Main Roles and Responsibilities
- To work as part of the multi-disciplinary team to provide a comprehensive and coordinated range of specialist speech and language therapy diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative services in a variety of settings including the clinic, schools, and children’s centres, which improve or maintain the health, function, learning potentials, independence, and quality of life of the children.
- With support, manage a caseload of individuals (usually aged 0-25 years) with a range of needs and disabilities. This will involve specialist treatment of children with neurological difficulties, coordination difficulties, sensory processing problems and attention and behavioural deficits and maintaining associated clinical records.
- To devise and participate in creating product lines and services, including but not limited to training services, group and individual therapy programmes, and professional development for the Organisation.
- Clinical – Assessment and Treatment Planning
1.1 To carry and prioritise a caseload and other ongoing tasks.
1.2 To conduct assessments and treatment in the most appropriate setting for the individual’s needs, whether in the clinic, school, or residential home.
1.3 To perform specialist occupational therapy assessment of children with diverse and complex presentations using advanced clinical reasoning skills and knowledge of typical child development.
1.4 Specialist OT assessment tools should assess the individual’s function concerning self-care, development, physical, sensory, sensory processing, gross and fine motor skills.
1.5 To analyse and interpret complex assessment results to accurately judge the individual’s condition and identify OT goals as part of an overall care plan.
1.6 To develop and implement treatment and management plans for each individual, incorporating individual or group therapy sessions and programmes for use in care and/or education settings.
1.7 To re-evaluate and progress/adapt treatment programmes at established intervals depending on the needs of each individual and the outcomes expected, and to authorise discharge when appropriate.
- Clinical – Interventions and Treatments
2.1 To plan and implement a range of specialist child-centred individual and/or group interventions.
2.2 To re-evaluate and progress/adapt treatment programmes at established intervals depending on each child’s needs and the expected outcomes, and to authorise discharge when appropriate.
2.3 To identify and implement appropriate treatment approaches and techniques during therapy based on sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and best practice guidelines.
2.4 To monitor the effectiveness of an intervention.
- Clinical – Analytical / Judgmental Skills
3.1 To analyse and interpret complex assessment results to provide an accurate judgment of the individual’s condition, where appropriate, or to contribute to the individual’s diagnosis by communicating assessment findings to the other involved professionals.
3.2 To identify OT goals as part of an overall care plan.
3.3 To identify and implement appropriate treatment approaches and techniques based on sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and best practice guidelines
3.4 To monitor the effectiveness of an intervention.
3.5 To make referrals to other professionals and agencies if required to address the individual’s global needs.
- Clinical – Communication
4.1 To provide support and advice for the individual’s parents, carers, and/or school about all aspects of their care that relate to their OT needs, and to adjust your language to allow for their comprehension and understanding.
4.2 Adjust your communication according to the age and comprehension level of the child/family, and use non-verbal communication, sign, and augmentative communication aids as necessary.
4.3 To provide and receive complex and sensitive information concerning a child’s difficulties and expectations.
4.4 To demonstrate empathy and sensitivity in response to parents and children.
4.5 To work sensitively with parents who are themselves dealing with anger, grief, and frustration as they come to terms with the impact of their child’s condition.
4.6 To communicate effectively with parents/carers, team members, colleagues and other agencies, including health and educational staff, using written and verbal communication skills.
4.7 To attend meetings when requested to provide specialist advice about the individual’s functional needs.
4.8 To arrange these meetings when appropriate. This may include the development of comprehensive MDT plans for transition and discharge.
4.9 To act appropriately when exposed to children who may be wet, soiled, sick, or have control issues with their saliva.
4.10 To provide specialist OT reports for use within inter-agencies, e.g., education, and documentation relevant to the setting, standards, and guidelines.
4.11 To maintain accurate, legible, and complete clinical records of all patient-related interventions by professional and service standards.
4.12 To provide programmes on a verbal or written basis, using pictorial representation as required, ensuring these programmes are carried over into daily life.
- Human resources, including personnel and people development
5.1 To adhere to the Royal College of Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and comply with local and national standards of practice.
5.2 To be professionally and legally accountable for all professional and clinical work aspects.
5.3 To review and reflect on one’s practice and performance through the effective use of professional and clinical supervision and appraisal in line with local and company guidelines. Formal supervision is done monthly, and assessment yearly, with six monthly reviews.
5.4 To demonstrate basic leadership skills by managing designated projects, e.g., developing resources and clinical governance objectives.
5.5 To plan, organise and provide training to parents/carers and educational staff.
5.6 To plan and undertake presentation of OT related talks.
- Health, safety, and security
6.1 Always maintain a safe therapeutic environment within the clinic, schools, and residential settings.
6.2 Carry out risk assessments, show an awareness of health and safety implications, and act accordingly.
6.3 To be responsible for equipment used in Occupational Therapy duties and to adhere to all policies and guidelines to ensure safe use of equipment by oneself and others.
6.4 To report any defects or difficulties to the Clinical Director.
6.5 To set up equipment when it arrives, show parents/carers/professionals how to use it safely, advise on when/how often it should be used and monitor it as the individual grows/changes.
6.6 Arrange for repairs and adaptations as necessary.
6.7 To have a sound knowledge of the theory and practice of manual handling of specialist equipment, e.g., adaptive seating, therapeutic equipment.
- Policy and Service Improvement/Development
7.1 To participate in the operational planning and implementation of policy and service development within the OT team and the wider therapy group.
7.2 To demonstrate a working knowledge and contribute to developing and completing clinical audits.
7.3 To advise the Office Manager of any therapeutic equipment/materials needed for the service.
RESPONSIBILITY- Audit/Research & Development
- To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio.
- To demonstrate the ability to evaluate current research critically, apply it to practice, and disseminate findings locally.
- To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects.
- To develop and promote evidence-based practice.
RESPONSIBILITY-Quality
- Contribute to clinical governance as a member of the OT team by looking at specific issues.
- Contribute to service development for the service as a whole and in smaller groups by gathering requested information, suggesting issues to more senior staff, and instigating projects with the agreement of senior staff.
- To demonstrate understanding and application of national guidelines/legislation relating to health and social care in providing children’s services.
RESPONSIBILITY-Equality, diversity, and rights
- Adjust communication according to the individual’s age and comprehension level, using gestures and augmentative communication aids as necessary.
- To assess each individual’s clinical needs and base treatment intensity and frequency on this assessment.
- To evaluate each recipient’s social situation and emotional and educational ability to process and act upon the information in the child’s best interests.
RESPONSIBILITY – Risk Management / Health & Safety
- The post holder is responsible for managing risk, health, and safety for themselves and others and will be required to work within the organisation’s policies and procedures.
- Staff must observe the hygiene code and demonstrate reasonable infection control and hand hygiene.
- Employees must be aware of their responsibilities under the Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) to ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for other staff, community members, and visitors.
- To act immediately on safety notices, hazard warning notices, and any other notifications regarding equipment used/prescribed by the organisation.
- To report all clinical and non-clinical incidents or near misses promptly and when required to co-operate with any investigations undertaken.
- All staff are responsible for accessing occupational health, other staff support services and/or any relevant others in times of need and seeking advice.
RESPONSIBILITY- Records Management
- The post holder is responsible for the creation and maintenance of records in accordance with the Data Protection legislation, the Data Protection Act 2018. I.e., if required to do so, obtain, process and/or use information held on a computer fairly and lawfully, hold only for the specified registered purposes, and use or disclose the data only to authorised persons or organisations.
- The post holder maintains timely and accurate record-keeping and follows professional guidelines.
This job description is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties from time to time that are consistent with the post’s responsibilities.
This job description is subject to review and development from time to time in liaison with the postholder. As an employee of Whole Child Therapy Ltd, you must adhere to all the organisation’s policies and procedures.
Additional duties and responsibilities:
Performing with appropriate professional care any other tasks, duties, and responsibilities within reason that further the aims and objectives of Whole Child Therapy Ltd.
Whole Child Therapy Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check and registration with the Update service will be required.
Whole Child Therapy Ltd reserves the right to vary or amend the duties and responsibilities of the post and the post-holder at any time according to the needs of its business.
Person Specification
| Criteria | Essential | Desirable | Assessment method(*) |
| Qualification, Education and training | BSc. Hons in Speech and Language Therapy (or equivalent)
HCPC Registration |
Relevant Professional Memberships | Application and reference |
| Knowledge and understanding | Knowledge of the legislative framework for practicing SALTs
Working knowledge of current SALT models of practice and therapy outcome measures Principles of Safeguarding Principles of professional boundaries and clinical governance |
Application and interview | |
| Experience | SALT work in a paediatric setting
Implementation and evaluation of SALT interventions Delivery of individual and group therapy sessions Maintaining statistical data and providing related analysis Providing reports and therapy programmes Supporting parents and families |
Working in an SEN environment
AAC
Sensory Integration training
Neuro-disability
Child development
Therapeutic listening
Social communication training |
Application form and interview |
| Technical skills | Observation and treatment skills.
Casework planning and evaluation Accurate record keeping Ability to review, interpret and apply, if appropriate, research findings. |
Application and interview | |
| Interpersonal skills | Communicates effectively and appropriately with people who may have widely differing levels of communication abilities and professional understanding
Able to establish and develop effective and productive relationships with parents, children and other professionals
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Able to form and nurture effective professional relationships.
Well developed teamwork and networking skills |
Interview |
| Motivation and aptitude | Demonstrable suitability to work with children with complex support needs
Patient and calm particularly at times of pressure. Offers creative solutions Seeks out constructive ways to resolve problems, conflict or differences in professional judgement Resilient to periods of high/demanding emotional intensity. Demonstrable commitment to own CPD |
Confident in operating as a solo specialist within a multidisciplinary context | Interview and references |
| Other | Physical capacity to react quickly in response to emergency situations (kneeling, running or similar) |
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Interview and references |