Highly Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Job Overview
Due to an increase in funding, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and highly committed individual to work within this unique and vibrant OT team. Are you a band 7 looking for a new role or a band 6 thinking, "I would like to take the next career steps"? If so, we are looking for you!
We are looking for an experienced, motivated, and creative OT to join our paediatric occupational therapy service. The post holder will support in the co-ordinating and leading of a highly specialist Occupational Therapy service to children and young people attending mainstream and secondary special schools within the borough of Harrow. This role will involve working in mainstream schools and a special school with children aged 11-19 with physical disabilities, in Harrow, to ensure they have the adequate skills, knowledge, and training to support children and young people in their educational setting.
You will have opportunities to lead and influence service development and support the professional development of other staff and OT students. You will work closely with and be supported by the leadership team.
Main duties of the job

• The post holder will hold a specialist caseload of children (aged 11-19) with physical disabilities and profound and multiple learning difficulties within a special school setting, along with providing support for children within the mainstream school setting. The post holder will have advanced skills in working with children with physical disabilities and prescription of specialist equipment in the educational setting to include specialist seating and moving and handling equipment. The role allows for a high level of MDT working, with PT/SLT, within the specialist settings.
• He/she will be expected to manage their own caseload, traveling between schools and working alongside teaching staff to ensure highly specialist therapy programmes are in place for the children under their care. He/she will be expected to work collaboratively with children/young people (CYP), parents/carers, and with colleagues in Health, Education, and Social Services, in service planning, policy, and delivery of services to this specific client group.
• They will provide clinical education and training to Occupational Therapy students and provide clinical supervision to Occupational Therapy Assistants and OTs developing specialist skills in this field.
  Working for our organisation
  We are a very friendly and dynamic team who are passionate about supporting children, young people, and families in Harrow while also supporting you and your wellbeing!
  We strongly encourage staff input and influence to help design the OT service and the wider MDT team. We value personal development and we have an established internal training programme alongside regular opportunities for external training.
  We are based at Alexandra Avenue where there is a high level of integration and collaboration between different health, education, and social care services.
  Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
• To communicate complex patient-related information effectively to ensure collaborative working with multidisciplinary team members across health, education, and social services and the voluntary sector. In particular, to work with early years and school staff to ensure the delivery of a well-coordinated care plan and/or individual education plan which facilitates the development of sensory, perceptual, motor, and daily living skills.
• To work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team in Schools.
• To support access to and differentiation of the Foundation stage and National Curriculum for children with physical difficulties/developmental disabilities.
• To advise on manual handling risk assessment, access school environments, and provision of specialist equipment (seating and hoisting equipment) and aids to daily living.
• To share information with others, observing confidentiality and data protection guidelines and having due regard for local guidance on sharing information with colleagues in education, social services, and the voluntary sector.
• To communicate highly complex condition-related information (both verbally and in written form) from assessment to CYP, parents/carers, and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions. This includes child-specific information as well as training packages to parents, teachers, and other professionals around the management of CYP with physical, sensory, and perceptual difficulties.
• To have due regard for the cultural and linguistic differences of children/families concerned.
• To work closely with CYP, carers, and families, involving them in decision-making regarding intervention approaches, demonstrating and ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist (i.e., hearing loss, communication difficulties, English as an additional language, and learning difficulties).
• Lead clinician for provision of comprehensive specialist assessment and differential diagnosis of individual children and neonates with diverse and complex presentations using a range of specialist assessments/technique.
• Planning, delivering, and evaluating highly specialist treatment programmes in the area of school and special school provision.
  Person specification
  Other
  Desirable criteria
• Car Driver
  Education And Qualifications
  Essential criteria
• Recognised Occupational Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent.
• Health Professions Council – Current licence to Practice with HCPC.
• Evidence of CPD in portfolio including attendance of specialist short courses relevant to CYP with special needs/disability.
• Training in Moving and Handling people with disabilities.
  Desirable criteria
• Advanced training up to Masters level equivalent in the area of Paediatric Occupational Therapy, e.g., child development sensory integration modules.
• Member of College of Occupational Therapy.
• Member of CYPF RCOT specialist section.
  Experience
  Essential criteria
• Extensive experience of working with school-aged children:
  • with complex needs.
  • physical and learning disabilities.
  • perceptual-motor disorders.
  • Neuro-developmental disorders.
• Extensive experience of:
  • Assessment, treatment, and management of CYP with complex needs.
  • Working as part of an MDT within an early years setting.
  • Managing own caseload.
  • Working with parents/carers.
  • Writing clinical notes and reports.
• Experience of:
  • Teaching other professionals/parents.
  • Clinical audit, research.
  • Line management/Supervision of staff.
  • Contributing to the appraisal of others.
  • Leading teams/projects.
    Desirable criteria
• Knowledge of a range of specialist aids, equipment, and seating systems including wheelchairs and assistive technology.
• Knowledge of Foundation stage and National curriculums.
• Knowledge of the Balanced system and its application within OT.
  Skills and Knowledge
  Essential criteria
• Well-established knowledge of assessment tools and appropriate therapeutic interventions relevant to CYP with complex needs and physical difficulties.
• Well-established knowledge of a range of specialist aids, equipment, and seating systems available to CYP including wheelchairs, seating, and assistive technology.
• Working knowledge of the roles of:
  • Other professionals in Health, Education, and Social Care involved with CYP.
  • Working knowledge of Occupational Therapists in the Education system.
• Understanding and application of standards of record keeping and reporting.
• National policies and procedures, in particular, safeguarding children, SEN and disability act, SEN reforms, Children and families act, National Service framework for children, the children’s bill, and Foundation stage and National curriculum.
• Clinical governance/audit.
  Attitudes, aptitudes, personal characteristics
  Essential criteria
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with children and young people of all ages and abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills – including observation, listening, and empathy skills.
• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal (English).
• Negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in an unpredictable environment and to prioritise own and others' workload.
• Good analytical and reflection skills.