Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist (Adaptations) p/t

To be responsible for provision of highly specialist assessment, treatment and management of children and young people, aged 0-19 years, who present with a wide variety of conditions; these will include chronic, complex, behaviours that challenge, disabling and life limiting conditions, who require adaptations to the home environment. 18 months relevant experience at Band 6 level or equivalent is essential for this post. This is a part-time role 21.3 hours per week.

To provide assessment and recommendations with regards to safety in the home environment. To work with the Team Leader and occupational therapy Service Lead to ensure efficient and effective operation of the paediatric occupational therapy service. To provide support, advice, guidance and information to children and young people, their parents/carers and professionals regarding occupational therapy management. To work in the community as a lone practitioner in line with the Trust's lone worker policy.

Main duties of the job

• To demonstrate sound knowledge and skills in the field of housing adaptations.
• To educate and train other healthcare and multi-agency professionals and occupational therapy students in this specialist field of adaptations.
• To participate in the occupational therapy management of complex paediatric cases within a multi-disciplinary team setting, providing guidance and support to junior members of the team.
• To provide assessment for and provision of equipment and adaptations for children with complex needs within a community setting and to provide support for other practitioners in this area of work.

Job responsibilities

• To take clinical responsibility for the management of a specific paediatric caseload; to assess and review level of need and to organise this efficiently and effectively regarding clinical priorities and available resources.
• To undertake skilled assessment of the needs of children and/or young people with complex needs requiring housing adaptations.
• To provide specialist occupational therapy advice in the process of housing adaptations to other professionals including architects, housing officers and colleagues in social care.
• To explain and discuss treatment options and develop an agreed individualised, outcome-focused treatment plan with the child or young person and their parent/carers using excellent clinical knowledge and sound clinical reasoning skills.
• To discuss prognosis with child or young person and their parent/carers and develop negotiated person-centred goals.
• To assess patient and parent/carer understanding of treatment proposals and methods, gaining valid informed consent from appropriate person(s) taking into account factors such as age, mental capacity, parental responsibility etc.
• To continually assess and manage clinical risk within patient caseload.
• To demonstrate safe therapeutic manual handling skills continually assessing the frequently changing levels of risks involved.
• To prescribe specialist moving & handling equipment, demonstrate its safe use to carers, providing training where required and completing relevant risk assessment documentation.
• To assess for, trial and prescribe, specialist, non-stock items of equipment from specialist suppliers.
• To provide planned specialist 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, coordinated approach to optimise patient care.
• To act as a consultant for the paediatric occupational therapy service regarding housing adaptations, particularly working closely with the child's therapist.
• To provide advice for Education, Health & Care Plans and child specific advice for Educational Manual Handling Risk Assessment.
• To provide specialist advice and peer support to health, social care and educational colleagues in the overall management of the child presenting with complex problems in a range of community settings.
• To work collaboratively with multi-agency professionals to develop comprehensive support packages for children and their families living with complex disabling conditions and to ensure that occupational therapy aims are included within the integrated care plan.
• To delegate tasks to occupational therapy assistants, ensuring that the assistants have the competencies required to undertake these tasks.
• To participate in the training of occupational therapy assistants and students within the department.
• To promote evidence-based practice within the occupational therapy team by challenging and supporting all occupational therapy practitioners to access up-to-date information regarding clinical conditions, therapy approaches etc.
• To represent the occupational therapy team when requested by the Service Lead, Team Leader or more senior managers.
• To provide clinical support to more junior members of the paediatric occupational therapy team.

Person Specification

Education and Qualification

• Graduate Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy
• Member of HCPC
• Evidence of Post Graduate development
• Evidence of leadership

Skills and Ability

• Sound knowledge of current best practice.
• Understanding of professional conduct and confidentiality.
• Sound understanding of the requirements of clinical governance.
• Experience of research, audit, reflective practice or outcome measures.
• Sound understanding of relevant legislation, eligibility criteria/policies and procedures relating to children.
• Maintenance of a comprehensive portfolio of evidence of CPD.
• Post graduate training related to relevant clinical areas.
• Ability to relate theory to clinical situations.
• Clinical planning and organizational skills.
• Demonstrable knowledge of a wide range of paediatric therapy assessment and intervention, including equipment.
• Knowledge and practical experience of manual handling skills.
• Able to use own initiative.
• Ability to work under pressure and recognise when support is required.
• Ability to lead in a given situation.
• Car owner/driver.

Experience & Knowledge

• Extensive general post graduate occupational therapy experience in relevant settings including experience within paediatrics.
• 18 months relevant experience at band 6 level or equivalent.
• Recent experience of working within community settings.
• Experience of supervising junior and support staff.
• Experience of educating and supporting student occupational therapists.
• Experience of delivering training to colleagues in health/social care and/or other agencies.
• Experience of working with major adaptations.

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.