Job Description

Specialist Children's Community



Occupational Therapist



An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time Band 6 Children's Occupational Therapist to work within the Children's Therapy Team, supporting the core service as well as the Autism diagnostic pathway. You will have extensive experience of working with children with complex physical needs and be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills.



The Children's Occupational Therapy Service is countywide and provides a service to children in Lincolnshire. The team works in a range of settings including mainstream and special schools, nurseries, clinics and the child's own home.



A developing Band 5 to Band 6 post would be considered.



You will be required to manage a complex clinical caseload including providing Occupational therapy management/care plans, risk assessments (for example moving and handling plans) advice and recommendations for appropriate equipment/aids and advice and recommendations for Education and other agencies. You will work closely with colleagues from other services and agencies including the Children's Physiotherapy and Speech and Language Therapy services, the acute sector, Social Services and Education. This post will also include time working with colleagues in the Autism diagnostic pathway, completing ADOS assessments to support with differential diagnoses.



Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust is in the top 25 per cent of all community trusts for overall staff engagement in the 2021 NHS National Staff Survey.



At LCHS, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in LCHS' workforce.



LCHS recognises the increasing demand for more flexibility in working practices in order to accommodate the personal goals and commitments that employees experience at different stages during their working lives. Flexible working opportunities such as part-time working, compressed hours, job shares, and hybrid working models can help staff to balance their personal and work commitments. Arrangements can be put in place if it can be shown that the needs of the individual can be balanced with those of the service and the impact on other team members, enabling the Trust to recruit and retain skilled staff, raise staff morale, reduce absenteeism and respond to changing service needs more effectively.



We are an ambassador of a learning culture that will support the right individual to progress in their chosen career through an 'earn while you learn' apprenticeship programme. Visit our Learning and Development page to find out more https://www.lincolnshirecommunityhealthservices.nhs.uk/join-us/learning-and-dev



To manage a personal caseload by undertaking a comprehensive assessment and treatment that is evidence based and within a commissioned framework. This includes the ability to appropriately select and administer standardised tests specific to Occupational Therapy Practice. To organise this efficiently and effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.

To formulate and implement individual programs of care and make decisions regarding these using experience, specialist knowledge and clinical judgement, ensuring these are communicated effectively to children and their carers.

To plan specialised Children's Occupational Therapy treatment programmes or skilled Children's Occupational Therapy intervention requiring advanced professional knowledge and experience, and which demonstrates clinical reasoning. To carry out treatment in line with good practice and in accordance with the wishes of the patient.

To prescribe specialist equipment for postural control both static and dynamic and to instruct those working with the child in the use of that equipment. The prescription is dependent on a sound knowledge base of equipment that is available and excellent clinical assessment and reasoning in selecting the item most suited to that child.

To provide specialist assessment in risk management of moving and handling issues in relation to the child and its environment and advice on its impact on the child's treatment programme according to Trust policy.

To maintain an accurate, current and professional standard of record keeping in line with professional codes, Therapy Service standards and team specific requirements.

To be proactive in the evaluation and change of clinical services and Trust policies including the development, implementation and monitoring of clinical standards and outcome measures.

To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply this to the work situation.

To participate in clinical education of occupational therapy students on placement within the specialism. To communicate with the University to ensure that adequate progress is being made by the student during the placement, where the Clinical Educator assessment of their work will contribute to their final degree classification.

To provide a Specialist Occupational Therapy assessment of children seen by the service of children to contribute to their assessment of Special Educational Needs.

To fully engage in clinical supervision as a both supervisor and supervisee.

Develop and maintain membership of clinical networks appropriate to the field of practice.