Occupational Therapist SEND in Colchester

To work within the SEND Occupational Therapy Service. To be responsible for providing specialist assessment, treatment and support for children and their families, with a wide range of complex needs within supervised practice. Undertaking this within the educational provision, while liaising with other professionals.

Main duties of the job

• To ensure a high standard of care for each child, working with all disciplines and agencies involved with that family.
• To communicate with these agencies, parents and children in an appropriate manner, often with sensitive information regarding diagnosis and outcomes.
• To maintain own clinical professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any trends and developments, incorporating this as necessary into your work.
• To be an active member of the in-service training programme, by attendance, contributing to and presenting at staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions, external courses and engaging in reflective practice.
• To keep up to date with developments within your field, disseminate information, and ensure that practice is based on best available evidence.
• To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and prepare own Personal Development Plans in conjunction with line manager.
• To maintain a portfolio which reflects Continuing Professional Development.
• To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and to apply to work situation, ensuring others do likewise.
• To undertake specific Child Protection training adhering to local and national Child Protection Procedures.
• To undertake all the provisions outlined in the section of the EHCP.

About us

Provide is a Community Interest Company (social enterprise). We deliver a broad range of health and social care services in the community, and are committed to making sure that they are safe, responsive and of high quality. Provide is owned by its employees and has primarily social objectives. Any profits we make are reinvested into the local community or back into delivering services.

We work from a variety of community settings, such as community hospitals, community clinics, schools, nursing homes and primary care settings, as well as within people’s homes to provide more than 40 services to children, families and adults across Essex, Dorset, East Anglia and the North of England.

A highly respected, award winning health and social care provider. We expect our staff to demonstrate and uphold our values at all times: Vision: Transforming Lives Values: Care, Innovation and Compassion Mission: An ambitious, employee owned social enterprise, growing in size and influence. We transform lives by treating, caring and educating people. Provide is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills, proud to have LGBT+, Ethnic Minority and Men’s Networks. We welcome applicants from underrepresented groups. If you have the skills and experience for the job, please apply regardless of your background.

Job responsibilities

• To teach all people involved with the child, handling and management skills as appropriate.
• To educate and train other healthcare and multi-agency partners in Paediatric Occupational Therapy management as required by the caseload.
• To provide specialist advice to multi-agency partners involved with the child/adolescent.
• To work in a variety of locations e.g. community clinics, homes, schools, nurseries in line with service requirements.
• To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of occupational therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to the child's care, including staff in an educational setting.
• This includes teaching parents/carers handling and management skills as appropriate.
• To contribute towards written reports/letters communicating assessment and treatment results to other partners involved in the management of children/adolescents on your caseload.
• To communicate effectively with the child/adolescent and their carers to maximise potential and to ensure understanding of their condition.
• Addressing physical, psychological and emotional barriers to effective communication will regularly be required.
• Senior occupational therapy colleagues will give guidance and support.
• To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with colleagues across health, education and social care sectors to ensure delivery of a coordinated multidisciplinary service.
• This will include case conferences, multi-disciplinary assessments and discharge planning.
• Senior occupational therapy staff will give guidance and support.
• To work towards being an autonomous practitioner, to be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of patients in your care with the support of the Team lead and Band 7 colleagues.
• Under supervision to provide advice for Statutory Assessment of Special Educational Needs under the guidance of Senior occupational therapist.
• To attend Child Protection Conferences and Core Group meetings as appropriate.
• Support will be given by Senior occupational therapy colleagues.
• Under supervision to assess the capacity of child/adolescent/carer to give valid, informed consent.
• To be able to work within a legal framework with children and parents for consent to treatment.
• To provide ongoing reports on area of work to senior occupational therapists and discuss recommendations for change.
• To decide priorities for own work area within supervision process, balancing patient-related and professional demands ensuring that these remain in accordance with departmental priorities.
• To be responsible for ensuring the effective selection and use of all treatment resources available.
• Guidance and support will be given by Senior occupational therapists.
• To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out therapeutic interventions.
• To adhere to departmental equipment policy, including ensuring safe and competent use by self and others through teaching, training and supervision of practice.
• To be aware of your own personal responsibility to comply with the Health and Safety policies of Provide, including undertaking mandatory training.
• To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures.
• To be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.
• To assist in the training of student occupational therapists.
• To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive electronic patient treatment records in line with RCOT and departmental Standards of Practice.
• To be involved in the collection of data and statistics for the use of the department responsibility for Patient Care.
• To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form effective intervention strategies.
• To use clinical judgement, investigate and analytical skills based on experience and knowledge, guided by professional standards and RCOT Codes of Practice.
• Supervision is regularly provided.
• To work towards taking clinical responsibility for a varied paediatric caseload and to organise this time effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.
• To ensure high standards of clinical care for the children and families under your management.
• To undertake the assessment of children/adolescents including those with a complex presentation using investigative and analytical skills together with senior colleagues.
• To formulate with parents/carers and the child/adolescent an individual occupational therapy management plan using clinical reasoning skills and utilising a wide range of treatment modalities.
• To assess children/adolescents for specialist equipment for postural control and to facilitate the provision of that equipment.
• To instruct those working with the child in the use of that equipment.
• Guidance and support will be provided by senior occupational therapy colleagues.
• To specify and request the provision of specialist aids and equipment e.g. postural chairs, orthoses ADL equipment.
• To participate in the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices, through the use of audit and outcome measures.
• To provide assessment and advice for the multi-disciplinary team to ensure a coordinated care programme and actively participate in MDT meetings as appropriate.

Person Specification

• Qualifications
• Paediatric experience
• Driving
• Holds a current driving license
• Own car
• 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.