Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist

As a Band 7 Occupational Therapist within the innovative Experts

at Hand service, you will provide senior clinical leadership and expert

occupational therapy advice to help schools develop the knowledge, skills and

confidence to support children and young people with occupational performance,

participation and independence needs.

You will lead the development and delivery of engaging

whole-school training, consultation and coaching, enabling education staff to embed

inclusive occupational therapy approaches and deliver appropriate targeted, evidence-based

interventions. You will also provide clinical supervision and guidance to

colleagues involved in the service.

You will lead drop-in consultation sessions within schools, supporting

staff to identify occupational needs early, agree appropriate strategies and

navigate pathways so children receive support at a universal, targeted or

specialist level. Working collaboratively with education staff, families and

partner agencies, you will promote inclusive environments, embed practical approaches

into everyday routines and contribute to sustainable support across school

communities.

You will lead the evaluation and continuous improvement of

the service by monitoring outcomes, analysing impact and using feedback and

performance information to demonstrate how the Experts at Hand model improves

staff confidence, inclusive practice and outcomes for children and young

people.

provide clinical leadership for staff in the specialist area, including

supporting across Bridgewater when required. To work in conjunction with other

specialists in OT, PT and SLT in developing services.

When required for service needs

and in conjunction with team leader, to lead service development / policy

development in specialist area.

To act as a source

of expertise and demonstrate advanced knowledge skills and experience in the

management of complex caseloads including managing own designated caseload and

supervising caseload of band 6 and 5 and Assistant OTs

To provide education, training, monitoring to carers,

relatives, junior grade staff, assistants, occupational therapy students,

health / social care and education colleagues as required.

To provide

supervision, mentorship, training, emotional support and support for colleagues

and newly qualified therapists and assistants as per professional guidance

To manage a highly

specialist complex caseload, within an inter-disciplinary / multi-agency

setting, acting as an autonomous professional and lone worker in the community

To support less

experienced staff in supporting complex cases ensuring they deliver high

quality interventions.

To ensure

that clients / parents / teachers are involved in the planning and

implementation of treatment programmes.

Take the lead role

in the day-to-day clinical management and development of the highly specialist

area for the service, working as a lone practitioner with a high degree of

autonomy and clinical freedom.

To determine

clinical diagnosis and Occupational Therapy treatment plan indicated, based on

highly specialist skills and knowledge, measuring and evaluating outcomes.

To maintain clinical

records as an autonomous practitioner

To promote and provide best practice via highly specialised

assessment and treatment using a variety of principals and techniques as

appropriate for children with a variety of complex needs (including chronic,

disabling and life limiting conditions) working in collaboration with the

child, family and carers / involved agencies

To assess a childs

occupational therapy needs using complex and advanced clinical reasoning and

provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to their

social and physical environment.

To work as an

autonomous practitioner being professionally and legally responsible and

accountable for all aspects of your own work.

To accept clinical

responsibility for a highly specialist caseload ensuring a high standard of

clinical care, organising work in line with identified service priorities,

clinical priorities, and managing own time.

To contribute to

accurate clinical diagnosis as part of a childs overall assessment and assist

in the breaking / Sharing the News process for families with other

inter-disciplinary members of the child and family services team.

To identify

Occupational Therapy goals and priorities as part of a childs overall care

plan using highly specialised assessment tools and advanced level treatment

interventions, in collaboration with clients, carers and involved agencies /

professionals.

To develop

multi-agency working with health colleagues and partner agencies e.g. Social

Services and the Local Education Authority.

contribute to legal documents such as Education Health and Care Plans and

Annual Reviews, as appropriate

To deal

with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible, in

line with trust policy

To plan and

implement client centred individual and/or group interventions, evaluating

treatment to measure progress, outcomes and ensure clinical effectiveness.

To deliver highly

specialist Occupational Therapy services in a variety of community settings

i.e. child development centre, nurseries, mainstream/special schools, childs

own home or elsewhere, as appropriate.

To carry out highly

specialist assessments and interventions, e.g. orthotics independently or

jointly with other health or partner agency colleagues, as appropriate.

To attend case

conferences, reviews and meetings as required by clinical or managerial

responsibility.

To assist in the

transition planning process at various stages of a childs life as required by

clinical responsibility and in collaboration with appropriate agencies.

To maintain

communication networks with clients, carers, other health colleagues and

partner agencies.

To remain aware of

and up to date with legislation and policies affecting Occupational Therapy and

childrens service practice and plan for the effects on designated service

area.

Analyse and

interpret complex assessment information in order to develop specialist

interventions, ensuring advanced levels of treatment are provided, outcomes are

recorded and evaluated to determine clinical effectiveness.

To provide, highly

specialist Occupational Therapy reports relevant to the practice setting.

To maintain up to

date written/electronic records and statistical data, documenting /registering

these in line with professional and local requirements.

To represent the

Trust externally (locally and regionally) regarding Occupational Therapy

services provided to patients in the community.

To demonstrate

highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory skills to enable

accurate assessment of patient condition and deliver effective treatment.

To provide highly

specialist advice to other members of the MDT regarding the Occupational

Therapy management of patients with complex problems to ensure holistic care.

To represent at health panels where required

To be responsible

for under-graduate Occupational Therapy students and the assessment of their

clinical practice (physical and theoretical) to ensure that it is of degree

standard in the assessment and training that they undertake.

To assess capacity,

gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal

framework regarding consent to treatment.

To have highly

developed knowledge and be competent in the administration and interpretation

of standardised clinical assessment tools to diagnose level of function and

cognitive performance.

To assess for,

prescribe and authorise requests for minor adaptations for the patients home /

school environment, and specialist equipment, balancing the complex

interactions of functional need, independence, risk, safety, patient choice,

areas of conflict, eligibility and cost effectiveness.

To routinely handle patients with unpredictable movements,

providing physical support and ensuring safety.

Daily moving and handling of patients and equipment including frequent

changing of positions from standing to sitting/crawling whilst facilitating the

patient to do such.

discharge appropriately agreeing a point of closure with the parents and child

and informing other professionals as appropriate.

Responsibility for Client Care and Contact with

To work

within infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal

appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to client contact as they

arise: for example exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions, encountered

on a regular basis.

Please see attached full job description.

Flexible working will be considered for all roles.

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM) serves more than one million residents across the Halton and Warrington boroughs and the wider North West region.

Bringing together community and out-of-hospital services (formerly provided by Bridgewater Community Healthcare) with inpatient and elective care (formerly Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals) we provide services at two hospital sites and more than 70 community hubs and facilities.

Our mission, vision and values are at the heart of North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM).

They underpin everything we do and everything we aspire to be as an organisation.

Our mission

We will be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other

Our vision

We will be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn

Our values

Qualifications

Desirable: - Membership of Occupational Therapy specialist interest group relevant Special Interest Groups.; - Computer Skills

Experience

Desirable: - Leadership/supervisory management training; - Research experience

Job Specific Requirements

Desirable: - Membership of Professional body; - Membership of Occupational therapy special interest group.

Relationships

Essential: - If you are related to a director or have a relationship with a director or employee of an appointing organisation, please state the relationship.

Skills and Knowledge

Right to Work