Job summary
We are seeking a highly motivated and flexible Occupational Therapist to join our team to provide a community service to children in Bexley between the ages of 0-19 years. The caseload will include children and young people with a range of conditions to include Sensory, neurodivergence, complex neurological conditions, DCD, fine motor groups and mainstream and special schools.
Services are provided across health, education and community care settings. This includes seeing children in their own home, school, in the Child Development Centre and Special schools. We aim to maximise the potential of children with a wide range of disabilities and conditions.
We are a proactive and supportive team and you will receive regular supervisions and opportunities for external training as appropriate. You will also support and supervise staff and students.
You will be responsible for working within clinical governance guidelines and in line with national and local policies and procedures. You will demonstrate an ability to comply with Professional guidelines for practice and be registered to practice with the Health Professions council (HCPC) with evidence of ongoing professional development (CPD).
An awareness of the national trends in child and family services would be to your advantage.
Main duties of the job
You will be working within a proactive, dynamic and supportive team to:
1. Deliver a specialist children's occupational therapy service in the community of Bexley
2. Independently manage a varied caseload across all areas of children's occupational therapy
3. Assess the functional needs of children and young people (CYP) in order to develop and implement specialist children's occupational therapy treatment and intervention
4. Assess and treat across all areas, demonstrating a high level of problem solving, reasoning skills and judgement.
5. Provide advice and education to others regarding the management and care of children across the service
6. Liaise with all professionals in the multidisciplinary team, in the best interests if the child or young person.
7. Support to the team for service development
About us
Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. 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 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.
We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, 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:
8. We're Kind
9. We're
10. We Listen
11. We Care
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please See Attached Job Description for Full Details
The post will involve providing specialist occupational therapy intervention to children 0-19. The caseload will include children and young people with a range of conditions to include Sensory, neurodivergence, complex neurological conditions, DCD, fine motor groups and mainstream and special schools.
You will be working as part of a team delivering, assessments, interventions, group sessions and liaison within education settings.
Services are provided across health, education and community care settings. This includes seeing children in their own home, school, in the Child Development Centre and Special schools. We aim to maximise the potential of children with a wide range of disabilities and conditions through the development of comprehensive care plans.
There will be a high standard of occupational therapy assessment, treatment and advice to children and their carers/families, working as an autonomous practitioner with responsibility for own case load and working without direct supervision.
The post holder will be required to delegate work to assistant staff, within the Occupational Therapy team
You will be expected to support the team in evidence-based audit and research projects to further your own and teams clinical practice, making recommendations to the clinical lead and, when appropriate, leading the implementation of specific changes to practice or contributing to service protocols.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
12. Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy
13. State Registration
Desirable
14. Membership of special interest group relating to Paediatrics
15. Membership of professional body - Royal College of Occupational Therapy
Experience
Essential
16. Relevant experience at undergraduate/postgraduate level, 2 years minimum post registration
17. Relevant specialist experience in paediatrics, post qualification
Desirable
18. Experience working with children in Special Schools or with complex needs
19. Experience working with children with DCD and or with fine motor skills
20. Experience working with neurodivergence
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
21. Knowledge of OT process and knowledge of OT assessments and interventions relevant to clinical area
22. Ability to work autonomously, set own priorities and manage time effectively
23. Core Occupational Therapy skills obtained in a Band 5 Role or equivalent
24. Evidence of caseload management
25. Ability to be clear and concise when documenting information
26. Evidence of time management and prioritisation
Desirable
27. Wide range of knowledge of paediatric assessments and interventions
28. NHS Experience
29. Experience of working in the Community
30. Experience of working with children in any area (not necessarily health care)
31. Experience of working with children in an education setting
Other
Essential
32. Commitment to client-centred non-discriminatory practise