Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To work as a Band 7  Neonatal Occupational therapist specialising in neonatal care.  Infants will have a wide range of diagnosis and in-depth understanding and experience is needed in neonatal therapy, as well as the ability to work competently at a band 7 level across the neonatal acute and developmental pathway.

To ensure the successful implementation of a specialist area of an occupational therapy clinical pathway alongside other service development initiatives. This will be within an MDT neonatal pathway.

To provide support and guidance to other Occupational Therapists and members of the AHP Neonatal MDT. 

To work with the Neonatal unit and other community AHPs, supporting them to establish programmes of support, facilitating delivery of interventions recommended ensuring they are able to meet children’s Occupational Therapy needs

To be responsible for providing Advanced individual child focused assessments and intervention. Requiring integration of knowledge and understanding of child development, environment, disability and occupations, to address occupational performance skills, roles, contexts and activity demands.

To select, administer and apply an advanced level of analysis to standardised and non-standardised assessments, tools and materials specific to community paediatric occupational therapy, in order to provide diagnostic and predictive information and contribute to accurate diagnosis, prognosis and intervention.

To use a highly specialist level of skills in negotiating, agreeing and setting goals with the family, school staff and other professionals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely (SMART) and address key occupational performance needs. To monitor, evaluate and modify intervention against set GAS goals in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness, negotiating new goals where appropriate.

To identify the need and where appropriate, assess and plan management/intervention to meet the assistive technology needs of children (Orthotics, equipment for home and school including special seating and postural management, AT, mobility equipment and environmental controls).

To be responsible for ordering, referral, liaison with other agencies and/or joint assessments and appropriate after care such as training, setting up equipment and reviewing progress

To undertake complex risk assessments in relation to children on caseload.

To assess for and advise others in determining appropriate and safe use of equipment and to assess the competence of others (school staff, family, carers) to carry out advice regarding safe use of equipment.

To address consent throughout involvement with a child and aim to work co-operatively with parents, teaching staff and other professionals.

To work with families from a variety of social, economic and cultural backgrounds and respond appropriately to clients’ needs.

To work with families and children with additional vulnerability and provide appropriate support (e.g. Children in care, children with terminal illness / degenerative conditions, child protection, challenging behaviours).

To adapt own style of communication to meet the differing needs of children and families e.g. use of an interpreter, sign language, uncomplicated language or pictures and symbols.

To record and maintain all client contact information and data in client files or on electronic recording system in an accurate and contemporaneous manner, adhering to local and national policies and guidance.