Occupational Therapist
£28,000 – £32,000 (actual gross salary)
35 hours per week, 39 weeks per year (term time)
Rotherham
Unique School Solutions are seeking to recruit an Occupational Therapist on behalf of a Special Needs College in Rotherham. This role is full-time, term-time only. Initially the role will be temporary with the opportunity to secure a permanent contract of employment following a 12-week successful probational period.
The Occupational Therapist will be responsible for providing high quality and effective support for students across the college. The focus of the role is to help students work towards independence.
The college Occupational Therapist will be expected to work closely with college leaders, college staff, parents/carers and our multi-disciplinary team and other professionals both in and out of college.
Main Duties:
- Provide and maintain comprehensive OT provision for students within our specialist college environment.
- Provide functional assessment of students with special educational needs and disabilities and deliver individualised intervention aimed at maximising function.
- Undertake all aspects of OT duties as an autonomous practitioner.
- Support and train class-based staff in order for them to have an understanding of OT needs.
- Manage the physical resources available within college sites.
- Work autonomously with access to external supervision and to keep up to date with current practice and professional development.
- Be responsible for service development and improvement in education-based practice for young people, aged 16-25 years, with identified needs.
Professional Competencies
- Assess students’ needs and initiate treatment plans relevant to their needs.
- Support with Independent Living Skills (home) and make recommendations regarding equipment provision and adaptations to the learning/home environment.
- Support with Independent Living Skills (community) including travel and shopping.
- Manage students’ interventions including target setting and outcomes evaluation.
- Work in line with professional and college standards, protocols and procedures.
- Use interpretation and analytical skills to recommend the best course of therapy intervention and develop comprehensive plans as appropriate.
- Organise clinical responsibilities effectively and efficiently with regard to the best use of time.
- Be responsible for the quality of the OT service across the college and provide advice and recommendations for change within the college.
- Schedule and carry out in-class observations of all pathway groups to look at students’ needs in order to improve their self-regulation and participation.
- Maintain student records as per the college’s guidelines.
- Contribute to developing appropriate targets for students, with teaching staff.
- Communicate effectively with students, parents/carers and staff.
- Provide written and verbal reports.
- Contribute to students’ Annual Reviews and other Multidisciplinary meetings about individual students.
- Attend all necessary meetings.
- Provide help and advice to students, staff the family and other carers, teaching and demonstrating use of equipment or other techniques to optimise the student’s functional ability and independence.
- Evaluate your own practices and regularly reflect on interventions provided.
- Access clinical supervision as appropriate.
Teamwork and Collaborative Working
- Provide a point of access and advice regarding OT to all college staff.
- Establish and maintain positive relationships with teachers and learning coaches.
- Develop collaborative working relationships with other college therapists (SaLT, Art, Physio, Counsellor).
- Work with the college leadership team as part of the whole college development and college quality improvement plan.
Continuing Professional Development
Ensure Continuing Professional Development is achieved in line with RCOT and HCPC guidelines by:
- Being aware of your personal responsibilities.
- Managing your time effectively.
- Actively participating in planned clinical supervision.
- Maintaining a professional diary/portfolio or other form of written evidence.
- Writing protocols relevant to OT practices.
- Continuing with self-evaluative practice.
College Training
- Deliver required training and development opportunities for college staff with respect to OT practice that supports the development of students.
- Review and utilise any feedback following staff training.
- To attend and participate in college training days, sessions and other activities.
Health and Safety/Safeguarding
- Have responsibility for the safe and competent use of all therapy and independence equipment.
- Comply with policies and procedures relating to health and safety, security, confidentiality, data protection, vulnerable adults and safeguarding children and preventing extremism and radicalisation.
- Be aware of the risks in the workplace and the potential impact on own work and that of others. Take steps to control hazards, support with risk assessments and risk management and have regard for the health and safety of self and others.
- Report all concerns or disclosures to the appropriate person.
Other
- To engage in professional level development which is consistent with the needs and aspirations of the post-holder and the college.
- To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably requested and that are commensurate with the nature and grade of the post.
For more information, or to apply, please don't hesitate to contact me.
All applications will be subject to a stringent registration process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education including completing an Enhanced DBS and gaining professional references.
Please note, Unique School Solutions are acting as an employment agency on behalf of the school