Occupational Therapist - Children with Disabilities Service (2 Posts)

Are you interested in making a difference in the lives of disabled children?

Are you soon to be/newly qualified in Occupational Therapy or a qualified Occupational Therapist seeking a new challenge?

Are you looking to work in a supportive, friendly, and enthusiastic team delivering OT services to disabled children across Derbyshire?

Our Childrens Occupational Therapy (OT) team sits within the Children with Disabilities Service and comprises of OT Team Manager, OT practice supervisor, OTs, OT community care workers and a dedicated OT team coordinator (administrative support).  We are a passionate and forward-thinking team, continually striving to improve outcomes for the children and young people we work with.

Our team provides assessment of disabled children’s needs in the community (home environment) in relation to potential need for major and minor adaptations, as well as specialist equipment provision and moving and handling advice. We refer to district and borough councils for Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding and work closely with housing providers, architects and specialist equipment providers. We also provide support to the disability fostering service.

We have an experienced management team who are committed to good support, advice, supervision, and a nurturing team ethos. We are committed to capturing the child’s voice and journey through our work with a ‘children first’ approach which incorporates social inclusion principles and person-centred ways.

We are seeking a person-centred Occupational Therapist to join us in our county wide team. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a growing service, helping to develop a preventative and pro-active approach to equipment and adaptations provision.

You will be supported to gain extra skills through opportunities to work in a wide variety of client groups and specialisms such as:

Client Groups:

• Children and young people (aged 0-18)
• Foster carers
• Physical Disabilities
• Learning Disabilities
• Children with behaviours that challenge

 Specialisms:

• Major adaptations and Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG)
• Housing
• Assistive technology
• Specialist equipment
• Moving and handling 

We would especially like to hear from you if you already have clinical experience in any of these areas but experience in children's services is not essential.  Applications are welcomed from candidates with transferable core skills.

We would encourage all interested candidates to contact the team to informally discuss the role and/or visit the team prior to application.

If you would like to talk to someone informally about this post, please ring and ask for Claire Cresswell on 01629 537600.

The grade of the post (NQOT/Grade 9 or Grade 11) will depend on previous experience.

We believe that hard work and commitment to your role should be rewarded, so we offer a package to our Occupational Therapists that will ensure you always feel supported and valued:

We offer:

• A genuinely supportive and welcoming team who are committed to providing an excellent service
• Excellent supervision and a supportive peer network
• A diverse range of cases providing an exciting, challenging and rewarding career
• Flexible and mobile working, including home working
• generous annual leave and flexi-time scheme
• Manageable caseloads
• Travel expenses
• Free car parking at most sites
• Cycle to work scheme
• Support with your professional development
• Ongoing training and CPD
• Developed and positive working relationships with OTs in Health Services
• Local government pension scheme
• Employee wellbeing strategy and benefits including an in-house counselling service, occupational health service and access to sessions with a trained physiotherapist
• Employee offers and discounts including discount on leisure centre memberships
• Free eye tests for employees who regularly use a computer
• HCPC registration fees reimbursement
• DBS check undertaken and paid for by us

You will:

• Be registered with the HCPC or have applied for registration
• Have knowledge and/or experience of working with people and be person centred in your assessments
• Have knowledge and/or experience in assessing a person’s daily living activities and function, holistically
• Have knowledge and/or experience of physical and/or learning disabilities and the impact on occupational performance (this may be from university clinical placement)
• Have awareness of equipment and adaptation solutions
• Have the ability to manage and prioritise your casework
• Have good communication skills and the ability to form positive relationships with a wide range of internal and external professionals and agencies
• Have good time management skills and be highly motivated
• Have an awareness of statutory legislation that underpins Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention in children's social care
• Be a reflective practitioner with a commitment to supervision and continued professional development (CPD)
• Have awareness of safeguarding principles and how these are embedded in everyday practice

Great place to live and work

Derbyshire is also a great place to live and work. It's only a short drive to Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield, and Manchester but is also home to miles of beautiful countryside and has the Peak District National Park on its doorstep.

The county enjoys house prices below the UK average and has great road and rail links.

Due to this post having access to children and/or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. Click here to see our policy on criminal background checks.

Apply now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us! By joining Derbyshire County Council you will have access to a range of amazing rewards and employee benefits, including our generous annual leave scheme, excellent local government pension and fantastic employee discounts. To discover more detail about the rewards and benefits available to you, click here

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