Our team currently has an exciting role available to work within our Special Schools Team.

These are exciting opportunities for an OT looking to continue their career working with children.

You will have the opportunity to work in a supportive, friendly team and working environment. No two days will be the same as you work with children with variety of needs. You will gain satisfaction through working with children to help them reach their goals.

This is an ideal post for someone looking to further develop their skills and knowledge working with children and who has an interest in working with children in special schools with more complex needs.

Main duties of the job

Main job duties:

To provide specialist Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention to children in our Special Schools team (though may be asked to support children aged 0 - 18 years), within the borough of Greenwich, and act as a resource for their families and carers across all settings.

To liaise closely with other services and agencies to provide a smooth coordinated service based on best practice

To participate in service development and provide information on issues pertaining to specialist area on a regular basis

To provide training and advice for families and carers across all settings on issues pertaining to Children's Occupational Therapy

About us

Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people living in South East London and Kent and to people in prison. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,000 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, children's centres, schools and people's homes. We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations across the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent and manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital in Woolwich as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are one of the largest providers of prison health services providing healthcare to prisoners across Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people

Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:

• We're Kind
• We're Fair
• We Listen
• We Care

Job description Job responsibilities
Main duties of the job

The main duties of the job include:

• To provide specialist Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention to children mainly in our Special Schools Team, though may be asked to support children aged 0 - 18 years) within the borough of Greenwich, and act as a resource for their families and carers across all settings.
• To liaise closely with other services and agencies to provide a smooth coordinated service based on best practice
• To participate in service development and provide information on issues pertaining to specialist area on a regular basis
• To provide training and advice for families and carers across all settings on issues pertaining to Children's Occupational Therapy

Job responsibilities
Key Task and Responsibilities

Patient/client care

• To perform a Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapy role in the community, with children who have complex difficulties with Occupational Performance due to physical, sensory, perceptual or developmental disability.
• To assess the functional needs of patients in order to develop and implement Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapy treatment.
• To independently manage a defined caseload of complex cases with evidence of a high level of problem solving, reasoning skills and judgement.
• To write reports and programmes reflecting specialist knowledge.
• To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of patients/clients who have difficulties with Occupational performance due to physical, sensory, perceptual or developmental disability.
• To monitor, evaluate and modify intervention in consultation with Clinical Service Manager, to ensure the effectiveness of case management.
• To adapt practice to meet individual patient circumstance, giving due regard to cultural differences and diversity.
• To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex case management and implement strategies for caseload management.
• To progress an intervention to a satisfactory closure, evaluating outcomes and engaging clients/carers in the decision making process, timeframe and review process.

Policy/service development/implementation

• Awareness and compliance with service/team plans, professional standards and trust policies, ensuring ability to remain up to date with revisions.
• To actively participate in the development of policies and protocols in the service area with support from the clinical team manager

Financial and physical resources

• To be responsible for the security and care of departmental equipment, ensuring compliance with procedures for infection control, safe handling and storage.
• To identify unmet need and gaps in service provision to highlight these to the appropriate manager or organisation

Human resources

• To participate in student placements as appropriate with support from the Student Placement coordinator.
• To supervise and assist the implementation of individual therapy programmes carried out by junior staff and assistants as appropriate
• To participate in specialist training in area of clinical expertise as appropriate

Information resources

• To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with trust policies and College of Occupational Therapy professional standards
• To prepare time bound reports for Statutory Assessment of Special Education need in compliance with the 1993 Education Act, as required by the Clinical Team Manager
• To share information with others observing guidelines related to Confidentiality, Data Protection, Caldicott and the College of Occupational Therapy professional guidelines
• To be aware of local, regional and national trends/initiatives and assist with the setting of priorities and targets to respond to these at a local level as appropriate

Research and development

• Participates in clinical governance/audit projects within service area
• Participates and assists the department in the development of information regarding risk management, quality standards and clinical effectiveness as appropriate.

Freedom to act

• Works independently and in line with the supervision structure including Personal Performance review and 360 feedback project
• Recognises own professional boundaries and seeks advice and support as necessary
• Accountable for own professional actions

Communication and relationship skills

• To use reasoning, communication and negotiation skills to establish a therapeutic relationship in complex cases, managing barriers to communication.
• Participate in the promotion of reflective practice and use of reflective diaries in own practice and with peer groups as a strategy for developing clinical effectiveness
• To seek opinion from other relevant professionals to inform analysis and reasoning where appropriate
• To make recommendations for Special Educational needs in line with the 1993 Education Act, in consultation with Clinical Team Manager where appropriate
• To liaise with other agencies identifying need for referral to those agencies where appropriate
• To demonstrate and instruct patients/carers and education staff in the implementation of therapy programmes and correct use of specialist equipment including those for seating, bathing, toileting and for upper limb orthotics
• To communicate complex condition related information from an Occupational Therapy perspective to patients/carers demonstrating empathy and an understanding of sensitivity of the information, to optimise the patients care and promote their functional abilities
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• To effectively communicate with children who have special needs and motivate active participation in the therapeutic process, demonstrating respect for diversity
• To deal with initial complaints sensitively and avoid escalation where possible

Knowledge, training and experience

• Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy recognised for registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC)
• To ensure registration is maintained with the Health Professions Council (HPC)
• Minimum of 2 years post graduate experience as an Occupational Therapist to include paediatric experience. Evidence of attendance to relevant Paediatric courses. This to include understanding of current evidenced based practice
• To comply with the College of Occupational Therapy code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
• To maintain and develop professional knowledge and be conversant with professional developments, evidencing critical appraisal skills and Continuing Professional Development including a sound understanding of Clinical Governance
• Demonstrates ongoing personal and professional development through participation in internal, external and mandatory development opportunities, maintaining a record/portfolio of Continuing Professional Development
• To identify and select with clients/carers the most appropriate intervention options which balance the complex interaction of risk, safety, client choice, independence, areas of conflict, eligibility for services and cost effectiveness
• Able to use a range of specialist, standardised and non-standardised assessment tools to inform clinical judgment, reasoning and clinical decision making
• To comply with their responsibilities in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure a safe environment is maintained for patients, visitors and employees

Analytical and judgemental skills

• To perform functional/occupational analysis and risk evaluation leading to the formulation of intervention plans which provide strategies to support the potential for personal independence for children who have a disability and/or chronic condition
• To reflect and review own practise with peers, identify development needs and adapt performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal framework where necessary

Planning and organisational skills

• To comply and remain up to date with all legislation and organisational policies and procedures related to the Occupational Therapy practice environment
• To ensure that services are provided in accordance with the Trusts standards and guidelines and quality assurance and that they are consistent with best professional practice, seeking guidance where necessary, seeking guidance where necessary
• To actively influence service improvements
• To manage own workload, time management and transport needs in line with Trust and departmental guidelines
• To undertake any appropriate additional duties as required by the Clinical Service manager

Person Specification Training and Qualifications Essential

• Degree in OT
• HCPC Registration

Experience Essential

• Minimum 2 years post registration experience, with post-qualifying clinical experience in peadiatrics

Desirable

• Experience working with Children in Special Schools or with complex needs

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• Knowledge of OT Process and knowledge of OT assessments and interventions relevant to clinical area.
• Ability to work autonomously, set own priorities and manage time effectively

Desirable

• Wide range of knowledge of paediatrics assessments and interventions

Other Essential

• Commitment to client-centred, non-discriminatory practice.

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

277-4293814-CYP-ADD-A