Community Occupational Therapist - REQ004085

INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title: Community Occupational Therapist

Salary: PO1 £38,220 - £40,777 pro rata

Hours: 18.5 Hours

Contract: Permanent

Location: Tech North LS7

An opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to join the Child Health & Disability Team. You will play a key role in reducing the barriers experienced by Children and Young People with a Disability in their own homes.

About you

As a Community Occupational Therapist, you will bring to the role:

You will have a degree or diploma in Occupational Therapy and be registered with the HCPC. With a special interest in Paediatrics, experience working with children and families would be an advantage. Experience in the provision of specialist equipment, major adaptations and moving and handling is essential.
You will be a problem solver, develop positive relationships and make sound judgements, have excellent interpersonal skills and be a team player.
You will be a confident communicator with a can-do approach. You will be motivated and a critical thinker with the ability to understand the needs of children and families.
You will be supportive and ambitious with excellent organisational skills. You will be keen to share your knowledge and skills to develop others.
You will be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, supporting our Child Friendly vision for Leeds to be the best city in the UK and the best city for children and young people to grow up in.

About the role

You will play a key role in reducing the barriers experienced by Children and Young People with health and disability needs in their own homes. You will be joining a highly motivated and committed team working with Social Workers and multi-agency colleagues. We will offer supervision and support for continuous professional development.

As Child Friendly Leeds our vision is for Leeds to be the best city in the UK and the best city for children and young people to grow up in. Through our vision and obsessions, we invest in children and young people to help build an increasingly prosperous and successful city. We aim to improve outcomes for all our children whilst recognising the need for outcomes to improve faster for children and young people from vulnerable and deprived backgrounds.

Children’s Occupational therapy in Leeds is underpinned by a culture of restorative practice and working with our children and families.

How to apply

Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose Under the general direction of a Team Manager, and with support from Senior Occupational Therapists, provide a high quality and comprehensive Occupational Therapy service to adults, children and young people, carers and the community in accordance with the organisational needs, policy and practices of the Directorate and within statutory guidelines. Provision of different learning experiences for Occupational Therapists on rotation.

Responsibilities

To undertake Occupational Therapy assessments, deemed suitable for allocation to an OT in line with experience post qualification. Assessments should have an occupational focus and aim to reduce barriers to inclusion.

To undertake re-enablement assessments which have an occupational emphasis. To be responsible for the care planning for the whole process.

To organise work activities taking account of the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities ensuring statutory legislation and service priorities are met.

To manage an allocated caseload of disabled people and, with supervision, regularly monitor, review and evaluate changes in a disabled persons needs and ensure that all services contribute effectively to the support plan and remain an effective use of resources.

To complete moving and handling and hoist training, and then, with appropriate guidance from senior staff, carry out appropriate moving and handling assessments

Under clear supervision, contribute to the enhanced screening of new referrals and people already in receipt of services.

On the basis of assessed needs and risks and, using a person-centred approach, provide/recommend services to disabled people which remove barriers to social inclusion.

To develop, implement and review outcome focussed Occupational Therapy intervention to meet assessed needs and promote independent well-being and inclusion.

To identify specialist housing needs of disabled people and their families and support them in accessing suitable housing/adaptations

To deliver, fit and collect equipment as appropriate, including necessary moving and handling of equipment.

To provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative and based on an analysis of complex information.

To work to and within the prescribed standards of the College of Occupational Therapists.

To maintain accurate and up to date case notes and other records and write reports as required.

To use management information systems, keep them up to date and be able to provide concise and accurate information about circumstances and plans within the limits of data protection.

To appropriately participate in meetings and relevant forums.

To develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals within the council and partner agencies, to ensure an integrated, holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the care management and safeguarding of disabled people.

To work closely with other services in the council to deliver effective and efficient solutions to barriers faced by disabled people.

To obtain the views of the disabled person during the assessment process and take into account their views when making recommendations for service provision.

To contribute to the promotion of improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities.

With supervision, work with individuals, families and carers and communities to help them make informed decisions enabling them to clarify and express their needs to promote meaningful activity in their lives and social inclusion.

To actively promote and support Leeds City Council’s and Directorate policies on Equality and Diversity.

To be responsible for understanding and applying all relevant practice standards, policies and procedures.

To be compliant with relevant governance, policy and procedures.

To work within the safeguarding framework to raise concerns and assist with the management of risks where individuals have experienced or are likely to experience significant harm.

To work to the prescribed standards for service provision and maintain performance and develop practice and experience in line with personal targets as agreed with line manager through supervision and appraisal.

To disseminate knowledge and contribute to the delivery of a high standard of service.

To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council and Directorate Policies and procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under Health and Safety policy and procedures.

To provide support and professional supervision to support staff and to ensure the person achieves the appropriate skills and competencies.

To attend regular personal and professional Supervision with identified Supervisor.

To assist with the practice education of undergraduate OT students, including student placements and other student related activity.

To find and use evidence on which to base professional practice.

With supervision identify and implement strategies for responding appropriately to concerns about practice or procedures seeking guidance if required.
To promote Occupational Therapy to colleagues both within and outside the council.
To participate in training and development activities that ensures up to date knowledge and skills to retain registration with the HCPC and maintain an up-to-date CPD portfolio.

To undertake any other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the grade and purpose of the job as may be determined by the directorate.

Specific Responsibilities within Children and Young People Services

To consider the development of the Child or Young Person and the needs of the Family/Carer when making recommendations for service provision.
To obtain the views of the Child or Young Person as well as the family/carer during the assessment process and to take account of these views when making recommendations for service provision

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Ability to effectively plan, prioritise, time manage and evaluate own workload.
Able to communicate and pass information effectively, accurately and concisely with a range of partners and service users, carers and colleagues

Able to engage individuals, families, carers and workers from other agencies

Able to identify appropriate Occupational Therapy interventions in order to promote positive change
Ability to carry out safe functional assessments and give physical assistance where necessary
Ability to move and handle equipment for assessment and provision
Ability to assess the needs of and work with individuals and groups using a person centred approach

Be competent in the use of IT, including Microsoft Office, Internet and Email

Ability to maintain accurate service user records, assessments and follow policy and procedure

Able to record, evidence and communicate using technology
Able to exercise individual judgement, assess risk and consult where and when appropriate.

Ability to make proactive use of Supervision to reflect critically on practice and explore different approaches to work and understand the boundaries of professional accountability.

Car driver
Qualified as an Occupational Therapist

Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Knowledge of the range of models of Occupational Therapy and their use in a community setting

Of relevant legislation appropriate to the needs of disabled people from a wide range of backgrounds

Awareness of the broad range of factors that impact on disabled people and families e.g. range of physical and mental health conditions

Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.

Experience of implementing a person-centred focused approach

Experience of demonstrated creativity in tackling and solving problems

Experience of using initiative and a commitment to developing services
Experience of use of reflective practice techniques to critically analyse information to inform decision making and planning
Experience of producing written records and reports to a high standard for a variety of purposes with language suited to function
Application of information gathering skills to make and contribute to assessments

Experience of using supervision effectively

Committed to continuous improvement.

Identify and take account of the significance of diversity on the lives of people and show application of this understanding in practice

To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under the Council’s Health & Safety Policies.

Take responsibility for improving practice through professional development

Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) upon commencement in post and maintain yearly registration

Essential behavioural and other characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters

Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Ability to devise, implement, review and evaluate service and support plans

Understanding of the role and function of the Local Authority in providing services to older and disabled people.

Knowledge of equipment and adaptations available and their application

Experience of advocacy and user involvement

Experience of using initiative

Knowledge of the problems of disadvantaged groups

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