to monitor and evaluate each child's progress and adjust intervention/programmes, as necessary.
• Contribute to the assessment of the child/young person's upper limb and support provision of interventions to maintain or improve upper limb range and function where possible.
• Assess and advise on specialist equipment and liaise with social services and relevant others on its provision.
• Assess, evaluate, and recommend discharge/transition plans for children/young people within the multidisciplinary team framework.
• Contribute to child related reports, including looked after children and annual review reports as required, and assist with the collation of these as required, in a timely manner and in line with organisational targets.
• Contribute to child related meetings, meetings with parents, MDT meetings, and liaison with external agencies where appropriate.
• Keep appropriate and accurate intervention records, fulfilling legal, professional and all other requirements of The Children's Trust.
• Work flexibly in terms of hours, including the ability to work an early evening (weekly) and one weekend day, per calendar month.
• Undertake other or additional duties that are within your skills and abilities, as the organisation may reasonably require from time to time.

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.
• Maintain clear and concise documents and records, in accordance with The Children's Trust Policy.
• Ensure documents are managed confidentially at all times.
• Manage informal complaints, in line with The Children's Trust policies and contribute to the resolution of written complaints, taking immediate action where necessary.

Management of Self and Others

• 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 Children's Trust, both as Appraiser and Appraise.
• Manage time effectively, prioritising, and delegating work appropriately and as required.

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.
• 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/Heads of Therapy.
• 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 Children's 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 Children's 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.
• 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.
• Participate in in-service competency training programmes and teaching sessions, as appropriate.
• Contribute to service development projects in line with departmental and organisational priorities.

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.
• 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

• Takes action and raises concerns.
• Adhere to the policies and procedures of The Children's Trust.
• Maintain professional boundaries and professionalism at all times.
• Committed to demonstrating the organisations values and behaviours at all times.

Health and Safety

• Adheres to all Health and Safety guidelines, principles, and regulations to perform your role and comply with The Children's Trust policies and procedures.
• Provide evidence of 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.
• Remains organised and focused when under pressure.
• Responds appropriately and effectively to all constructive feedback.
• Motivates self and others.