Occupational Therapist (Neonates & Paediatrics)
| Posting date: | 19 June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £54,320.00 to £60,981.00 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £54320.00 - £60981.00 a year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 02 July 2025 |
| Location: | London, SW10 9NH |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | C9289-CS-73 |
Summary
1. Clinical To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of professional practice, including the management of patients in your care. To uphold the standards set by HCPC and RCOT. To have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate To support the delivery of the clinical service with the neonatal and paediatric services according to service demands and deliver a high quality service To identify and prioritise infants/children on the neonatal unit and paediatrics for clinical caseload and carry out highly specialised individualised assessments and interventions To use standardised screening tools and outcome measures specific for the neonatal and paediatric population To identify infants and children at risk of neurodevelopmental problems, work with families/carers and other MDT to provide appropriate early intervention and ensure onward timely referrals as appropriate To use evidence based and a family centred approach to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions To work with families/carers to identify goals and monitor, evaluate and modify treatment to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention To prescribe and provide individual patient equipment such as developmental equipment or splinting, seeking support as needed To keep up to date with new developments and changing trends in neonatal and paediatric occupational therapy To develop new working practices and local guidelines and keep abreast of new techniques in relation to the management of the patients in this speciality particularly in line with any national guidance To lead on production of appropriate clinical guidelines and local policies ensuring evidence-based, implemented and audited To provide guidance and advice to other professions involved in the provision of neonatal and paediatric services and to patients and families/carers To provide comprehensive written records of assessment and treatment according to the Trusts standards, including providing a high standard report/discharge summary as indicated. To be aware of boundaries of own scope of practice and to effectively manage associated clinical risk at all times 2. PROFESSIONAL To comply with the occupational therapy codes of professional conduct at all times To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of professional activities To participate in the appraisal system using Trust documentation To participate in professional and clinical supervision provided by external peers, including any network peer supervision groups. To actively seek support as required To build strong working relationships with the neonatal MDT, promoting the role of the occupational therapist both on the neonatal units, paediatric units and in follow-up clinics To deliver teaching in education & training sessions for teams including students as required To be responsible for own personal professional development and keep abreast of new clinical practice in the area of neonates. To support and oversee any junior staff with CPD To have key responsibility for clinical teaching and development of peers, medical colleagues and other health professionals within neonates, to include community based colleagues and those based in other trusts To understand and apply clinical governance and clinical risk management principles to the service. To effectively manage, alongside the MDT, any associated clinical risk To support the MDT and ensure safe practice at all times To initiate and carry out audits or QI projects, particularly those that promote the role of occupational therapy on the neonatal units and paediatric services To ensure dissemination of current research developments, evidence-based practice, and best-practice guidelines as appropriate at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and other staff within the North West London network 3. ORGANISATIONAL To be responsible for establishing an efficient and effective occupational therapy service on the units by demonstrating good working relationships, networking, education of the role, good leadership, communication and prioritisation skills To manage and prioritise own workload by appropriately balancing clinical and other demands to ensure all service needs are met To effectively plan, implement and manage the occupational therapy strategy on the neonatal units and paediatric services To formulate flexible strategies for clinical education and service development within clinical specialty To use excellent prioritisation and time management skills to meet potential unpredictable and conflicting needs of the service To work closely with the MDT to ensure success of the occupational therapy role on the units To maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records in line with departmental, professional and legal standards To be aware of and implement all organisational, departmental and trust policies and to be involved in updating any as appropriate To ensure timely communication of assessment and treatment findings to other involved disciplines such as discharge and referral letters 4. COMMUNICATION To persuade, motivate and explain through advanced communication skills, utilising verbal and non-verbal skills and using written and electronic information where necessary To promote the role of OT within the team, negotiating priorities where appropriate and influencing key stakeholders to invest in neonatal and paediatric therapies To demonstrate expert ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to parents, carers and other staff, where there may be barriers to effective communication To maintain good communication and liaison between all staff and MDT members regarding service provision and development and to promote a strong working relationship at all times To support and guide more junior staff in effective communication with parents/carers and the MDT, particularly with complex and/or sensitive information To be able to diffuse potentially hostile and antagonistic situations with staff, patients and relatives, using highly developed negotiation and interpersonal skills To develop strong links, good communication and liaison between all staff and people involved in patient care, student education, research and policy development as appropriate and to promote good working relationships at all times, including colleagues based in other trusts 5. RESEARCH and AUDIT To use specialist knowledge of current evidence to drive clinical audit to support long term investment in occupational therapy To identify areas of need and develop clinical guidance within the OT scope of practice To keep abreast of evidence based practice in neonatal care and paediatric occupational therapy as relevant to specialty by sourcing appropriate CPD such as external supervision, journals, engagement in peer supervision and external courses 6. EFFORT To carry out assessment and treatment using manual and therapeutic handling techniques which may require moderate to high physical effort and concentration frequently during each working day To comply with the trust health and safety policies including manual handling and infection control at all times To work in an environment where the work patterns may be disrupted by frequent demands from patients, clinical staff and any emergency situations arising To deal sensitively with distressing or emotional circumstances regarding patient care To support staff when indicated in the management of challenging patients, families or situations. To deal sensitively with patients and families who have a high level of anxiety or aggression due to, for example, fear or unrealistic expectations To work in an environment that may include frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions. This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and their manager. All duties must be carried out under supervision or within trust policy and procedure. You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledge level. If you are unsure you must seek clarification from a more senior member of staff.