Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Overview

We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. We provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance. We welcome applications from anyone with protected characteristics and support reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.

Role

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic Children\\\’s Community Occupational Therapist to join our children\\\’s community services therapy teams. The team covers the whole of the Fylde Coast for children and young people aged 0 – 16 yrs and up to 19 yrs within a special school.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trust\\\’s policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.

Main duties

• Whilst working as part of a supportive multidisciplinary team you will also have access to regular supervision, team meetings and training/CPD sessions along with a buddy system for the first 3 months in post to ensure you are well supported in the role.
• The role is predominately Monday to Friday office hours however occasional flexibility may be required to meet the needs of the service.
• It is based at Whitegate Drive Health Centre but travel is required throughout the Fylde Coast therefore care driver/owner is an essential part of this role.
• To accept clinical responsibility for the management of a specific paediatric caseload; to assess and review level of need and to organise this efficiently and effectively with regard to clinical priorities and time management with supervision from a senior therapist.
• To undertake comprehensive assessment of children\\\’s needs using an appropriate mix of standardised assessments and clinical observation skills.
• To use analytical and clinical reasoning skills to formulate agreed individual treatment plans and goals.
• To implement treatment plans incorporating the safe moving, handling and positioning of children to enable them to participate in treatment episodes and to carry out activities of daily living.
• To provide occupational therapy intervention in a variety of environments including home, school and other premises within the community.
• To provide treatment on an individual or group basis according to the assessed needs.
• To alter and revise planned interventions as a result of changes in an individual\\\’s level of function or circumstances, using clinical reasoning skills.
• To demonstrate safe therapeutic handling skills continually assessing the frequently changing levels of risks involved.
• To provide advice / participate in multidisciplinary discussions regarding diagnosis and prognosis and to support the family through this process.
• To use clinical reasoning skills to prioritise, allocate and delegate cases to support staff.
• To provide planned advice, teaching and instruction to parents, carers and other relevant professionals in health, social and educational services to promote understanding of the aims of occupational therapy and to ensure a consistent, co-ordinated approach to optimise patient care.
• To assess for, trial and prescribe equipment for use in a variety of settings and to advise, instruct and educate carers / other professionals in the use of equipment, moving and handling techniques, postural management etc.
• To provide reports / information which are needed by other agencies to assist in decision making e.g. advice for Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP).
• To provide advice to health, social care and education colleagues in the overall management of the child in a range of community settings. This will include the preparation and presentation of reports at relevant case conferences / other meetings, under the guidance of a senior therapist.
• To work collaboratively with children, their carer\\\’s and multi-agency professionals to assist in the development of comprehensive support packages for children and their families living with disabling conditions. This will include review of service provision to accommodate changing clinical and / or social situations

Additional information

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is ideally situated just a forty five minute drive from Manchester. The Trust provides services to the 440,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and North Lancashire, as well as specialist tertiary care for Cardiac and Haematology patients.

The Trust operates in the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. It is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people. Blackpool is a coastal resort with attractions, parks and good rail connections; there are opportunities to live and work in this area.

If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this as part of your pre-employment checks. The cost may be reimbursed via salary deduction. DBS charges are Basic £25.50, Standard £25.50 and Enhanced £53.50. You may register for the DBS update service to avoid repeated disclosures (£16 annual fee). DBS checks remain free for volunteer positions. By submitting an application you agree to the DBS terms if appointed. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here. Please ensure you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this.

Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until the published closing date, though the post may close earlier for administrative reasons. In line with national NHS guidelines this Trust operates a strict non-smoking policy. Staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for smoking. The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.