Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated person to join the Evelina London Children’s Hospital REACH Rehabilitation (ELCH REACH) team.

The ELCH REACH service provides individualised, evidence-based outpatient rehabilitation targeting arm and hand function, for infants, children and young people with hemiparesis. The ELCH REACH team sits within the wider upper limb service and is comprised of; a Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist and two Senior Specialist Occupational Therapists. The team is also supported by a Consultant Occupational Therapist in Paediatric Neurosciences.

This role will focus on supporting the ELCH REACH team in the provision of rehabilitation for infants, children and young people with hemiparesis within an out-patient setting. Your role will assist with both administrative and clinical related tasks to support the functioning of the department.

You will be working with children aged 6 months – 16 years, presenting with hemiparesis, alongside their caregivers and community based therapists. We are seeking an individual who has excellent communication skills and the ability to work flexibly. The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate knowledge and experience of working within a healthcare setting.

To assist Occupational Therapists in providing a high standard Occupational Therapy service to patients within the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and to undertake duties to support the smooth functioning of the Occupational Therapy department and service.

The post holder will have regular contact with Children, Young People and Caregivers, Highly Specialised Occupational Therapists, Rotational Occupational Therapists, Assistants, Community Occupational Therapists and Community Physiotherapists, AHP and Medical Consultants,

You will receive regular individual supervision from senior occupational therapists and opportunities to participate in departmental audits or research projects. We have a monthly in-service programme for all staff.

Occupational Therapy is part of the Therapies Directorate at the Evelina London Children's Hospital with a supportive and progressive management structure. Departmental objectives are founded upon the core principles and pillars of the clinical governance framework and the Trust-wide objectives. Multi-disciplinary working within the Trust is well-established.

Students are accepted on placement from several training schools. The Department has structured in-service training and personal development programmes. Staff are encouraged to attend courses to continue their clinical development and participate in multi-disciplinary audit and research. You will be working in a rewarding and challenging clinical setting.

Organisational Values

Ourvalueshelp us to define and develop our culture,what we doandhow we do it. It is important that you understand and reflect these values throughout your employment with the Trust.

The post holder will:

• Put patients first- consider the patient’s needs and wishes in all that they do
• Take pride in what they do– strive for highest standards on own work and challenge colleagues to do the same
• Strive to be the best– in terms of patient care & teamwork
• Act with integrity - maintain the privacy & dignity of patients, work with integrity and be trustworthy, be accountable for own work
• Respect others– patients, visitors and colleagues. Actively give and receive feedback.

The role will involve working closely with the ELCH REACH Occupational Therapists, caregivers and community therapy teams to co-ordinate/ schedule and implement out-patient upper limb rehabilitation programmes.

The role will also assist the ELCH REACH team in the facilitation of educational workshops for parents/ carers and community based therapists. Other administrative duties include; the formulation, collation and update of outcome data and management of stock. Advanced written, computer, organisational and time management skills are essential.

Professional / Clinical responsibilities

• To support Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions with paediatric patients within a defined clinical area, which may include complex conditions, as delegated to by the occupational therapists.
• To develop skills and specialist knowledge within the specific clinical area.
• To provide competent treatment to patients within set clinical protocols in collaboration with the Occupational Therapists.
• To support patient treatment sessions, following written/verbal guidance from the treating therapist , and to use clinical reasoning skills and knowledge of evidence based practice to formulate appropriate care plan utilising a range of treatment skills and options
• To monitor patient progress alongside the Occupational Therapist in order to progress treatments effectively in order to meet patient goals
• To discuss own clinical judgement and knowledge in regards to progressing and/or modifying treatment programmes within agreed clinical protocols and parameters with the therapist.
• To carry out autonomous treatment activities as prescribed by the treating therapist.
• To be responsible for individual and group treatments as indicated.
• To evaluate and report all observations, patient responses and treatment outcomes to the referring occupational therapist, monitoring and recording patient’s progress
• To complete onward communication/referrals to other services including equipment and community services.
• To demonstrate an awareness of clinical risk and ability to manage clinical risk at all times, including observing patients in all situations applicable to occupational therapy, ensuring safety and security at all times and ensure therapy equipment is maintained and issued in safe working order.
• To comply, at all times, with the requirements of the Health and Safety Regulations and to take responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of others in the working environment
• To demonstrate physical ability to carry out occupational therapy interventions including therapeutic handling.
• To demonstrate understanding of the complexity of patient’s needs and awareness of processes relating to a child’s developmental age, including physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities.
• To be able to cope with occasional, potentially stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner.
• To attend mandatory annual training (Fire, Manual Handling and Adult Basic Life Support)

Communication• To be able to motivate and engage patients through effective communication skills, with the benefit of verbal and non-verbal skills

• Ability to communicate information where there may be barriers to communication and or understanding i.e. patients with cognitive impairment, non-English speaking patients; use of interpreters; excess noise or lack of privacy
• To liaise with patients/ caregivers, hospital and community staff as appropriate
• To be responsible to and report regularly to either the occupational therapist or senior occupational therapist in the clinical area.
• To liaise with other occupational therapists or health professionals as necessary with regard to patient care.
• To liaise with managers, other administrative and support staff as necessary to ensure the smooth running of the department.
• To attend any meetings and seminars/case conferences as deemed appropriate by occupational therapists, including staff meetings and assistant meetings

Physical Resources• To be responsible for competent use and maintenance of all equipment used, to report defects in equipment in a timely manner

• To maintain equipment stock and advise seniors on resources necessary to implement treatment programme
• To undertake routine and general light cleaning/tidying tasks within departmental clinical areas.
• To undertake some administrative tasks particularly related to record keeping, filing, photocopying, supplies, errands and message taking in consultation with occupational therapy staff.
• To prepare and clean equipment used in treatment in accordance with infection control guidelines.
• To report all complaints and accidents immediately to a member of occupational therapy staff.

Human Resources• To be responsible for non-clinical induction of assistants and students as required.

• To participate in the supervision and teaching of assistants and occupational therapy students as required

Planning and Organisation• To flexibly plan and organise own time, patient caseload, meetings and training and to adjust plans as required according to staffing levels and to meet deadlines.

• To assist the occupational therapists in the planning of activities or programmes.
• To ensure smooth organisation of patient individual and group work.
• To liaise with and provide cover for other assistants and technical instructors in the service during annual, sick and study leave.

Service Development• To follow occupational therapy department and Trust policies

• To comment on changes to departmental policies and procedures as required.