Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main duties

To be professionally and legally accountable for caseload of clients with complex needs with supervision.

Professional/Clinical Responsibilities 

To take responsibility of managing the risk and clinical responsibility for all staff and own designated caseload, and for the supervision of the caseload of both junior Occupational Therapy  staff and support staff with supervision.

To deliver a high standard of clinical care and maintain service delivery by flexible, effective and efficient prioritisation sound clinical and professional judgement.

 To have a detailed working knowledge of social care, education, health, housing and voluntary organisations eligibility criteria and relevant policies and procedures, to be able to effectively refer the client to these services.

To have an extensive  range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills to engage effectively with clients and their carers to gain consent and active participation in treatment by developing a therapeutic relationship based on trust and negotiation within the legal framework with those clients who lack capacity to consent.

To select and apply to standardised and non-standardised Paediatric Occupational Therapy and other professional assessments tools using highly specialised co-ordination, dexterity, observation and communication skills.

To plan, implement and review client centred individual and/or group interventions, using meaningful graded activity based on advanced knowledge of evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning and  knowledge of Occupational Therapy models of practice and specialised co-ordination, dexterity, observation and communication skills.

To use highly specialist skills to interpret and analyse complex clinical, social and environmental factors to contribute to accurate diagnosis and prognosis of a wide range of complex  health conditions and recommend the best course of intervention, and the development/review of treatment and discharge plans.

 To negotiate with client / carer to identify and formulate client centred, specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely (SMART) goals using the specialist assessment information and to complete the designated outcome measures.

To ensure junior staff and own verbal and non-verbal, written and electronic client records, reports and activity data are maintained and kept up to date in accordance with professional and Trust record keeping standards.

To provide and ensure junior staff deliver specialist Occupational Therapy verbal or written reports / letters. To represent the Occupational Therapy Service and / or clients at multi-disciplinary / multi agency meetings and contribute to multidisciplinary decision making.

To provide Occupational Therapy expertise at appropriate local and regional working parties or meetings to develop, implement and redesign service delivery.

To have an extensive knowledge of specialist disability equipment for children and be responsible for the safe and competent use of all therapy equipment and to ensure junior staff and clients / carers attain competency prior to use.

To have a detailed working knowledge of appropriate legislation and comply with the Professional Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and Professional standards for Occupational Therapists and ensure that junior staff are aware of these.

To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients, and be responsible for the provision of a service which is sensitive to these needs.

 To review, reflect and analyse own practice, performance and ethical issues through effective use of operational and clinical supervision and performance development review and provide guidance to junior staff.

To participate in research opportunities, and demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them to practice and disseminate findings at a local level.

To demonstrate extensive leadership skills through participation in designated projects

 To participate and demonstrate ongoing personal and professional development through development opportunities, networking and a Continuous Professional Development portfolio in order to maintain professional competence and fitness to practice as a Band 7 Occupational Therapist.

To provide highly specialised advice, teaching and training opportunities to clients, carers.

To be an accredited Occupational Therapy fieldwork educator and to provide and support Occupational Therapy fieldwork placements

To coordinate, provide and support opportunities for teaching and training of staff, other students for example medical, nursing, work experience and other professionals.

To develop and maintain effective professional communication networks with clients, carers, multidisciplinary team and other professionals / organisations.

To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.

 To assist the Lead Childrens Occupational Therapist in interpreting and implementing professional and clinical guidelines, Trust policies and procedures, and to have an extensive working knowledge of relevant national and local targets / initiatives to promote and develop quality improvements appropriate to the needs of the service.