Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist

Would you like to work for a great employer? Enable Ireland is an organisation that makes a real difference to the lives of children and adults with disabilities in Ireland, and is named as one of Ireland's Irish Independent 150 Best Employers 2023.

We are currently seeking a highly-motivated Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist (Postural and Motor Management) to join our team in CHO6, Dublin South/South East.

Contract Type: This is a permanent, full time contract.

Contract Hours: 35 hours per week.

Salary Scale: €59,258 to €69,068 pro rata per annum.

This pay scale is subject to increases in 2024 in accordance with the recent WRC interim agreement (Ref CAM -100101-22) towards enhanced pay adjustments in Section 39 organisations.

Overview of the Post:

To provide a high standard of Occupational Therapy services, including advanced and specialised interventions, to support the therapists, service users and families in CHO6.

The post holder will act as a positive and supportive team leader in their specialism, using their clinical reasoning skills to provide specialist support and advice to colleagues to support the development of their knowledge and skills, whilst maintaining a clinical caseload on the Children’s Disability Network Team.

The post holder will also participate in ongoing audit and appropriate work-related research/evaluation projects in areas relevant to their clinical field.

Overview of Duties & Responsibilities:

1.Professional/Clinical Qualifications and Experience:

· Identify and prioritise the requirements of the service within a constantly changing environment.

· Oversee, monitor and uphold the standards of professional practice through clinical audit, supervision and training.

· Operate within the scope of Occupational Therapy practice as per CORU requirements and in accordance with local guidelines.

· Be responsible for a clinical caseload which is managed and prioritised efficiently and effectively.

· Demonstrates advanced clinical experience, knowledge reasoning and skills in the assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation and modification of treatment programmes in the specialist clinical area.

· Demonstrates knowledge of a range of assessment and intervention approaches relevant to children 0 – 18 years with a range of disabilities.

· Ensure a high standard of occupational therapy assessment, treatment and management is provided for service users.

· To assess, develop and implement occupational therapy treatment for the specialist caseload, and to provide advice in specialist field.

· Keep abreast of research and practice developments in relevant clinical area(s); advise on and introduce improvements/changes to work practices, procedures, techniques or technology in light of new developments.

· Communicate with other Clinical Specialists nationally and internationally to further develop clinical excellence and research.

· Act as an advanced clinical advisor in the specialist clinical area(s) to occupational therapists and other health care professionals regarding the management of complex cases.

· Keep accurate written and/or electronic records on the assessment, treatment, outcome and other information relevant to service users.

· Ensure the privacy and dignity of the service user is respected at all times.

· Serve on and provide specialist advice to committees/working groups that may be set up relevant to the area of clinical speciality.

· Participate in relevant service and professional meetings.

· To have effective communication with all other centre personnel and with external medical personnel from other agencies/units.

· Support any appropriate research in developing the centres evidence-based practice.

· Use evidence-based practice, audit, and outcome measures and published research to inform, measure and evaluate your own work and current practice.

· Take part in and support any relevant audit and research activity.

· Promote the profile of the speciality and profession locally, nationally and internationally.

· Demonstrate effective planning/preparation for meetings, case conferences, in-services training etc.

· Develop, introduce and promote initiatives that will ensure professional practice.

· Identify service development needs and communicating these needs to all relevant stakeholders.

· Contribute professional expertise to wider organisation initiatives/committees/steering groups at local, national and international levels.

2.Professional Knowledge & Training:

· Maintain standards of practice and levels of professional knowledge by participating in continuous professional development initiatives and attending courses as appropriate.

· Engage in professional clinical occupational therapist supervision and in peer support with occupational therapist colleagues.

· Ensure newly qualified therapists have adequate induction and clinical supervision, and assist in implementing annual staff development and performance review.

· Be responsible, in partnership with local management, for the practice education of student therapists through provision of placements and through support for therapists who are practice educators within their departments.

· Critically evaluate relevant literature and the incorporation of this into evidence based practice in all areas e.g. clinical guidelines and standards, assessment, treatment etc.

· Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of interventions and modify accordingly where the evidence base is incomplete.

· Disseminate available evidence based information to influence the clinical practice of all staff within the area of responsibility.

· Participate in mandatory training programmes.

· Facilitate integration of the most up to date research theory into practice.

· Promote and demonstrate best practice at all times.

3.Quality, Health & Safety and Risk:

· Develop and monitor implementation of agreed policies, procedures and safe professional practice by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.

· Ensure the safety of self and others, and the maintenance of safe environments and equipment used in Occupational Therapy in accordance with legislation.

· Assess and manage risk in their assigned area(s) of responsibility.

· Take the appropriate timely action to manage any incidents or near misses within their assigned area(s).

· Report any deficiency/danger in any aspect of the service to the team or manager as appropriate.

· Develop and promote quality standards of work and co-operate with quality assurance programmes.

· Develop and implement service/business plans, quality initiatives audits etc., and report on outcomes in collaboration with line manager and other stakeholders.

· Provide a flexible service that is responsive to service user needs in the context of available resources.

· Understand and promote the role of their service area and their department within the larger organisation.

· Coordinate the collection and analysis of statistical information and participate in service audits as per service guidelines.

4.Leadership and Service Development:

· Identify changing needs and opportunities to improve services in the organisation and wider health care structure.

· Identify and prioritize the requirements of change within their service area, organisation and the wider health care structure.

· Drive change and promote and encourage others when implementing change.

· Challenge the standards of quality and efficiency in service provision and strive to find ways in which standards of care can be improved.

· Develop and implement new service initiatives in collaboration with line manager and other appropriate stakeholders (e.g. MDT, national organisations etc.).

· Promote their area as a centre of excellence in a specific speciality.

5.Research:

· Understand the principles of research and research methodology which underpin an analytical approach to clinical practice.

· Lead, facilitate and/or participate in research projects relevant to their specialism at a local level.

· Engage with all the relevant stakeholders in respect of research issues (Research Hub, HRB etc).

· Lead the dissemination of the findings both locally and in the wider health care arena at professional and national conferences etc.

· Explore innovative ways for them and/or their team to contribute to research in their clinical area.

· Write up research, case studies, and critical reviews for publication in peer reviewed journals/publications in the clinical field.

· Identify gaps in the evidence base and initiate/facilitate research to enhance evidence based practice locally, nationally and internationally.

· Lead and facilitate research projects relevant to their specialism at a national and international level.

6.Management:

· Be responsible for the co-ordination and delivery of service in designated area(s).

· Review and allocate resources within the designated area, in collaboration with relevant others.

· Develop and implement strategic service and business plans, quality initiatives, audits etc. based on up to date evidence-based practice and report on outcomes.

· Foster and lead a culture and practice of evaluating service outcomes, data collection, and implementation of quality improvement initiatives as appropriate.

· Oversee the upkeep of accurate records in line with best clinical governance, organisational requirements and relevant legislation e.g. FOI, GDPR.

· Record, collate and submit statistics, including key performance indicators, within agreed timeframes.

· Promote good team working, and a culture that values diversity.

· Work within the multidisciplinary team and liaise with staff to ensure effective communication.

· Liaise with the relevant manager regarding the needs, interests and views of Occupational Therapy staff.

· Represent the department/team at meetings and conferences as appropriate.

· Engage in IT developments as they apply to service user and service administration.

· Keep up to date with developments within the Health Service.

7.Additional Duties & Responsibilities:

· The early identification of abnormal movement patterns, and awareness of environmental, sensory and social factors which may impact on long term global development.

· The education of parents, carers and staff in the positioning, handling and care of the baby.

· Providing Enhanced Surveillance Programmes when the baby graduates from NICU. This applies to not just premature babies, but all ‘at risk’ babies.

· Follow-up clinics for orthopaedic and MSK and review and treatment.

· Assessing and treating other children who present with developmental delay who may need long term intervention. Liaise with the appropriate community based services to plan and deliver care.

· Leading and developing a service to children under the care of paediatric neurologist and neurodevelopmental consultants.

The successful candidate will have:

Essential Criteria:

1. Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc:

(a) Candidates for appointment must:

(i) Be registered, or be eligible for registration, on the Occupational Therapists Register maintained by the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU.

AND

(ii) Have five years full time (or equivalent) years post qualification clinical experience of which four years full time (or equivalent) must be consecutive in the required area of specialism.

AND

(iii) Demonstrate a proven record of clinical excellence.

AND

(iv)Professional Development and Practice

Candidates must demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the required area of specialism, in the form of post-graduate qualifications or relevant courses.

AND

Candidates must demonstrate achievement in the areas of clinical audit, quality improvement initiatives, practice development, teaching and research.

AND

(v) Have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability, management, leadership and professional ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

AND

(vi) Provide proof of Statutory Registration on the Occupational Therapists Register maintained by the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU before a contract of employment can be issued.

2. Annual Registration:

(i) On appointment practitioners must maintain annual registration on the Occupational Therapists Register maintained by the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU.

AND

(ii) Practitioners must confirm annual registration with CORU to Enable Ireland.

If you believe you would fit the role then please submit your application today.

Benefits

As a staff member of Enable Ireland, you will have access to a wide range of benefits, including:

· Excellent training opportunities

· Generous annual leave entitlements

· Long service reward scheme

· Pay adjusted Maternity Leave

· Pay adjusted Adoptive Leave

· Pay adjusted Paternity Leave

· Wellbeing benefits

· Pension

For a full list of our benefits & conditions, please click on the Employee Benefits link below:

https://www.enableireland.ie/about-us/careers/employee-benefits

What now?

To apply, please download the job description and person specification from below for your information and complete the application form.

For queries relating to the post, please contact Alexandra Swift by email at HRSandymount@enableireland.ie

For technical support with Rezoomo, please use the chat feature located on the bottom right of the screen.

Closing date for applications: 19th April 2024

A panel may be formed from this vacancy for any similar vacancies, which may arise during the next 12 months.

Enable Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.

· The post will be subject to reference checks and may be subject to Garda vetting/police clearance, as relevant.

· Due to the large volume of applications, we are not in the position to provide individual feedback to applicants who are not shortlisted for interview.

· Applications are invited from suitably qualified applicants from all sections of the community.

· The above information serves only as a guide to the advertised position. Enable Ireland, at its discretion, reserves the right to change this prior to appointment.

· Please review the Enable Ireland’s External Data Protection Notice available athttps://www.enableireland.ie/privacy-policy for details on how Enable Ireland processes applicant’s personal information. Please note if you are invited for interview, we will share your personal data with: 1) Any virtual service provider we use to host the interview; and

2) the interview panel (if applicable). Your information will be stored for this purpose in line with our retention policy