Occupational Therapist

 Salary Range – £40,000 – £46,148 (salary is dependent on Qualifications & Experience)

£3,000 Joining Bonus (only applicable if applying through our company website)

28 Days paid annual leave + 8 bank holidays

This is a permanent full time position of  37.5 hours per week based across our Therapeutic Community in our Head Office at Kearsney Manor, Temple Ewell, Kent.

Part Time hours of at least 22.5  hours per week would be considered.

We are currently looking to recruit an experienced and innovative Occupational Therapist that has a minimum of 3 years’ experience following the completion of Preceptorship to join our multi-disciplinary Therapy Team.

Channels & Choices is a centre of excellence in therapeutic child-care.  Our community, based in East Kent, is currently made up of several therapeutic residential children’s homes, a school and a therapeutic fostering service. We have our own integrated multi-disciplinary therapy team which is currently made up of a Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Play Therapist, Art Psychotherapist, Dance and Movement Psychotherapist, counsellors, and a Psychiatrist. We also have two therapy assistants that deliver SaLT and OT interventions/programmes across the organisation.

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 have a strong commitment to staff development and there will be considerable opportunities for internal and external training and for sharing good practice within the community.

Perks, Rewards, and benefits

• Private Optical, Dental and Audiological cover
• Private Medical care
• Loyalty scheme which rewards you with extra annual leave following 2 years of service, up to 5 extra days.
• Long service awards for 5-, 10- and 15-years’ service
• Regular team building days, parties, meals and more!
• Complimentary health and wellbeing support with our employee’s assistance programme
• Yearly CPD budget provided
• Funding towards external clinical supervision
• Contribution towards professional registration
• Full induction training fortnight.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver Occupational Therapy services across fostering, residential homes, and schools, collaborating with the Therapy Manager and Clinical Lead to enhance the provision.
• Work in partnership with colleagues from across the community by providing direct advice and support to children, residential support workers, school staff, and foster carers.
• Provide specialist occupational therapy assessment in relation to a child’s physical, sensory, social-emotional, cognitive and functional skills, using both standardised and non-standardised assessments.
• Through assessment or consultation, provide recommendations, interventions, treatments, strategies and support to 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 therapy assistants and school staff.
• Oversee, provide guidance and support OT staff and therapy assistants.
• To complete and monitor health questionnaires and risk assessments for the use of weighted equipment.
• Provide comprehensive, professional, and accurate reports, written and verbal for internal and external colleagues.
• To attend, participate and provide feedback in any relevant professionals or multi-agency meetings
• To be part of regular discussions and reviews of children’s care and support with other members of the community
• Actively contribute the child risk assessment and safety plan where there are concerns around a child’s emotional well-being alongside the therapy manager.
• To provide specialist education and training to staff and carers across the community.
• Making effective use of supervision, support, training, and guidance.
• To participate in the audit process to evidence good practice, and compliance as part of Information Governance and GDPR.
• 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.
• 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 Occupational Therapy and its Code of Conduct.
• Any other duties that are deemed relevant and appropriate to your role as specified by the therapy team manager.

Person Specification

Qualifications (Essential)

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

Qualifications (Desirable)

• Post graduate training relevant to role e.g. Sensory Integration

Experience (Essential)

• A minimum of 3 years’ experience
• Specialist experience of the assessment for children with complex sensory needs
• Working with neurodiverse children, those with SEMH needs and children who have experienced trauma.
• Experience of using a range of standardised and non-standardised assessments.
• Experience of writing comprehensive reports and assessments
• Experience of working with a range of professionals in a multi-agency setting
• Experience of delivering interventions to children, young people and adults on a 1:1 or group basis.
• Experience in providing consultation and guidance to other professionals and non-professional groups

Experience (Desirable)

• Working with children who are in the care system
• Experience of applying sensory approaches within practice
• Overseeing the development of OT practitioners

Skills & Abilities (Essential)

• Excellent verbal and written 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 apply clinical reasoning to inform recommendations either via consultation or direct assessment model, dependent on needs of the child.

Skills & Abilities (Desirable)

• Ability to develop or facilitate training courses

Knowledge (Essential)

• Good understanding of child development, impact of trauma and attachment.
• Knowledge and skills of theories, practice, and research in the field of Occupational Therapy.
• Knowledge of the principles of sensory integration, sensory processing difficulties and the impact on the child.
• Knowledge of a broad range of clinical conditions such as; ADHD, Autism and DCD
• 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
• A high level of emotional resilience and maturity

Additional

• Driver with use of own car

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.  As part of our commitment to Safer Recruitment, CV’s cannot be considered without a completed application form.

Channels & Choices are committed to ensuring that we are always recruiting, retaining and promoting a diverse mix of colleagues who are representative of the diversity in our local community. We actively celebrate our staff’s different abilities, sexual orientation, ethnicity, faith, and gender. Everyone is welcome to apply for a job with Channels & Choices and our staff are supported in their development at all stages in their journey with us.

Channels and Choices reserve the right to carry out background social media checks on all new applicants.