Highly Specialist Children's Occupational Therapist

• The post holder will work with children with a variety of needs and all ages from pre-school to secondary school. This provides an excellent opportunity to assess and treat children across their school years and build on clinical practice and expertise.
• The post holder will work closely with the Special Needs Assessment Section for Wandsworth Council, supporting the Education, Health and Care Plan assessment process.
• The post holder will represent Wandsworth Council at SEND First tier Tribunals.
• The service follow evidence based practice models and development opportunities are available. The post holder will be provided with high quality training and development opportunities, flexible working to enable a good work-life balance, an inclusive and friendly work environment and access to a comprehensive staff health and wellbeing programme.
• The post holder will be based with the Community Children's Occupational Therapy team and will access supervision, in-service training and other development opportunities as part of the appraisal process.
• We offer flexible working patterns and a current hybrid model between office based work and home working.
• We are a supportive team and offer regular supervision and personal development opportunities.
• We encourage and support staff to complete regular training and help you to further develop leadership, generic and Occupational Therapy professional skills including having student practice placements.

Please see attached a more detailed Job Description outlining the main responsibilities for the role and Person Specification for a list of Essential and Desirable criteria for the role.

We welcome onsite visits.

St George's Children's Services were recognised as excellent in the most recent CQC inspection and the department continues to work to maintain and further develop our high standards of care.

St George's and the Children's Therapy Department offer excellent support and supervision, with access to internal and external training opportunities, and protected time for CPD activities.

Support for flexible working arrangements is also available.

If you would like a new challenge working across the NHS and Education Services we would welcome your application.

Essential: - Relevant qualifications and evidence of CPD including post graduate courses; - Registered with HCPC; - Relevant post graduate courses.

Desirable: - Member for Royal College of Occupational Therapies.; - Member of Specialist interest groups.; - Member of CYPF.; - Member of BAOT.; - Relevant Masters degree or equivalent post graduate training.

Essential: - S1. Ability to independently manage a complex caseload & to reflect on clinical practice & experience; - S2. Ability to solve complex problems & take appropriate decisions.; - S3. Ability to communicate clearly with others using effective listening skills, non-verbal communication and establishing an easy rapport.; - S4. Flexibility - able to adapt to different demands & situations and the ability to work under pressure.; - S5. Ability to prioritise & organise workload & time.; - S6. Ability to write concise, legible notes & reports.; - S7. Good presentation skills.; - S8. Demonstrating some degree of postgraduate training.

Essential: - 1.Significant experience in working with children leading to a sound understanding of NHS policies & procedures.; - 2.Extensive experience in working with children who has SEND.; - 3.Extensive experience in working with children who has a diagnosis of CP, DCD and GDD.; - 4.Extensive knowledge of child development, neuro-developmental stages and the role of occupation in childhood.; - 5.Excellent understanding of principles of postural management and experience in prescribing children's specialist equipment for seating and bathing.; - 7.Good knowledge and understanding of the legislative framework surrounding children in the UK particularly relating to SEND.; - 8.Experience with writing EHCNAs, annual review reports.; - 9.Experience using of a wide range of standardised assessments & clinical observations.; - 10.Ability to demonstrate Trust Values.

Desirable: - 3.Good experience of planning & running groups with children.; - 5.Experience of representing the OT service at Tier 1 Tribunals.; - 6.Experience of working in UK mainstream schools & nurseries with children with OT needs.; - 7.Experience in using a Trauma informed approach.; - 8.Experience in using a CO-OP approach.; - 9.Experience using sensory integration approaches.; - 10.Experience in working with infants who has complex needs.

Essential: - K1. Understanding & knowledge of up to date information relating to children with Physical Disabilities, Autism, Developmental Co-ordination Disorder and other related disorders affecting participation in everyday activities.; - K2. Good understanding of the range of physical & developmental disabilities which can occur with children and the role of the OT in this area.; - K3. Good knowledge and understanding of the SEND reforms.