Experienced Occupational Therapist

Experienced Occupational Therapist

Salary Range – £40,000 – £47,000 per annum – (salary is dependent on Qualifications and Experience)

Full Time (37.5 hours) and Part Time hours would be considered – This is a permanent position based across our Therapeutic Community in our Head Office at Kearsney Manor, Temple Ewell, Kent.

These are exciting times as Channels & Choices continues to expand and develop its Residential service, Fostering Service and Sallygate School.  We currently have an opportunity for experienced, innovative and enthusiastic candidate to join our multi-disciplinary Therapy Team within Channels & Choices Therapeutic Community.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide an Occupational Therapy Service working as part of a therapeutic community, within a multi-disciplinary therapy team, to continue to develop the provision within the organisation across fostering, residential homes and school.
• Work in partnership with colleagues from across the community by providing direct advice and support to children, residential staff, and foster carers.
• Assess children regarding physical, sensory and self-care skills using both standardised and non-standardised assessments.
• To give advice and provide interventions, treatments, and strategies to support the children in our care.
• Monitor, evaluate and modify interventions measuring progress, ensuring the effectiveness of any interventions.
• Develop and monitor OT programmes implemented by the OT assistant and class team.
• To support and advise the OT assistant.
• To complete and monitor health questionnaires and risk assessments for the use of weighted equipment.
• To attend, participate and provide feedback in any relevant professionals or multi-agency meetings
• To provide specialist education and training to staff and carers across the community.
• Provide a comprehensive, screening assessment which will form part of a wider assessment, identifying the needs of the child and need for further assessment.
• Contribute to research into the provision of treatments for children.
• Provide comprehensive, professional, and accurate reports, written and verbal for internal and external colleagues.
• To devise, monitor, supervise and evaluate the implementations of intervention programmes.
• Making effective use of supervision, support, training, and guidance.
• Provide all interventions giving due regard and consideration to issues of racial, religious, cultural and sexual orientation.
• Knowledge of the latest research, theory, and literature to support evidence-based practice.
• To be part of regular discussions and reviews of children’s care and support with other members of the community
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of other relevant legislation for children’s social care including safeguarding policies and procedures and maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Maintain own clinical professional development.
• To work within the professional standards as stipulated by the Royal College of OT and its Code of Conduct
• Such other duties as may be deemed appropriate in the role.

Person Specification

Qualifications (Essential)

• Relevant degree level qualification to practice Occupational Therapy
• Registered with HCPC

Experience (Essential)

• Specialist experience of the assessment for children with complex sensory needs
• Experience of writing comprehensive reports and assessments
• Experience of delivering interventions to children, young people and adults
• Experience in providing consultation and guidance to other professionals and non-professional groups

Experience (Desirable)

• Working with children who are in the care system

Skills and Abilities (Essential)

• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively on own initiative as well as within a team
• Ability to build relationships and promote change
• Computer literate for report and assessment writing
• Ability to use supervision effectively to process and reflect on the support provided
• Ability to identify and provide appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to distressing situations and challenging behaviour

Skills and Abilities (Desirable)

• Ability to develop or facilitate training courses

Knowledge (Essential)

• Good understanding of child development
• Knowledge and skills of theories, practice, and research in the field of Occupational Therapy.
• Understanding of Child Protection & Safeguarding
• Knowledge of the mental health needs of children and adolescents

Personal Qualities (Essential)

• Commitment to continued professional and personal development
• Professional credibility
• Commitment to equal opportunities and valuing diversity
• Demonstrate a commitment to supervision and reflective practice
• Warm, engaging and problem solving approach

Additional (Essential)

• Driver with use of own car

Channels & Choices is a centre of excellence in therapeutic child-care.  Our community, based in East Kent, is made up of 7 therapeutic residential children’s homes, a school and a therapeutic fostering service.  As a member of our community you would play a key part in transforming children’s lives and helping them reach their full potential.  Your role would involve working with children across all aspects of the community whilst also supporting the adults who care for the children.

We provide a unique and innovative ‘stepping stones’ placements to children.  The stepping stones model offers children therapeutic residential care, which aims to support them to transition to fostering and be able to enjoy living as part of a foster family.

We have a strong commitment to staff development and there will be considerable opportunities for in-house training and a protected budget for continued professional development.

In house clinical and managerial supervision are provided.

Channels and Choices are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the young people in our care.  Staff are all required to adhere to the organisation’s Safeguarding Policies and Procedures.  This post will be subject to a clear Enhanced DBS Disclosure, an employment background check, satisfactory references & verification of a right to work in the UK.