Specialist Occupational Therapist

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a Specialist Occupational Therapist to join the Children’s Neurodevelopmental Service in Norfolk. You will be assessing and supporting children and young people aged 0-18 who are undergoing a diagnostic assessment for possible Autism and/or ADHD.

As a key member of the multidisciplinary team, you will be offering and delivering assessment of a child or young person’s neurodevelopmental presentation in order to support the giving of a potential neurodevelopmental diagnosis. This will include working alongside nurses, psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and paediatricians, as part of an MDT approach to making a diagnostic decision.

Main duties of the job

You will have an expert knowledge base of neurodevelopmental conditions, and demonstrate a keen interest in supporting children, young people, and families with neurodevelopmental differences. You will have skills in complex decision making and clinical competencies for expanded scope of practice.

The post holder will complete and interpret assessments, and supporting information, to inform diagnostic decisions regarding neurodevelopmental conditions, as part of MDT working. The post holder will offer advice, recommendations and potential onward referrals for children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions.

The post holder will be expected to use a range of assessment skills, including formal psychometric tests, interviews with parents and carers and completing observations in a range of clinical and non-clinical settings.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Clinical

• 1.     To complete neurodevelopmental assessments independently, utilising specialist observation and assessment skills for those children and young people referred with potential neurodevelopmental conditions in line with National Standards and NICE guidelines. 2.     To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own clinical work and the prioritisation and management of cases on own caseload. 3.     Participate in administration and interpretation of specific assessment tools within neurodevelopmental assessments and communicate the results to the NDS multi-disciplinary team as part of the diagnostic clinical formulation. 4.     Perform clinical observations of behaviour in clinical, educational and home settings where necessary to assess for a wide range of complex neurodevelopmental conditions. 5.     To write detailed and comprehensive clinical reports to support diagnostic decision making. 6.     To act as a Specialist Occupational Therapist resource within the service in respect of this client group, working autonomously to support families and other health care professionals. 7.     Design specialist advice, knowledge, support and training to colleagues relating to neurodevelopmental conditions. 8.     Support the team with specialist, complex clinical decision making around assessment outcomes. 9.     To carry out specialist assessment and observations within the pre-6 part of the Neurodevelopmental Service. 10.  To make clinical decisions around diagnostic outcomes and using specialist knowledge and assessments and communicate the results to families and carers in a sensitive manner. 11.  Offer children, young people and their family’s information on a range of therapeutic approaches and strategies as part of their diagnostic feedback, including awareness of signposting to relevant organisations. 12.  To contribute to the development of public information regarding neurodevelopmental conditions and associated needs. 13.  To review, develop and deliver training programmes and post-diagnostic support that are offered to colleagues, young people, families and other professional groups. 14.  To liaise with multi professional agencies and colleagues in other services. To provide specialist knowledge, and support to clinical colleagues, children, families, carers, schools, and other relevant agencies. 15.  To attend various multi-agency meetings including safeguarding meetings to advise, write reports and plan care, acting as the patient advocate when appropriate and to work in accordance with safeguarding children’s policies. 16.  To promote patient and public involvement by involving children, young people and their families in the planning and delivery of care and development of services. 17.  To attend and actively participate in meetings and to communicate relevant information to the wider team as needed. 18.  To contribute actively and regularly to the clinical training of undergraduate Occupational Therapists. Professional

1.       The postholder will maintain Registered Membership with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

2.       To act in accordance with the HCPC and Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) codes of conduct and professional standards.

3.       To maintain up-to-date evidence of CPD, showing relevant skills and knowledge and awareness of professional issues.

4.       To ensure own compliance and compliance of others with regards to mandatory training, professional standards of practice and HCPC/RCOT requirements.

5.       To participate in own annual personal development reviews.

6.       To take part in clinical supervision including safeguarding supervision as per Trust policies.

7.       To maintain and develop competence through attendance at courses and active participation in team training, to maintain a record of own professional development.

8.       To keep up-to-date with current clinical and technological advances in liaison with senior colleagues.

9.       To provide observation opportunities for prospective clinicians, career candidates and non-health related individuals as requested by Lead Clinicians.

10.    To keep the line manager informed of any variations to service delivery, changing priorities and needs, and likely specific impact on this service of any change.

Leadership / Organisational

1.       To provide supervision of colleagues including mentoring new colleagues and student Occupational Therapists.

2.       To work closely with the clinical team on service development ideas to develop the Neurodevelopmental Service and quality of care delivery.

3.       To liaise closely with clinical and team leads to plan Occupational Therapy input to the Neurodevelopmental Service.

4.       To participate in the induction and training of new staff.

5.       To assist with recruitment to this specialist area.

6.       To participate in personal development plans and supervisions with colleagues.

7.       Follow all Trust policies and local procedures as appropriate for the situation/setting.

8.       Participate in research and clinical and governance audits, in order to improve effectiveness of patient care and service delivery, identifying areas for improvement and initiating change.

9.       Complete risk assessments and incident forms as required.

10.    Be aware of performance indicators and contribute as required.

11.    Be aware of contractual arrangements, local and national, participating in ensuring that targets are met.

12.    Adhere to the code of conduct for NHS employees.