Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical 

1.    To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of a defined assessment caseload, as required.  To ensure a high standard of clinical care (for the patients under your management) in order to maximise function and independence.

2.    To act as an expert source of knowledge, offering specialist clinical advice and support to other healthcare professionals, families, and agencies across organisational boundaries, following a tiered system approach. 

3.    To work autonomously and demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning skills in the management of a defined highly complex patient caseload, whilst working as part of a multidisciplinary team. 

4.    To demonstrate the ability to carry out specialist occupational assessment and interventions supporting children with neuro-disability and neuro-developmental problems, including those with ASD, ADHD, assessing specific motor, perceptual and sensory difficulties.

5.    Where appropriate exercise full responsibility and autonomy for the diagnosis of and discharge of clients, ensuring appropriate assessment, formulation and interventions, communicating with the referral agent and others involved with the care on a regular basis.

6.    To demonstrate highly specialist assessment, diagnostic, treatment and management plans for families and support systems to implement.

7.    To contribute to the delivery of the service in a variety of defined clinical settings, which may school and the patient’s home.

8.    To develop and maintain good working relationships with other healthcare professions, social care, and other appropriate agencies, to ensure integrated and high-quality patient outcomes and to make timely and detailed referrals when appropriate.

9.    To undertake risk assessment and risk management for relevant individual clients and to provide both general and specialist advice for other professionals on all aspects of risk assessment and management.

10.    To refer, liaise and negotiate with other health and education professionals determining the best holistic approach in order to best meet the child’s complex needs.

11.    To provide highly specialist verbal and written advice to a range of professionals.

12.    To maintain accurate documentation in line with professional standards and local policies and procedures.

13.    To write highly specialist reports, as required, including those for the EHCP Process. 

14.    To provide accurate and timely written information and reports to referring agents and other agencies where appropriate.
 
15.    To record and submit clinical activity data as required by the Trust in an accurate and timely manner.

16.    Where appropriate communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and diagnosis of clients under their care and to monitor and evaluate progress during the course of both uni and multi-disciplinary care.

Professional

1.    To act in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct and Standards of practice set by the Royal College of Occupational therapy (RCOT) and Health & Care  Professions Council (HCPC).

2.    To maintain own continuing professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any trends and developments and incorporate them as necessary into your work.  Being responsible for maintaining written evidence within CPD portfolio.

3.    To be an active member of the in-service training programme available via staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions, external courses and reflective practice by regular attendance and participation in the former including the delivery of presentations.

4.    To participate in the staff appraisal scheme, personal development review (PDR) and clinical supervision.

5.    In common with all practitioners to receive regular clinical supervision and professional management, according to good practice guidelines, from a senior clinician and where appropriate clinical supervision from other senior professional colleagues.

6.    Where appropriate provide specialist clinical placements for trainees or students ensuring that they acquire the necessary clinical and diagnostic skills to achieve their competencies

7.    To participate in service development and review, taking into account the views of service users i.e. parents, carers and other professionals.

8.    To participate in evidence-based projects/audits contributes to the implementation of these changes within designated team/area.

9.    To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with Allied Health Professionals (AHP’s), social services, education colleagues and voluntary organisations to ensure delivery of a timely and co-ordinated multi-agency service.  This will include the identification of issues and attendance of patient reviews in variety of settings and the planning of ongoing care.

10.    To demonstrate a sound understanding of Trust values, Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to the work situation.

11.    To attend Mandatory Training and incorporate these within working practices.

12.    To attend Safeguarding training and work in accordance within the local and national guidelines.

13.    To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both children and families and neurodevelopmental conditions.

14.    To attend and contribute to service meetings and  development and articulation of best practice in ASD across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of a reflective practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of ASD and related disciplines.

15.    To be aware of Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies, which may be required to improve the safety of your work area, including your prompt recording and reporting of accidents and incidents (in line with policy), and ensuring that equipment use is safe.

16.    To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out occupational therapy duties, and to adhere to departmental policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure its safe use by others through, teaching, training and supervision of practice