Specialist Occupational Therapist in London

We are currently expanding the size of our therapies team by recruiting occupational therapists to support the rise of statutory occupational therapy provision across the London Borough of Sutton. In addition to this, we are looking to increase the number of permanent staff within our team.

We are seeking enthusiastic occupational therapists to join our friendly and supportive team. Collaborative working is an important part of the role. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic team providing innovative therapy interventions following evidence-based practice and an embedded model of therapy in order to best support the pupils' needs.

Responsibilities

• Advising and supporting a range of schools/settings with children and young people with Occupational Therapy Needs (OT Needs) including a possible cohort with ASD, or PMLD to manage their caseload to ensure that intended outcomes are delivered within agreed service standards.
• Raising awareness of the needs of and strategies available for children and young people with OT Needs.

Principal Accountabilities

• To personally undertake a case load of referrals to include: Visiting and assessing children and young people with OT Needs.
• To appropriately identify service provision in line with child and young persons' needs at specialist, targeted or universal level of support.
• Delivery of specialist programmes on an individual and/or small group basis.
• Advice and treatment for children and young people with functional difficulties and sensory processing needs.
• Offering advice to parents and carers as well as teaching staff at a targeted or universal level.
• Maintaining children/young people's records to a high standard.

Specific Duties

• To advise and support school staff on the education of children and young people with OT Needs including:
• Screening and Assessment: Screening and prioritising new referrals in order to determine the need and level of occupational therapy provision required in line with service criteria.
• At the point of referral gathering relevant information regarding previous and current input from health and social care services.
• Carrying out a range of non-standardised and standardised assessments and interpreting a range of factors relating to the child or young person's condition; focusing on access to education.
• Providing reports to referrers and other agencies involved in the child/young person's care.
• Contributing to professional advice regarding the statutory assessment and annual review process both in Sutton and in out-of-borough settings if necessary.
• Treatment and Provision: Plan, create and deliver a wide range of tailored interventions and/or therapy programmes where direct OT input is indicated and effectively hand over prescribed programmes through training and modelling with teaching staff, parents and carers.
• To recommend, provide or advise on provision of equipment and take responsibility for demonstrating its usage and training clients/carers.
• To undertake risk assessment in complex moving and handling situations where appropriate i.e. provision of equipment identified for the school environment.
• To monitor and record child or young person's progress and effectiveness of intervention through goal setting, outcome measurement and evaluation of practice and to communicate these as required to key stakeholders.
• To liaise and establish communication networks with the multidisciplinary team, external voluntary and statutory organisations as appropriate in planning for child or young person's treatment.
• Promotion of effective inclusion of children and young people into all aspects of the school curriculum.
• Maintain effective liaison with all partners e.g., parents, professionals in Education, Health, Social Care and other Services with particular regard to Safeguarding and best practice.
• Promote robust transition arrangements for pupils with Occupational Therapy needs including: Collaboration with a range of partner agencies to create effective transition support for specific children and young people.

Education and Development Responsibility

• To be aware of changing trends in treatment and promote Evidence Based Practice; embedding this into own specialist area of work in order to provide the highest standard of care to service users.
• To participate in clinical audit, service development activities and research programmes as required.
• To contribute to formulating policies for specialist area and proposals for general service changes.
• As part of the therapies team to plan, deliver and evaluate training sessions for schools and educational providers.
• To engage with continual professional development as identified through managerial and clinical supervision and appraisal, including attending training and courses as agreed.
• To comply with the Cognus Limited mandatory training requirements.
• To contribute to collaborative working between all specialist SEN teams by attending and contributing to Team meetings.
• Identifying needs and seeking advice within the framework of specialist teams and wider agencies as appropriate.
• Liaison with parents/carers and schools to find collaborative strategies to overcome barriers to learning and attend multi-agency meetings as required.
• Embedding legislative change and key developments relating to improved outcomes for children and young people with Occupational Therapy Needs.

Generic Objectives

• Contribute to Cognus Limited's business objectives at the appropriate level by ensuring every child matters and has access to education and learning opportunities, including:
• Health and safety
• Safeguarding and protection of children
• Equal opportunities and management of diversity

All applicants must hold current registrations with the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC) and be a member of The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).

Qualifications and Skills

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Relevant qualifications including registration with HCPC
• Ability to prioritise and deliver results to high standards
• Excellent organisational skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Leads others by setting a positive example in line with company values and acts as a role model
• Experience as a paediatric occupational therapist
• Adherence to RCOT and HCPC policies and procedures
• Is decisive with problem-solving skills
• Is committed to safeguarding and protection of children
• Honours and upholds the Company’s Equal Opportunity Policy, Dignity at Work Policy, Safeguarding and Protection of Children, Health and Safety and Data Protection Policy at all times.

Additional Information

Cognus Therapies is owned by the London Borough of Sutton and forms part of Cognus Limited who are the providers for special educational needs services within the borough. Cognus Therapies provides a robust supervision framework with all posts receiving Managerial and Clinical Supervision. Regular time is allocated for Professional Development. All applicants are required to hold a registration with the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC) and the Royal College of Occupational Therapy (RCOT).

GRADE/PAY - £44,660.21 to £53,046.29 (1 FTE) per annum inclusive of High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) or pro rata for term time plus additional weeks.