Team Lead Occupational Therapist – Paediatrics

• To provide high quality occupational therapy assessments and treatments independently managing a caseload of patients and ensuring an excellent standard of clinical care.
• To provide expert advice, guidance, and information to patients, carers, schools and other health care professionals.
• To work with patients and families to agree the best course of occupational therapy management and to develop patient centred discharge plans in conjunction with the MDT.
• To facilitate effective and timely management of patients at various stages of the cancer trajectory.
• To understand and apply national guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care, occupational therapy practice and the care of paediatric patients.
• To work with the MDT to incorporate and contribute to the evidence base for this clinical specialty.
• To be jointly responsible for co-ordination, delivery, evaluation, and development of the Inpatient Paediatric Therapy Team at UCLH, with the Team Lead Physiotherapist.
• To ensure effective induction, supervision/appraisal and training of qualified and non-qualified (support staff and students) within the Inpatient Paediatric Therapy Team.
• To maintain high professional standards, continuously promoting and developing the occupational therapy profession.
• To be responsible for your own professional development.

Essential

• Degree or Diploma in occupational therapy
• State registered Occupational Therapist (HCPC)
• Evidence of relevant post-graduate courses and CPD
• Good written and spoken English

Essential

• Significant experience as an Occupational Therapist at Band 6 level or above.
• Post-graduate experience working as a paediatric Occupational Therapist at band 6 level or above.
• Post-graduate experience in a wide range of paediatric specialities including orthopaedics, neurology, and developmental.
• Highly specialist knowledge and experience of a wide range of approaches to the management of complex occupational therapy needs.
• Evidence of working independently and to take full responsibility for clinical care of patients
• Experience of audit or service evaluation or development
• Ability and willingness to work within the Trust and NHS performance, framework, and targets
• Previous experience of formal presentations to MDT groups.

Desirable

• Post-graduate experience in paediatric and/or adult oncology/haematology.
• Post-graduate experience working with radiotherapy patients
• Experience of working across acute and community services.
• Experience leading a team.
• Experience of research
• Clinical experience working with children and young adults with life-limiting conditions

Essential

• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team
• A creative, problem solving and flexible approach to work
• Caring attitude towards patients and their families/carers
• Competent in use of IT programmes: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, internet, e-mail and databases
• Commitment to Continuing Professional Development and the requirements of Clinical Governance

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with patient and families, MDT members and other internal and external agencies in person, over the phone and in writing

Essential

• Experience of supervising Occupational Therapy staff, support staff and students. Experience of appraisal
• Clinical leadership ability
• Experience of team building and team working skills
• Experience of teaching clinical skills to student Occupational Therapists and undergraduates
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Ability to recognise work related stress and pressures in yourself and others