Children's Specialist Occupational Therapist

Come and join us and be one of the friendly and supportive 300 Occupational Therapists (OTs) in CNWL. We work in many different teams in both physical and mental health, as well as a number of specialist areas. You could have a career for life with us and maintain your dual skills.

The Children's Integrated Therapies Service (CITS) is a multi-therapies service, embedded in a multi-disciplinary, community children's team. Centrally based within the Child Development Centre in Hillingdon, with services delivered from settings across the borough. This is a unique role with a split across our primary service and part role within Specialist Resource Provisions in the borough of Hillingdon.

The service is open to all children and young people aged 0-19 with a range of needs. We work along with our therapy colleagues and other agency partners to deliver a service which supports and promotes the health and development of children and young people who are experiencing barriers to participation everyday occupations. These children may experience barriers due to physical disability, social communication challenges or other specific developmental differences.

Pathways within the service ensure that MDT working is integral in the role and provides a whole systems approach for these families, supporting them to tell their story just once.

Job description

In this role as a member of the Childrens Integrated Therapies Service, you will be expected to be a competent Occupational Therapist who is able to autonomously deliver evidence based therapy to children and young people through full age ranges and across a variety of needs.

You will be part of a community team where your proven ability to work collaboratively with children, young people and their families will support their development and facilitate them in achieving their aspirations. This will include being part of an immediate Occupational Therapy team and working with a broad multidisciplinary team and other partner agencies - forming part of network of support around the child and their family.

Using evidence-based practise and specialist skills & knowledge, you will provide a range of assessments and interventions, developing and delivering clear, goal-focused care plans.

You will be expected to work autonomously across the community settings, working jointly with our partner services of Education and Social Care. Throughout your working you are required to maintain safeguarding of children and young people at all times.

Your proficient caseload management and attuned communication skills will enable you to coordinate and deliver therapy effectively and be an effective member of the team.

Your leaderships skills will enable you to engage in development and support of the team, through supervision, training and guidance to team and contribute to development of the service.

Person specification

Education and Qualification

Essential

• Recognised Occupational Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent
• Registered member of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Successful completion of post graduate specialist short courses

Desirable

• Attendance at relevant special interest group/ clinical excellence group
• Successful completion of post graduate qualification in Sensory Integration
• Registered Member of the British Association of Occupational Therapist & Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Good knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group.
• Good knowledge of range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to client group)
• Good knowledge of the principles of clinical governance including patient safety, quality, clinical audit and patient experience
• Good knowledge of the roles of other professionals across agencies
• Awareness of Care Quality Commission (CQC)
• Broad and deep knowledge of a range of assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group.

Desirable

• Experience of using Systmone as the electronic record
• Evidence of reflective clinical practise such as audits and CPD
• Experience of working in schools or education settings

Previous Experience

Essential

• Comprehensive experience and practice in Paediatric Occupational Therapy
• Experience in working as part of a team.

Experience of delivering training packages to patients, parents and carers and other professionals

Relevant specialist area experience post registration

Knowledge of (childrens) occupational therapy equipment and resources

Experience of working in community settings and autonomously as a lone practitioner

Experience of supervising students / more junior members of staff

Desirable

• Experience of service developments/project

Apptitudes, Attitudes and Personal Characteristics

Essential

• Evidence of being a pro-active and supportive team member.
• Good analytical and reflection skills.
• Good organisational skills and ability to prioritise and meet deadlines
• Embodies fairness, openness, honesty and kindness in all work engagement
• Good communication and interpersonal skills with professionals, children / young people and their families

Other

Essential

• Car owner and driver

About the employer

CNWL OT have a long-established professional structure and this includes an AHP director, Trust wide Professional Head of OT, borough and specialist Head OTs. This huge benefit ensures representation of our profession at all levels - both strategically and operationally.

Personal and professional development is a high priority for the profession and is underpinned by our OT R&D strategy, R&D specialist groups and OT clinical networks. This enables us to invest in the development of our staff by providing excellent internal training as well as commissioning specialised external training and providing quality supervision. This ensures all our OTs reach their full potential at every stage of their career. Our commitment to research, audit and evidence-based practice is made possible by our strong links with local universities.

We recognise that Band 6's are the backbone teams, supporting with leadership and managerial tasks within clinical teams and we will therefore support their development both clinically and managerially. You will have opportunities to supervise staff, be an educator, support management and have access to both internal and external training.