Team Lead Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Job overview

This is a team lead Occupational Therapy post within the paediatric therapy service at the Variety Children’s Hospital, Kings College Hospital. The post sits within an established multidisciplinary therapy team with the aim to provide a high quality, efficient and effective OT service into the acute paediatric wards, and with a particular focus on providing highly specialist input into the paediatric neuro-rehabilitation, neuro-surgical and neuro-oncology inpatient caseloads.

Main duties of the job

- lead in the provision of a specialist inpatient paediatric occupational therapy service at King's College Hospital to a complex and diverse patient group.

- have a good understanding of paediatric neurology and be able to use highly specialist knowledge and skills to identify and proactively manage barriers to function and participation, as well as being reactive and responsive to the changing needs of the child or young person and their family.

- have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and will be expected to liaise closely with the child and their family, care providers and community health colleagues, educational staff, peer groups and other support services (e.g. Charity sector)

- provide clinical supervision to other members within the occupational therapy team as well as professional leadership to the wider multidisciplinary team. In addition, the support of student placements is a requirement within the paediatric occupational therapy team.

- represent paediatric Occupational Therapy and the paediatric therapy team at relevant meetings and will advise on service developments in line with government policy development. They will take a lead on remaining up-to-date with evidence based practice (EBP) and the implementation of local clinical governance initiatives that inform therapy in the specialist fields of neurology, neurosurgery and oncology.

The post holder will be supported by the Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist for clinical supervision.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Duties:

· To autonomously carry a designated clinical caseload of complex and diverse inpatient paediatric patients, who present with a wide range of neurological and/or functional deficits.

· To be able to prioritise a designated caseload efficiently, taking into account clinical and service priorities using highly specialist knowledge to underpin decisions.

· To be competent in the assessment of all domains of impairment, activity and participation as defined in the ICF, and their impact on a child’s occupational performance.

· To be competent in the use of standardised and non-standardised assessments, screening tools and outcome measures specific and/or relevant to the paediatric neurological and non-neurological population

· Identify the key performance areas that the child and family wish to prioritise and formulate child centred goals for rehabilitation.

· To be able to use expert clinical reasoning to select appropriate OT intervention approaches and to be able to work flexibly to adapt this approach to meet the needs of the child and family.

· To be competent in assessing the need for, and the prescription of, assistive technology and/or adaptive equipment to enhance the child’s function and occupational performance; making recommendations to clients/ carers, Social Services Occupational Therapists, Schools and Educational Institutions.

• To issue such equipment with due regard to safety of the equipment, and in line with legal, national and local guidelines.

· To understand the effect an acquired disability has on both the child and the function of the family unity and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the child’s social and physical environment.

· To monitor, evaluate and modify interventions in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.

• To keep abreast with emerging evidence within the specialist field of practice, and adapt assessment and management accordingly, particularly in line with any change in national guidance.

· To lead on production of clinical guidelines and local policies ensuring evidence based, implemented and audited.

• To work collaboratively with other multidisciplinary team members and participate fully in the interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation.
• Liaise with external support services to facilitate case management activity such as requesting and attending stakeholder meetings, making recommendations for the type of services and level of input the child requires; educational provision and EHCP entitlement.
• To provide expert advice and guidance to other professions within the multidisciplinary team, and other health/educational/social care professions involved with the child and young person in order to promote the child’s successful reintegration to community and full engagement in home life, school life and social life.
• Assist with clinical cover in other paediatric areas as required.

· Promote children’s well-being, safeguarding them from harm, and working within agreed policies for reporting concerns including concerns about colleagues.

Communication

· To be highly skilled in communicating with children of all ages and abilities, including those with cognitive communication difficulties and/or challenging behaviours.

· Provide children, families and other carers with specialist advice or instruction to promote the understanding of the aims of occupational therapy and to ensure consistent patient management, including the use of specialist equipment and therapy programmes.

· To provide and receive information from patients, carers and other professionals regarding a patient’s condition and treatment progress. This will include the sharing and receiving of some complex and/or sensitive information.

· To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximize rehabilitation potential and to improve understanding of the condition, facilitating the best possible communication outcome e.g. use of interpreters, visual aids etc.

· To establish robust communication networks with patients, carers, care agencies, Multidisciplinary team members, Education services and other agencies such as the charity sector

· To promote awareness of the role of Occupational Therapy within the team, negotiating priorities where appropriate.

· To be integral in discharge planning including liaison with community staff and providing timely discharge reports.

· To take an active part in departmental meetings.

· To ensure open lines of communication within own team and guide junior staff in effective communication skills.

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Post Graduate training relevant to clinical area
• Evidence of learning including reflective practice and training received e.g. CPD portfolio
• Degree or other recognised qualification in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Practice placement qualification

Desirable criteria

• Qualifications specific to paediatrics/neurology (eg Bobath, SI, SMART, AHA)
• MSc in relevant subject

Knowledge & experience

Essential criteria

• Documented evidence of continuing professional development within OT and paediatrics
• Relevant post graduate experience including paediatric neurology acute paediatrics and rehabilitation
• Supervision of junior staff and students
• Experience of audit procedures

Desirable criteria

• Wide ranging post graduate clinical experience in a variety of Settings including oncology.
• Leadership and first line management experience
• Research Experience

Skills & competencies

Essential criteria

• Specialist knowledge and application of OT assessment and interventions in paediatric neurology and acute paediatrics.
• Specialist knowledge and skills in treating a broad range of paediatric neurological conditions and problems
• Knowledge and understanding of a broad range of paediatric conditions including orthopaedic, and general rehabilitation.
• Knowledge of OT models of practice
• Knowledge and application of paediatric and neurodevelopmental standardised assessments and outcome measures
• Detailed knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application.
• Knowledge of the relevant legislation and policies governing paediatric services including The Children’s Act, Child Safe Guarding.
• Ability to work autonomously without direct access to clinical supervision and set priorities.
• Application of Health and Safety Risk management policies
• Ability to represent Occupational Therapy profession in MDT and Operational meetings.
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance and practice.
• Supervisory and appraisal skills
• Excellent communication skills demonstrating skills in : - Verbal - Written (SOAP notes, letters, reports)
• Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues
• Ability to organise and respond to complex information
• Computer literacy
• Ability to build effective relationships
• Ability to work under pressure

Other

Essential criteria

• Commitment to child & family- centred approach and non-discriminatory practice
• Commitment to lifelong learning
• Self-management/time management skills
• Flexible approach to working and able to undertake weekend working if required
• Aware of equal opportunities and diversity issues
• Able to work at moderate levels of physical activity involving manual handling and therapeutic handling

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reports and Other Corporate Publications

King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre Website

King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.