Job Description

Islington Additional Needs and Disability Team is a multidisciplinary service for children and young people 0-19.



We are looking for an individual who is dynamic, innovative and enthusiastic with a specialism in supporting school aged children and/or young people with Autism as well as a range of conditions relevant to the school aged population including Developmental Co-ordination Disorder and sensory and physical disabilities . The post holder will join our Mainstream Therapies team based at the Northern Health Centre alongside therapy colleagues. As well as holding a clinical caseload in a number of schools they will provide management support to the Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist.



The Mainstream Therapies |Team provides a multi-disciplinary service for children with additional needs and disabilities.



Find out what it is like to work in our friendly, supportive teams which span hospital and community settings across vibrant and diverse North Central London first hand, visit www.whittington.nhs.uk/CYPrecruitment (you may have to copy and paste this link into your browser) to hear from some of our current staff about why they chose to join and stay at Whittington Health.



The post holder will be responsible for an allocated caseload, providing high quality Occupational Therapy and effective case management to children attending mainstream schools in Islington. The post holder will demonstrate a high standard of clinical practice as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist.



The post holder will also plan and deliver training for both parents and school staff.



They will provide clinical supervision and support to less experienced colleagues, trainees, unqualified staff and staff from other disciplines and agencies when required, both within the team and the wider service.



The post holder will have excellent communication skills, active listening skills and the ability to empathise. They will be able to communicate complex information effectively, taking into account the barriers to communication presented by the diverse caseload.



They will be skilled in working in and liaising within a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment and be able to reassure and instil confidence in clients, carers and other professionals. They will demonstrate excellent negotiation skills in working with other team members, parents/carers or other professionals.



Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.



Clinical duties



Be able to select and apply OT assessments (standardised and non-standardised) for a designated case load, addressing occupational performance and participation, enabling the child in the areas of self-care, productivity and leisure



To set and maintain high standards of clinical practice, which is evidence based where possible, using standardised assessment and outcome measures, where appropriate.



ADMINISTRATION



To assist the team leader in the day-to-day running of the service when requested



To maintain up-to-date records and statistics on children seen according to Islington Additional Needs and Disability policies.



MANAGEMENT



To attend relevant departmental, In service and Trust meetings when required and deputise for the line manager by carrying out agreed delegated tasks as required and represent at management meetings.



Participate in the operational planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within areas of practice, leading on delegated projects within the service



TEACHING, TRAINING and RESEARCH



To receive regular supervision and annual appraisal from the Team Leader a nd/or Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist.



Review and reflect own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision.



OTHER



Ability to work in frequent unpleasant conditions with odours, occasional body fluids, home visits and confined areas.



Frequently required to exert moderate effort for several short periods during the day requiring lifting equipment and complex skills e.g. using hoists



Regularly travel within the community (schools, homes etc).