Band 6 Specialist Occupational Therapist in Wallington

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.

Cognus Therapies is a thriving multidisciplinary team of occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, teachers, practitioners and therapy assistants who support children and young people aged 4‑25 years in mainstream schools, colleges, and specialist settings within the London Borough of Sutton and surrounding boroughs.

Main duties of the job

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.

About us

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).

Benefits

• Access to highly skilled clinical leads
• Access to a wide range of clinical resources
• Access to regular and supportive peer supervision
• Complete NQP competencies with highly skilled clinical supervisors
• RCOT and HCPC registrations paid

Job responsibilities

POSITION: Specialist Occupational Therapist
DIVISION: Cognus Therapies
BUSINESS UNIT: Cognus Occupational Therapy Service
REPORTS TO: Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist and Therapy Lead
RESPONSIBLE FOR: Overseeing and delivering provision for pupils with Occupational Therapy Needs in mainstream settings and/or Specialist SEN provisions/bases/POST‑16

Main duties

Working within a multidisciplinary team of Occupational Therapists and Speech Therapists the post holder will have the opportunity to work in local schools and colleges across the 4‑25 years age range or with a smaller age range within this. 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.
• Appropriately identifying service provision in line with child and young person’s 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

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.
• Gathering relevant information regarding previous and current input from health and social care services at the point of referral.
• 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 people’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.
• Recommend or provide advice on provision of equipment and take responsibility for demonstrating its usage and training clients/carers.
• Undertake risk assessment in complex moving and handling situations where appropriate (i.e. provision of equipment identified for the school environment).
• 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.
• Promote 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

• 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.
• Participate in clinical audit, service development activities and research programmes as required.
• Contribute to formulating policies for specialist area and proposals for general service changes.
• As part of the therapies team plan, deliver and evaluate training sessions for schools and educational providers.
• Engage in continual professional development as identified through managerial and clinical supervision and appraisal, including attending training and courses as agreed.
• 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.
• Liaising 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

• Health and safety
• Safeguarding and protection of children
• Equal opportunities and management of diversity
• Data protection
• Outstanding customer care

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Relevant qualifications including registration with HCPC

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to prioritise and deliver results to high standards
• Excellent organisational 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

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Contract

Permanent