Occupational Therapist

Whittington Health Nhs Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Whittington Health NHS Trust is seeking an experienced Paediatric Occupational Therapist to join the mainstream therapies team in Islington. You will work with school-aged children, focusing on autism, DCD and sensory needs, delivering family-centred care in schools, homes and clinics.

You will develop clinical pathways, audits and supervise staff, while promoting participation, independence and functional goals. Training and supervision are emphasised within the role.

Qualifications

• Specialist knowledge of autism, DCD, sensory differences and related needs.
• Experience in paediatric therapy within school settings.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate specialist knowledge and autonomous caseload management for children in schools and clinics.
• Provide assessment and intervention using OPC/CO-OP approaches.
• Collaborate with families, schools and other professionals to promote participation and independence.
• Produce high-quality reports to inform EHCPs and service planning.
• Provide supervision and guidance to junior staff and trainees.

Skills

Autism support

Developmental coordination

Sensory processing

Multidisciplinary teamwork

OPC/CO-OP coaching

Education

OT degree or diploma

HCPC registration

Job description

Job summary

We have an opportunity for an experienced, dynamic and highly motivated occupational therapist (OT) to join our mainstream therapies team in Islington. The post holder will work with children of school age and be committed to family centred practice and multidisciplinary working.

We are looking for an individual with particular expertise in supporting children and/or young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder as well as having specialist knowledge and experience in a wide range of conditions relevant to the school aged population including Developmental Co-ordination Disorder and sensory and physical disabilities. The post holder will be based at the Northern Health Centre alongside therapy colleagues and provide support to CYP, their families and the school workforce in mainstream schools, homes and the clinic setting.

The post holder will also be responsible for supporting the development of clinical pathways, clinical audits, induction and supervision of staff and triaging of referrals to the team.

We offer excellent training opportunities with a strong emphasis on individual performance appraisal and supervision, both from within the team and from the Occupational Therapy service. External training is also fully supported and encouraged.

We are a friendly and relaxed service who promotes equal opportunities and access for all.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for an allocated caseload, providing high quality Occupational Therapy and effective case management to children attending Mainstream Schools in Islington. The post holder will also provide assessment and intervention for children in the clinic setting, and support parents, carers, and school staff through the delivery of an Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) model to promote participation, independence, and achievement of functional goals.

The post holder will demonstrate a high standard of clinical knowledge and practice as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist. They will provide clinical supervision and support to less experienced colleagues, trainees, unqualified staff and staff from other disciplines and agencies when required, both within the team and the wider service.

The post holder will have excellent communication and active listening skills and the ability to empathise. They will be able to communicate complex information effectively, taking into account the barriers to communication presented by the caseload.

The post holder will be skilled in working in and liaising within a multi‑disciplinary and multi‑agency environment and be able to reassure and instil confidence in clients, carers and other professionals. They will demonstrate excellent negotiation skills in working with other team members, parents/carers or other professionals.

About us

Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL

• Demonstrate highly specialist knowledge and skills in supporting children and young people with a range of complex developmental needs, including autism, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, developmental coordination disorder, sensory processing differences, social, emotional and mental health needs, and regulation or behavioural needs that may affect occupational participation and engagement.
• Manage a complex and specialist caseload autonomously, using advanced clinical reasoning to make decisions regarding assessment, intervention, prioritisation, onward referral and discharge, seeking support where appropriate.
• Demonstrate specialist knowledge and skills in selecting and implementing a range of evidence‑informed occupational therapy approaches, including Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) and Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC).
• Apply specialist knowledge of sensory processing within holistic occupational therapy assessment and clinical reasoning, considering how a child or young persons sensory needs and preferences may influence occupational participation.
• Apply knowledge of medical conditions and their functional implications to inform clinical reasoning, intervention planning, and recommendations for appropriate strategies and adaptations within the child or young persons physical and social environments.
• Assess and observe children and young people across educational, home and clinic settings to identify barriers to participation, learning and engagement, and recommend appropriate environmental adaptations and reasonable adjustments.
• Work collaboratively with children and young people, families, education staff and other professionals to identify, implement and embed strategies and interventions, providing specialist advice, guidance and modelling of practical approaches to promote occupational participation, independence and engagement.
• Work in partnership with relevant professionals and agencies to support a coordinated, person‑centred approach to meeting identified occupational needs and achieving agreed outcomes.
• Produce highquality reports and specialist occupational therapy advice to inform EHCPs, including reviewing working documents and preparing evidence and reports for tribunal proceedings where required.
• Demonstrate strong assessment and clinical reasoning skills, selecting, applying and interpreting appropriate standardised and non‑standardised assessments and outcome measures to identify occupational performance and participation needs and inform evidence‑based intervention and recommendations.
• Work collaboratively with children and young people, families, schools and other professionals to identify meaningful goals, and use clinical reasoning to plan, implement, evaluate and modify individualised interventions to improve occupational performance and participation.
• Provide specialist clinical advice, supervision and support to junior occupational therapy staff, assistants and students, supporting clinical reasoning and the delivery of safe, effective and evidence‑informed practice.
• Adhere to the RCOT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and relevant national, local and Trust policies, procedures and professional standards.
• Demonstrate a high level of professional judgement and the ability to identify, reflect on and respond to complex ethical issues, providing guidance to junior staff where appropriate.
• Demonstrate effective organisation, prioritisation and advanced clinical decision‑making, analysing complex and sensitive situations and considering a range of options to determine appropriate action.
• Liaise with other agencies involved in the child or young persons care, including relatives/carers and education staff, as appropriate to the individual childs needs.
• Apply knowledge of moving and handling legislation, best practice and relevant equipment to assess risk and provide appropriate advice and recommendations for children and young people with physical needs.
• Contribute to the triage and prioritisation of referrals, applying clinical reasoning to support appropriate allocation and identification of the most appropriate service response.

ADMINISTRATION

• Assist the Team Leader with the day‑to‑day coordination and running of the service as required.
• Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date clinical records and activity data in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate effective organisation and time management, managing competing priorities and demands appropriately.

MANAGEMENT

• Attend and actively contribute to relevant team, departmental, project and Trust meetings, as required.
• Participate in and, where appropriate, lead clinical audits, service evaluation and quality improvement projects, using activity, outcome and other service data to monitor performance and support service development.
• Support the collection, analysis and reporting of service activity and outcome data to the Local Authority, Integrated Care Board and other relevant stakeholders, as required.
• Provide specialist clinical guidance and support to junior staff, including supporting clinical reasoning and the preparation of complex reports and statutory advice.
• Provide line management, supervision and performance support to designated members of staff in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.
• Support the Team Leader and Clinical Lead with the recruitment, induction and development of junior staff.
• Demonstrate leadership in supporting team members and coordinating the timely review and completion of occupational therapy advice for EHCP reviews.
• Contribute to the development, implementation and review of clinical guidance, pathways and practice standards, supporting the Trusts clinical governance and quality improvement agenda.
• Contribute to service planning and development, identifying opportunities to improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of occupational therapy provision.

TEACHING, TRAINING and RESEARCH

• Participate in regular professional and operational supervision and annual appraisal with the Team Leader and/or Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist, using these opportunities to reflect on practice, performance and professional development.
• Develop and maintain an agreed area of specialist occupational therapy knowledge and expertise, acting as a clinical resource for the wider team and sharing specialist knowledge and evidence‑informed practice.
• Take a lead, in collaboration with relevant colleagues, in the development and delivery of identified areas of the occupational therapy service offer.
• Critically appraise current research and evidence, apply relevant findings to clinical practice, and disseminate learning and evidence‑informed practice within the team and wider service.
• Maintain ongoing professional development through participation in relevant internal and external learning opportunities, maintaining an up‑to‑date CPD portfolio in accordance with professional requirements.
• Participate in and contribute to the development and delivery of in‑service training and other learning opportunities for occupational therapy staff and relevant colleagues.
• Complete all mandatory training and undertake relevant specialist training required to maintain and develop competence within the role.

OTHER

• Work in a range of community environments, including schools and family homes, with occasional exposure to unpleasant conditions, including odours, bodily fluids and confined spaces.
• Frequently manage emotionally demanding and distressing situations involving children, young people and their families, including those relating to safeguarding and child protection concerns.
• Communicate complex and sensitive information relating to a child or young persons needs, assessment findings and occupational therapy recommendations, using empathy, reassurance and effective communication skills.
• Respond appropriately to emotionally challenging situations involving colleagues and provide support to staff who may be distressed, within the boundaries of the role.
• Travel regularly across the community to undertake work in schools, family homes and other relevant settings

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

• Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy and current HCPC Registration
• Evidence of CPD and attendance at relevant post graduate courses/training e.g. journal clubs, CO-OP, Zones of Regulation, Coaching etc.

Desirable

• Member of British Association of Occupational Therapists

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Excellent written communication skills
• Advanced observation, assessment and clinical reasoning skills to identify barriers to participation and develop effective, outcome‑focused solutions.
• Strong negotiation, conflict resolution and relationship‑building skills
• Ability to assess, advise and educate clients and carers about safe manual handling techniques (including use of equipment and adaptations).
• Effective workload management and prioritisation.
• Coaching skills to facilitate reflection, problem‑solving, and sustainable change

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Knowledge and experience working at a specialist level supporting school aged children with a broad range of clinical conditions e.g., autism, learning disabilities, genetic conditions, DCD, etc.
• Knowledge and experience of English school systems, relevant legislation and the SEND reforms
• Specialist experience of supporting children, young people, families and schools with sensory and regulation differences impacting on participation and function
• Experience of having worked within educational settings
• Experience delivering training to school staff and other professionals
• Experience writing complex assessment reports/advice

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.