Highly Specialist Children's Occupational Therapist

• The post holder will work with children with a variety of needs and all ages from pre-school to secondary school. This provides an excellent opportunity to assess and treat children across their school years and build on clinical practice and expertise.
• The post holder will work closely with the Special Needs Assessment Section for Wandsworth Council, supporting the Education, Health and Care Plan assessment process.
• The post holder will represent Wandsworth Council at SEND First tier Tribunals.
• The service follow evidence based practice models and development opportunities are available. The post holder will be provided with high quality training and development opportunities, flexible working to enable a good work-life balance, an inclusive and friendly work environment and access to a comprehensive staff health and wellbeing programme.
• The post holder will be based with the Community Children's Occupational Therapy team and will access supervision, in-service training and other development opportunities as part of the appraisal process.
• We offer flexible working patterns and a current hybrid model between office based work and home working.
• We are a supportive team and offer regular supervision and personal development opportunities.
• We encourage and support staff to complete regular training and help you to further develop leadership, generic and Occupational Therapy professional skills including having student practice placements.

Desirable

• Member for Royal College of Occupational Therapies.
• Member of Specialist interest groups.
• Member of CYPF.
• Member of BAOT.
• Relevant Masters degree or equivalent post graduate training.

Essential

• S1. Ability to independently manage a complex caseload & to reflect on clinical practice & experience
• S2. Ability to solve complex problems & take appropriate decisions.
• S3. Ability to communicate clearly with others using effective listening skills, non-verbal communication and establishing an easy rapport.
• S4. Flexibility - able to adapt to different demands & situations and the ability to work under pressure.
• S5. Ability to prioritise & organise workload & time.
• S6. Ability to write concise, legible notes & reports.
• S7. Good presentation skills.
• S8. Demonstrating some degree of postgraduate training.

Essential

• 1.Significant experience in working with children leading to a sound understanding of NHS policies & procedures.
• 2.Extensive experience in working with children who has SEND.
• 3.Extensive experience in working with children who has a diagnosis of CP, DCD and GDD.
• 4.Extensive knowledge of child development, neuro-developmental stages and the role of occupation in childhood.
• 5.Excellent understanding of principles of postural management and experience in prescribing children's specialist equipment for seating and bathing.
• 7.Good knowledge and understanding of the legislative framework surrounding children in the UK particularly relating to SEND.
• 8.Experience with writing EHCNAs, annual review reports.
• 9.Experience using of a wide range of standardised assessments & clinical observations.
• 10.Ability to demonstrate Trust Values.

Desirable

• 3.Good experience of planning & running groups with children.
• 5.Experience of representing the OT service at Tier 1 Tribunals.
• 6.Experience of working in UK mainstream schools & nurseries with children with OT needs.
• 7.Experience in using a Trauma informed approach.
• 8.Experience in using a CO-OP approach.
• 9.Experience using sensory integration approaches.
• 10.Experience in working with infants who has complex needs.

Essential

• K1. Understanding & knowledge of up to date information relating to children with Physical Disabilities, Autism, Developmental Co-ordination Disorder and other related disorders affecting participation in everyday activities.
• K2. Good understanding of the range of physical & developmental disabilities which can occur with children and the role of the OT in this area.
• K3. Good knowledge and understanding of the SEND reforms.