Advanced Occupational Therapist

NHS; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Following significant investment in Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital Trust Children's Occupational Therapy team, we are delighted to advertise 3 full-time Band 7 positions. These newly created posts have been established specifically to support Newcastle's specialist educational provision within 3 schools and within the home. These schools are Sir Charles Parson school, Hadrian school, and Thomas Bewick school.

Thomas Bewick School is an all-age (3-19 years) specialist school for autistic children and young people. All pupils have an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) diagnosis, and all pupils have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Our Nursery is an 'Assessment Nursery' and all children who access this provision are undergoing an assessment process.

Sir Charles Parson school is a school for young people aged 11-19 years old who have a range of additional needs including severe and complex learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.

Hadrian school caters for the needs of children aged 2 to 11 years with a range of additional needs including complex and severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.

The successful candidates will join an extensive multidisciplinary team encompassing health, education, and social care as well as working closely with the children's Occupational Therapy team within Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital Trust.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Main duties of the job

The successful candidates will be responsible for high-quality Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention for pupils attending specialist school provision within Newcastle. As a senior Occupational Therapist within the service, you will be required to have an understanding of postural management and sensory processing and the impact of these on an individual's ability to access education.

Applicants should be committed to promoting the health and wellbeing of all pupils and their families both at home and school. The role will include supporting school and school staff to meet pupils' needs through training and development, joint working, and contributing to health and education reviews. In addition, the role will encompass supporting parents during school holidays by providing high-quality seamless holistic care.

Candidates should be innovative and enthusiastic with good communication skills and a working knowledge of legislation relating to Education Health and Care plans. Experience of working with children in a school setting is preferable.

Job responsibilities

• To provide a high standard of occupational therapy care to non-complex, complex, and highly complex patients within specialty evidencing high-level problem solving, reasoning skills, and independence of judgement.
• The Advanced OT will be a highly specialist practitioner and is the clinical lead for the Occupational Therapy Service within specialty providing highly specialist knowledge within the Trust and externally to therapists and other healthcare professionals from secondary and primary care across the region.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE

• In-depth clinical knowledge of medical/neurological conditions and their effect on occupational performance (master's level equivalent).
• Highly developed understanding of OT process within acute setting.
• In-depth knowledge of health and social care policy, risk assessment, and management.
• Extensive knowledge of a range of disability equipment.
• Extensive knowledge of eligibility criteria and procedures/policies relevant to disability equipment, minor housing adaptations.
• Highly specialist knowledge of moving and handling legislation and knowledge of current moving and handling best practice and associated equipment.
• Excellent understanding of professional ethics and their application into practice.
• Good knowledge of clinical governance.
• Evidence of CPD.
• Knowledge of undertaking research and audit projects.
• Knowledge of team dynamics and team building.

SKILLS

• Good organisation, time management, problem-solving, and prioritisation skills.
• Supervisory and team management skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Commitment to personal and service development.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.

EXPERIENCE

• Significant post-registration experience including experience within physical health.
• Use of functional assessment and activity analysis.
• Experience in supervising staff.
• Experience of working with patients with physical disabilities e.g., stroke, neuro, reduced mobility etc.

QUALIFICATION

• Degree/Diploma in OT, State registered with Health & Care Professions Council.
• Member of BAOT.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust