Children's Specialist Occupational Therapist
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics.
We are committed to recruiting to our values. Leading One Culture of Care underpins our values by creating an environment, tone and behaviours across all parts of the Trust that are fundamentally rooted in compassionate care.
We are open to considering a wide range of flexible working arrangements. There are opportunities to flex the days of the week, hours and times of work and place of work including: part-time, job-share, flexible working hours and the possibility to work from home when appropriate.Please talk to us during the interview process to discuss any flexibility that you may require.
We received our Silver Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers. This means that we provided its statement of intent to support all Defence personnel and we welcome application to work for us.Find out more - Why Choose CHFT?
Our Future Plans
The Department of Health and Social Care has awarded capital funding to invest in local health services at both Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. This is a significant investment and an opportunity to enhance services for our populations in Calderdale and Huddersfield and West Yorkshire for generations to come.To find out more, please visit https://future.cht.nhs.uk/
Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity for an Occupational Therapist interested in developing their skills in paediatrics to join our innovative and motivated Children’s Therapy team in Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. The service consists of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists and therapy assistants.We have team bases in both Halifax and Huddersfield.
You will provide Occupational Therapy assessment, treatment and advice, working in a variety of settings to include clinics, schools and nurseries with children of all ages. We have excellent links with Education and Social Care and you will become part of the wider team supporting children and their families.
Main duties of the job
To manage own specialist caseload.To work autonomously within Trust policies and professional practice, maintaining accurate and comprehensive up to date records.
To carry out specialist assessment and treatment of children with complex needs, with the aim of using education and advice to facilitate children/ young people and carers to understand and actively participate in the management of the condition, leading to safe and timely discharges and transfer of care.
Determine a clinical diagnosis, develop, deliver, implement, evaluate and modify individualised treatment programmes and/or provide specialist advice, ensuring appropriate pathways of care and communication via liaison and referral to other agencies as required.
Take part in the education and training of Occupational Therapists and qualified and non-qualified healthcare / social care / education staff including medical staff
Working for our organisation
We employ more than 6,500 staff who deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals, Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary as well as in community sites, health centres and in patients’ homes. We also are incredibly proud to have almost 150 volunteers here at CHFT.
We provide a range of services including urgent and emergency care; medical; surgical; maternity; gynaecology; critical care; children’s and young people’s services; end of life care and outpatient and diagnostic imaging services.
We provide community health services, including sexual health services in Calderdale from Calderdale Royal and local health centres. These include Todmorden Health Centre and Broad Street Plaza.
We continue to modernise and invest in our health services to build on our strong reputation. Foundation trusts are public leaders in improving quality in health services. They are part of the NHS – yet decisions about what they do and how they do it are driven by independent boards.Boards listen to their Council of Governors and respond to the needs of their members – patients, staff and the local community.
Foundation trusts provide what the health service wants, yet are also free to invest quickly in the changes to the local community needs, in striving to be the best, and in putting their patients first.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical Duties- To work within the children’s therapy service, developing effective clinical interventions within the speciality of paediatrics in order to contribute to clinical practice in the team in line with current evidence base.
- To manage autonomously a clinical workload of patients / clients at a specialist level, assessing and treating patients and maintaining clinical records.
- To have specialist assessment and treatment skills in the areas listed but not limited to:
v Triage and prioritization of patients referred to the team
v Assessment and treatment of children and young people with complex needs
v Assessment and provision of therapeutic equipment
v Training/ supporting others to manage the child’s condition
v Joint goal setting and problem solving
v Use of appropriate outcome measures
v Transfer of care planning and discharge of patients from the team- To apply evidence based knowledge within the specialist clinical area acquired through experience and academic study to a specialist post graduate level.
- To act, within the children’s therapy service, as a resource and provide advice for Occupational Therapists, other professionals and colleagues within the MDT about the assessment, treatment, management and care of patients / clients who have a multi-pathological illness and/or complex psychosocial need.
- To work collaboratively with education, health and social care community and acute colleagues.
- To work with other members of the MDT to ensure effective care pathways and transfer of care / discharges.
- To proactively and appropriately facilitate a seamless transfer of care and continuing therapeutic management of children/ young people.
- To work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary manner within the MDT, being able to debate the blurring of boundaries across professions and where competent take on aspects of blurred boundary working, where appropriate.
- To develop highly specialist programmes of assessment, treatment and intervention.
- To manage and prioritise own clinical workload as appropriate, working efficiently to manage professional time and delegate according to the training and competency levels of other team members to ensure the effective delivery of the service.
- To participate in the supervision process with staff on a daily basis and for students as required.
- To ensure a high standard of patient care is provided including implementing and reviewing clinical standards relevant to the work undertaken.
- To provide specialist assessment and advice for the multidisciplinary team and actively participate in MDT meetings as appropriate.
- 2 Professional Duties
- To comply with and contribute to the development and implementation of protocols, procedures and guidelines both clinical and service specific. To give feedback on policies when required which may impact on the management and care of children/young people.
- To participate in governance initiatives on a regular basis, measuring and evaluating individual and the teams’ clinical practice, e.g. CPD, clinical effectiveness, research and development, clinical audit and service activity data.
- To ensure specialised treatments offered to patients / clients are based on the best available clinical evidence by keeping up to date with current literature, implementing research tools and liaising with other practitioners, both within and outside the service, in order to develop and maintain best practice.
- To be responsible for the issue and safe use of equipment used in your area of work and to adhere to the appropriate service policies.
- Along with the Clinical Lead/Team Leader generate and contribute to the collection, analysis and dissemination of data as required for the service, both manually and computerised.
- To lead, develop and actively undertake clinical audit as requested.
- To support members of the Occupational Therapy team and contribute to them successfully meeting their objectives and development needs.
- To assist the Clinical Lead/Team Leader to manage the performance of the Occupational Therapy team and assistant staff by having a delegated role in supervision/PDR as appropriate.
- To contribute to the delivery of the Children’s Therapy within the wider MDT.
- To provide advice / information to the Clinical Lead/Team Leader to help in the planning and development of the service.
- In conjunction with the Team Leader /Clinical Lead, ensure adequate cover within the team by agreeing annual leave, study leave, and report sickness absence to the Team Leader.
- To assist the Team Leader in achieving the service objectives.
- To actively participate in the professional development programme of the Children’s Therapy service.
- To assist the Clinical Lead / Team Leader in the monitoring of professional, clinical and departmental standards and assist implementation of change as appropriate.
- To comply with the national, professional, Trust and service policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating process as appropriate.
- To participate in the staff recruitment process as appropriate.
- Maintain confidentiality of all patient identifiable information in line with Trust policies relating to the Data Protection Act.
- Initiate discussions with the Team Leader about any circumstances that could prevent the post holder or other staff fulfilling the requirements of the job description.
- To contribute to the identification, development and evaluation of a training programme to address the needs of the service and the wider multi professional team as appropriate.
- To organise and participate in in-service training programmes, under direction, ensuring appropriate training is delivered.
- To undertake appropriate development opportunities as identified at yearly personal development reviews and through personal development plans. To incorporate acquired knowledge into working practice as appropriate, following discussion with Clinical Lead / Team Leader. To disseminate information from training effectively throughout the team, the service and MDT as appropriate.
- To participate in the supervision process and peer review and maintain an up to date CPD portfolio including evidence of experiential learning, reflective practice and any relevant training or experience. This should demonstrate responsibility for maintaining own competency to practice.
- To give specialist advice, teaching and training to patients / clients, carers, volunteers and other health, educational and social care professionals, as appropriate to ensure provision of good patient care.
- To be responsible for the supervision and education of student Occupational Therapists to graduate level in the role of clinical educator.
- 3 Managerial Duties.
- There are no managerial duties required in this post.
- 4 Financial Duties
- There are no financial duties required in this post.
- 5 Managing Self
- Participate in regular supervision.
- Attend all mandatory training.
- Participate annually identifying, developing and agreeing your own development plan with your Line Manager using the Trust Appraisal.
- Comply with all Trust policies, procedures and protocols.
- Carry out duties with due regard to the Trust’s Equal Opportunity Policy.
- Seek advice and support from Line Manager whenever necessary
- Maintain professional conduct including appearance at all times.
- Ensure maintenance of Professional Registration.
Person specification
QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING
Essential criteria- Relevant Degree
- Registered with HPC
- Evidence of Postgraduate Training
- Clinical Educator Training
- Studied at Masters level or equivalent
- Member of Professional Body
KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE
Essential criteria- Knowledge of child development and a range of common paediatric conditions
- Ability to carry out specialist assessments and treatments and evaluate intervention in terms of quality and outcomes for children and their families.
- Knowledge and experience of the principles and practice of partnership working within a multi-disciplinary team
- Knowledge and understanding of national and local priorities pertaining to children
- Recent experience demonstrating ability to assess, treat and evaluate care in paediatrics
- Good Clinical Reasoning skills
- Evidence of CPD, self-directed learning and Reflective Practice
- Understanding of Clinical Governance
- Critical Appraisal Skills
- Ability to maintain accurate records
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, NSF’s and local/National initiatives
- Experience of developing others
- Experience in contributing to service improvements e.g. Audit, patient information etc.
- Experience in dealing with complaints
- Experience in supervising and training others
- Teaching/Presentation skills
- Experience of developing others
- Experience in contributing to service improvements e.g. Audit, patient information etc.
- Experience in dealing with complaints
- Experience in supervising and training others
- Teaching/Presentation skills
- Relevant Accredited Postgraduate Training
- Previous experience working at Band 6 level with children with complex needs
COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS (INCLUDING MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential criteria- Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate appropriately using knowledge of blurred boundary / competency frameworks
- Excellent Time Management skills
- Ability to communicate effectively with people with complex difficulties and in difficult situations
- Recognises own limitations and have willingness to share and learn from others
- Ability to concentrate and work in conditions requiring emotional demands
- Ability to identify and articulate own training needs
- Self motivated with ability to work independently and influence others
- Excellent Team Player
- Ability to make decisions and problem solve when dealing with routine situations
We take pride in the diversity of our workforce that’s why we encourage applications from all. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants.
Please ensure your application is submitted with referees who can verify your employment/education history over the last three years and include valid email addresses for them. We will request electronic Factual Employment References from your previous employers.These references will be requested before you are issued with an unconditional offer of employment letter.
If you are appointed to a post, information will also be transferred into the NHS Electronic Staff Records system. The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.
You may be required to undertake a DBS. The Trust will administer the DBS check on your behalf and will recover the cost (Enhanced £54.40, Standard £26.40 or Basic £26.40) from your salary when you commence in post (including Internal staff).You will also be required to participate in the DBS Update Service and pay the £16 cost per year. This is a condition of your employment.
CHFT is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients.
If you have any questions please contact [email protected] for assistance.