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Paediatric Occupational Therapy Technician | Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Posting date:	13 February 2025
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	£28,622 - £30,225 pro rata per annum incl. HCAS
Hours:	Part time
Closing date:	15 March 2025
Location:	London, W5 2PJ
Company:	CNWL NHS Foundation Trust
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	6981116/333-G-ECP-0595

Summary

Ealing Paediatric Occupational Therapy Service is looking for a motivated, flexible and innovative individual to work with children and young people in Ealing. We are a friendly, dynamic and innovative team who are passionate about supporting children, young people and families in Ealing. We work with a diverse population group across health, education and social care. We are based at Carmelita House at Ealing Broadway and form part of ESCAN (Ealing Services for Children with Additional Needs) where there is a high level of integration and collaboration between different health, education and social care services.

This post will involve mainly working in special schools and clinics. Our service is keen to focus on evidence based family-centred care principles, and applying best practice guidelines to enable occupational participation. This is a permanent role following fulfilment of the 3-month probation period.

We are looking for a team player who is motivated to learn and has good communication skills. Any previous experience of working in a team or school will be an advantage. Regular supervision and support will be provided by a Band 5/6. Are you the person we are looking for?

Please note that the post does not meet the application criteria for the trust's Golden Hello and Relocation package.

JOB SUMMARY

An Occupational Therapy Technician is required to join our dynamic paediatric Occupational Therapy team, for 3 days a week.

You will be working alongside a large team of Paediatric Occupational Therapists to provide guided Occupational Therapy (OT) input to children with special needs and disability including those with Social Communication Disorders, Profound to Moderate Learning Disabilities and Physical Disabilities within community services and / or special school’s environment.



Come and join the friendly and supportive 300 strong Occupational Therapy (OT) staff network in CNWL. We work in many different teams in both physical and mental health, as well as a number of specialist areas. You could have a career for life with us and maintain your dual skills.

OT in CNWL is very fortunate in having a long established professional structure and this includes an AHP director, Trust wide Professional Head of OT, borough and specialist Head OTs. This has the huge benefit of ensuring representation of the OT profession at all levels - both strategically and operationally. We are proud of the diversity in our workforce but have invested time in supporting and developing this further through our BAME OT group. If you are an individual who strives for excellence and wants to develop to your full potential then we would welcome your application.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.1 Professional / Clinical responsibilities

1. To work as an autonomous OT Technician (OTT) implementing pre-formulated OT input to children, young people and families/carers in special schools and community sites allocated by the Occupational Therapist.



This will include:

· Explaining / Demonstrating generic OT programmes to teaching staff.

· To facilitate small groups in areas you feel confident and have had training in e.g. feeding, sensory play, fine motor and grasp development.

· To support delivery of face-to-face and/or virtual groups alongside other Occupational Therapists in schools, clinics and within the community; e.g. functional skills groups, parent workshops.

· To assist Occupational Therapists in the assessment of, and intervention provision for children and young people in schools.



2. To maintain liaison between school staff, other professionals, families/carers and the Occupational Therapists.



3. Basic equipment management with support from the Occupational Therapist.

This will include:

· Ordering equipment and contacting manufacturers / agents on instruction from the Occupational Therapist / school.

· Tidying up and cleaning of equipment.

· Monitoring stock levels in own service area and requesting new equipment via trust procurement system.

· Arranging joint seating assessments with the agents at the special school.

· Basic adjustments (but not maintenance) to static seating to suit the needs of the child.

· Labelling and allocating specialist chairs and other equipment available at the school under advice from the OT.

· Support risk assessments, under directions from the Occupational Therapist, where required to determine appropriate management specifically relating to safe use, issue of equipment, maintenance and safe functioning.

· To participate in the maintenance of equipment according to Health and Safety regulations.



4. To monitor inventory of sensory based and other therapeutic equipment and to notify Occupational therapist / school if items needs to be ordered. To complete appropriate orders.

5. To work and liaise appropriately with a flexible multi-disciplinary team, including attendance at meetings as directed.



6. To undertake delegated tasks from the Occupational Therapist.



7. To communicate effectively with children and young people, their carers / family members, school staff and other professionals.



8. To hold responsibility for, and manage daily allocated caseload using effective prioritisation and time management skills, and to seek senior support if issues arise.



9. To be professionally and legally responsible for own practice and accountable for all aspects of treatment delivered to the child to ensure a high standard of clinical care. This would include joining BAOT as an associate member.



10. To deliver OT input in collaboration with the child/young person, family and carers, respecting their diversity, ethnicity, cultural and religious beliefs and their right to informed consent in all areas of service delivery.



11. To be aware of limitations to practice and seek advice and guidance from Senior Practitioners/therapists as needed.



12. To be responsible for the safekeeping and confidentiality of electronic and paper records including the use of the Trust electronic patient records system (SystmOne).



13.To carry out administration tasks in a timely manner e.g. filing, typing, uploading documents, distribution of reports and programs.



14. To adhere to Legal and Trust policies and procedures e.g. Infection Control and Manual Handling.



15.To be responsible for the care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained e.g. cleaning toys following protocol between sessions.



16.To access clinical supervision sessions on a regular basis and appraisal on an annual basis.

17. To ensure that all mandatory training is kept up to date and recorded on the LDZ- database.



1.2 Communication

· To be skilled in the use of verbal and non-verbal communication to develop a rapport and build trusting relationships with clients and those involved in the client’s care (e.g. family members, carers).



· To work in a client-centred manner to achieve mutually agreed goals, appointments and rehabilitation programs.



· To communicate effectively (use a variety of communication methods e.g. face-to-face, telephone, virtual, emails, written reports) with children, young people, carers and family members and to develop effective working relationships with the multidisciplinary team and external agencies.



· To be able to respond calmly and patiently to children, young people, carers and family members who may be distressed and sometimes aggressive. To offer support, reassurance and advice as required in order to diffuse potentially difficult situations.



· To jointly attend multidisciplinary meetings and case conferences when requested, and to present relevant information about the child/case in a clear and concise manner.



· To engage and maintain a level of information technology relevant to all areas of work.



2. Equipment

Equipment used in this role may include (but is not limited to):

· Computers/ laptops

· Telephone/ mobile phones

· Domestic and clinical cleaning equipment

· Office equipment such as photocopiers and printers

· Mobility equipment such as static seating

· Adaptive equipment such as caring cutlery





3. Operational



3.1 Physical Effort

· Walking variable distances between classes in the school and when attending community sites.

· Carrying equipment / supplies to classrooms to be used in groups / individual OT input, or between community sites.

· Moving and handling of children and young people with guidance of the Occupational Therapist.



3.2 Mental Effort

· Time spent in the office may be characterised by frequent interruptions from telephone, colleagues, children and other staff.

· The need to prioritise conflicting demands on own time.





3.3 Emotional Effort

· Need for self-reflection and team reflection.

· Dealing with the emotional impact of providing input to children with significant disabilities.

· Supporting parents.

· Managing stressful situations and conflict management.



3.4 Working Conditions

· Mostly school based, with limited travel to children’s homes and other sites, e.g. Carmelita House, CPD and Junior CPD days at Carmelita House, etc.

· To travel to/from visiting children in the community in a timely way, utilising public transport.

· Visiting a variety of home environments, some of which may be unclean/ unkempt. This may include risk of exposure to bodily fluids, animals and pets.

· Some areas of the borough are deprived and may require you to carry out risks assessment to ensure personal health and safety.

· Familiarise and adhere to the various Trust policies.



3.5 IT and information resources

· To be responsible for outcoming appointments and recording clinical notes in SystmOne within 48 hours of seeing a child.

· To be able to use Microsoft Word and Excel to maintain clinical documents and input of clinical data, as role requires.

· To use Trust email appropriately using professional language at all times.

· To adhere to the Trust internet and social media policy.





4. Research and Development

· To participate in regular continued professional development (CPD). Contribute to CPD activities by presenting information to colleagues when requested.

· To participate in the induction of new staff and support training and development of colleagues, therapy staff, volunteers and students.

· To maintain clinical governance through participation in clinical audit, quality assurance and evidence-based research projects as requested.

· To develop and maintain a professional development portfolio guided by the competency framework and Personal Development Plan (PDP)

· To maintain knowledge of relevant national and local legislation relating to practice and of service developments and initiatives.


This advert closes on Thursday 27 Feb 2025

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