HealthJobsUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

 To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of caseload. To ensure a high standard of clinical care (for the patients under your management). In order to maximise function and independence.

To demonstrate the ability to carry out occupational assessment and interventions supporting children with neuro-disability and neuro-developmental problems, including those with ASD, ADHD, DCD, assessing specific motor, perceptual and sensory difficulties.

To carry out assessment of patients as an autonomous practitioner, including those with complex presentations, using clinical reasoning skills, knowledge of evidence based practice and expertise to determine appropriate care plans utilising specialist paediatric standardised assessments and a wide range of treatment options.

To contribute to accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive management plans, formulation of individual treatment plans, setting clear goals and outcomes in conjunction with families and children guided by clearly defined principles or occupational therapy guidelines.

To refer to other healthcare professionals and agencies in line with departmental policy, as part of the overall management of the child to ensure holistic care.

To continually reassess patients and adjust treatment plans accordingly in order to progress treatments effectively.

To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and time management.

To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other health care professionals and agencies, to promote understanding of the aims of occupational therapy, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.

To provide advice, teaching and training to other members of the multiagency team regarding the occupational therapy management of patients.

To communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of condition and implication of management where there may be barriers to understanding.

To communicate with children of all ages who have a range of physical and psychological barriers to understanding. Verbal and non-verbal communication skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation, and gaining informed consent are used with a variety of patients, parents and carers.

To gain valid informed consent in accordance with trust policy and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To provide specialist paediatric advice to occupational therapy colleagues working in other trusts.

Supervise and educate less experienced members of occupational therapy staff, technical instructors, occupational therapy assistants and students, and provide support to peers.

To manage clinical risk within own caseload and to contribute to that of designated team at all times.

To be responsible for maintenance of accurate written records and supervision of team record keeping, in accordance with the Royal College of Occupational Therapy (RCOT) standards of practice. To compile progress and discharge reports, and to assist senior members of staff with legal and disability reports to multi-agencies and carers as appropriate.

Analyse and understand the impact on the child and family of various treatment plans/diagnosis from other disciplines.

To assess children for specialist equipment and recommend its purchase and to be responsible for the safe use and maintenance in homes and schools, in accordance with departmental protocol.

Professional

To act in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct and Standards of practice set by the Royal College of Occupational therapy (RCOT) and Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

To maintain own continuing professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any trends and developments and incorporate them as necessary into your work. Being responsible for maintaining written evidence within CPD portfolio.

To be an active member of the in-service training programme available via staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions, external courses and reflective practice by regular attendance and participation in the former including the delivery of presentations.

To participate in the staff appraisal scheme, personal development review (PDR) and clinical supervision.

To participate in service development and review, taking into account the views of service users i.e. parents, carers and other professionals.

Participates in evidence based projects/audits contributes to the implementation of these changes within designated team/area.

To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with Allied Health Professionals (AHP’s), social services, education colleagues and voluntary organisations to ensure delivery of a timely and co-ordinated multi-agency service. This will include the identification of issues and attendance of patient reviews, TAC’s in variety of settings and the planning of ongoing care.

To demonstrate a sound understanding of Trust values, Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to the work situation.

To attend Mandatory Training and incorporate these within working practices.

To attend Safeguarding training and work in accordance within the local and national guidelines.

 Organisational

 To be responsible for own workload, designated by a more senior team member, and to plan and organise efficiently and effectively with regard to patient management and time management.

To be responsible for ensuring the effective selection and use of all treatment resources available in the community environment.

To be aware of Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies, which may be required to improve the safety of your work area, including your prompt recording and reporting of accidents and incidents (in line with policy), and ensuring that equipment use is safe.

To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out occupational therapy duties, and to adhere to departmental policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure its safe use by others through, teaching, training and supervision of practice.

To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate parents/carers, internal and external agencies in the form of reports and letters in accordance with Trust Data Protection Policy.

To be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department and other specialist groups within the trust, and for national reporting.

To have knowledge of and comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.

To undertake any duties that might be considered appropriate by the Senior Occupational Therapist.

To cover the responsibilities of the senior occupational therapist as required in their absence.

Participate in in-service staff training, meetings, and internal/external courses. Liaise with educational staff, Social Services, and voluntary carers to assist in the delivery of treatment programmes, attending and contributing to clinics/multi-agency meetings.

All individuals will have some risk management responsibilities with which you are required to comply, for details of your responsibilities please refer to the current Risk management strategy which is available on the intranet and in the local strategies folder.