Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist - Cardiac
Job overview
The Occupational Therapy service at Great Ormond Street Hospital have a unique opportunity available for an experienced paediatric occupational therapist to join our team. We are looking for someone to work within our acute Cardio-Respiratory team, providing assessment and intervention for children and young people with cardiac conditions.You will have experience working with children with complex needs in an acute setting, a thorough understanding of child development, and the ability to communicate the potential impact of cardiac problems on occupational engagement throughout childhood and adolescence.
You will work with children and young people who are experiencing neurodevelopmental delay, or difficulties engaging in functional activities because o their cardiac condition, associated physical difficulties or disability.
Main duties of the job
They will support patients and their families through therapeutic intervention that ranges from specialist individual sessions, equipment provision, targeted education, universal training, and multi-disciplinary groups. The team are looking for an individual who can promote a functional approach that both enables engagement in meaningful occupations and promotes participation within an acute setting.You will also have a role in the discharge planning process for children who require long-term support and intervention, working closely with both the MDT and external health and social care teams to enable successful transfers home to the right environment, with the right equipment and support.
The ability to assess for and recommend / provide specialist equipment is therefore required. You will work as part of a small Cardio-respiratory team within the department, supported by a Band 6 occupational therapist, and a Band 7 occupational therapist leading on long-term ventilation.
They will also benefit from working within an extremely supportive Occupational Therapy Team which comprises 35 permanent staff. We have a flexible and robust supervision process and regular in-service training opportunities that support professional development.
Training from other specialists is available within the hospital and externally.
Working for our organisation
GOSH is committed to recruiting the best person for the job, based solely on their ability and individual merit as measured against the criteria for the role; through a process that is fair, open, consistent and free from bias and discrimination.
We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture where all staff are valued, respected and acknowledged. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability status or length of time spent unemployed.
We particularly welcome applications from BAME communities, people with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions and LGBT+ community members.
We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants and employees are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud to be accredited as a Disability Confident Employer, a member of Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.
We have active and Executive supported BAME, LGBT+ and Allies, Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions and Women’s staff networks. Staff networks are employee-led groups formed around interests, issues and a common bond or background. Staff network members create a positive and inclusive work environment at Great Ormond Street Hospital by actively contributing to the Trust’s mission, values and efforts specific to inclusion.All of our staff networks are open to any employee.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.
Person specification
GOSH Culture and Values
Essential criteria- Our Always values
- Knowledge and Understanding of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
Academic/Professional qualification/Training
Essential criteria- Degree or equivalent qualification in Occupational Therapy
- Health & Care Professions Council registration
- Evidence of relevant CPD
- Post-graduate training in paediatric specific occupational therapy assessment and intervention
- MSc in a relevant field to OT
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria- Previous experience as an OT working with children and young people with cardiac conditions
- Previous experience as an OT working with children with developmental conditions, including using standardised developmental assessments (e.g.: Bayleys) and providing therapy to address occupational performance.
- Previous experience as an OT working with children with neurological conditions, including assessment of atypical movement patterns and knowledge of neurological upper limb presentations
- Experience implementing the principals of 24-hour postural management, including the use of equipment to achieve this
- Experience of assessing for and providing equipment for daily living including: specialist seating, wheelchairs, and manual handling equipment and bathing / showering equipment
- Knowledge of child development and the impact of medical conditions on this, namely cardiac conditions
- Experience in supervising OTs and student OTs along with the excellent interpersonal and communication skills needed to support and teach the band 6 OT working in Cardiac.
- Involvement in clinical support networks relevant to paediatric occupational therapy.
- Awareness of national initiatives and legislation pertaining to Health and Social Care and the relevance to Occupational Therapy provision within a tertiary setting.
Skills/Abilities
Essential criteria- Able to work cooperatively and constructively within OT and multidisciplinary teams
- Ability to work autonomously, under the supervision of a senior therapist, setting own priorities and working to deadlines.
- Demonstration of sound leadership skills, including the ability to make thoughtful decisions about OT service goals and to properly allocate resources to achieve this.
- Ability to clearly articulate and communicate the role of the OT within Cardiac and the value it offers children and their families for their well-being, safety and independence skills.
- Ability to use knowledge about a child or young person’s acute medical difficulties to professionally reason the impact on occupational performance.
- Ability to use knowledge about a child or young person’s acute medical difficulties to professionally reason the impact on occupational performance.
- Ability to collate outcome measure and patient experience data to inform service provision and design.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Excellent organisation, computer, and time management skills
Please be advised that:
The recruitment process for all admin and clerical roles at Bands 2-4 will be a two stage recruitment process whereby shortlisted candidates will undertake an online literacy, numeracy, ICT and typing test. Only those candidates who pass the competency test will proceed to a formal interview.
The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions where we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification criteria for this post will be shortlisted. Please note that where high volumes of applicants have been received, additional criteria may on occasion be used to determine the final shortlist.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
We are an accredited Living Wage Employer.