Children'S Occupational Therapy Team Lead

Job summary Are you someone with extensive children's occupational therapy experience and looking for a new challenge in leadership and management?
This opportunity might be right for you!The Team Leadwill manage a cross-site team of occupational therapists and technical instructors in an operational role.
They will carry out supervision,appraisals, HR tasks and staff/service development as appropriate.
They willalso act as a link between the team and Service Lead to ensure delivery of high quality, patient centred and outcome focused occupational therapy service within Mid Yorkshire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust.Thisrole also involves a close collaboration with Clinical Leads and other TeamLeads (SLT and PT) within Children's Therapy to promote an ethos of continuousdevelopment and joint working.Our ideal candidate is highly motivated and enthusiastic about children's occupational therapy with a strong focus on supporting a team to provide high quality care.
We are looking for someone who will role model good practice, provide clinical expertise and good leadership.
Main duties of the job TheChildren's Occupational Therapy team leader will work with the Children'sTherapy Service Lead to ensure delivery of a high quality, patient centred, andoutcome focussed Occupational Therapy service within Mid Yorkshire Teaching HospitalNHS Trust.TheTeam Lead will manage a cross-site team of Occupational Therapists and TechnicalInstructors in an operational role.
They will carry out supervisions,appraisals, HR tasks and staff/service development as appropriate.
They willalso act as a link between the team and Service Lead and will role model goodpractice, clinical expertise and provide good leadership.
Thisrole also involves a close collaboration with clinical leads and other team leads(Speech and Language Therapy and Physiotherapy) within Children's Therapy topromote an ethos of continuous development and joint working.
About us We are an acute trust caring for over half a million people in Wakefield and Kirklees.
Our 10,000 staff work in patients homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield).
We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients.
Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs.
Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust.If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.Application guidance: We understand that more applicants are using AI technology to help with their applications.
While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience.
Its important that you personalise your application.
Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success.
Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.
Job description Job responsibilities Non-Clinical To assist the Service Lead in the delivery ofservice strategy and objectives on a day-to-day basis, planning, co-ordinating,delivering and evaluating the therapy service provided.To manage and lead the designated team, offeringclinical and management support and advice.To provide, leadership, supervision, trainingand appraisal for the designated team of staff.
To report regularly to the Childrens TherapyService Lead regarding relevant issues within Childrens Occupational Therapy To represent Childrens Occupational Therapy at astrategic level, as required, developing and maintaining relevant networkswithin as well as outside the TrustTo assist in the planning, development andevaluation of the service, holding responsibility for defined projects to supportdevelopment of services for patients as agreed with the Service Lead.To work closely with other members of thehospital team to provide a co-ordinated service for patients within the Trust.To contribute to the trust and therapy service clinical governance arrangements and qualityagenda, including the setting and monitoring of practice standards.To lead on clinical governance issues withinrelevant areas.
To investigate incidents recorded in designatedteam / area of work.
To take responsibility as lead investigator to actionplans as a result of incidents.
To escalate outcomes of incident investigationto the Service Lead.To input risks to the risk register fordesignated team / area of work, formulate action plans and escalate to Service Leadas and when required.To investigate and formulate first draftresponses to complaints in designated team / area of work with support from theService lead.Ensure as Team Leader that their designatedstaff implement policy and service development changes.To be responsible for the sickness management ofdesignated staff in line with the trusts policy and procedures.
To escalate to ServiceLead as per trust policy and assist the Service Lead and HR manager in themanagement of sickness for the designated team.To lead on monitoring capacity and caseloadissues for the Childrens Occupational Therapy Team, planning staffing andservices which is informed by detailed analysis of workload and service userneeds.Initiate andpromote excellence in clinical practice acting as a role model within everyteam you work withinTo maintaina culture which recognises and works in partnership with clients and theircarers, involving them in all decisions relating to their care delivery.
To work with the Local Authority, private, third-partyand voluntary services, ensuring effective timely communication between allagencies.Tocontribute to the dissemination of information between team members, usingeffective communication channels.
Demonstrate a proactive approach to team workingand a commitment to team development.
To deputise for the Service Lead as required intheir absence.To bepro-active in self-development by participating in learning opportunities providedthrough staff training and supervision.Maintain andupdate skills and knowledge through life-long learning, especially within thesphere of Childrens Services.Todemonstrate and maintain own knowledge and awareness of recognising andresponding appropriately to safeguarding the needs of vulnerable children.Including participation in regular safeguarding supervision at least once every12 weeks, in line with trust policy.
To attend multi-agency safeguardingmeetings as required.
You will be responsible for ensuring compliance acrossyour team and supporting team members to embrace a safeguarding culture.
To undertake all mandatory / essential trainingas required by the Trust and to ensure compliance within your team.
Demonstrate a proactive approach to team workingand a commitment to team development by participating & leading on,working-groups as directed by the Service LeadClinical Duties/Patient ContactTo ensure quality and standards of clinical careof patients treated within designated team, and to organise the team to deliverthis effective and efficient care with regard to clinical priorities and use oftime.To ensure safe delivery of all clinical practiceacross your team.Attimes there may be a requirement to be involved in clinical practice to supportincrease pressures across the Childrens Occupational Therapy team.
This willinvolve the following clinical duties:Undertake the comprehensive assessment ofpaediatric patients, including those with a complex presentation, usinginvestigative, analytical & advanced skills and devise individualisedmanagement and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning and utilising a widerange or treatment skills and options to formulate a specialised programme ofcare.
Interpretand analyse complex clinical and non-clinical facts to form comprehensive careplan in a wide range of highly complex conditions, to recommend the best courseof intervention and develop comprehensive treatment plans in paediatricpatients.Be professionally and legally responsible andaccountable for all aspects of own work including the management of patients inyour care.
Working to professionalstandards to ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients underyour management and support staff within the designated team to do likewise.
Provide spontaneous and planned advice, teachingand instruction to relatives, carers and other multi-agency professionals, topromote understanding of the aims of interventions and to ensure a consistentapproach to patient care.
Communicate effectively with patients, familiesand the MDT to maximise outcomes and ensure understanding of condition.Communication skills of persuasion, motivation and explanation to encouragepatients, families and schools to undertake their treatment programme.Use verbal and non-verbal communication skillsto gain informed consent with patients where there will often be barriers toeffective communication loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive orreceptive dysphasia, fear, confusion, critical illness, pain, memory loss.
Assess capacity, gain valid informed consent andhave the ability to work within a legal framework with patients or carers wholack capacity to consent to treatment.
Undertake clinical decision making and practiceas an autonomous clinician.Be responsible for the risk assessment of eachclinical intervention and minimise each potential risk.
Person Specification Other Essential Ability to travel across the district Flexibility with regards to patterns of work Able to carry out duties commensurate with the role Ability to maintain judgement under pressure Understand need to maintain confidentiality Adaptable and flexible according to the demands of the service Desirable Car driver and owner Experience Essential Evidence of clinical leadership skills Experience of and keen interest in team leading/management Ability to establish good working relationships.
Extensive experience of working within a Childrens Occupational Therapy Service.
Substantial relevant post grad experience and knowledge Supervision of staff groups, inclusive of diverse skill mix Wide experience of service development within Childrens Therapy.
Substantial experience of promoting excellence within Childrens Therapy through leading on clinical governance activities.
Substantial experience dealing with safeguarding cases and engagement with safeguarding practice.
Desirable Working strategically within a variety of settings and with a variety of agencies Experience of analysing caseloads, activity and outcomes to promote efficiency and effectiveness.
Evidence of managing change effectively.
Audit/research Experience of managing operational challenges including sickness and performance management Experience working with data and an understanding of models for capacity and demand Experience of mentoring staff Personal Attributes Essential Ability to promote equality & value diversity Professional attitude & positive role model Motivated and forward thinking Ability to develop and share a team vision Ability to work autonomously & as part of a team Confident, caring and empathetic Ability to motivate others Committed to personal and team development Ability to cope working in a stressful environment Ability to cope with emotional or aggressive patients, carers and staff.
Ability to carry out moderate effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities Ability to manage complaints Desirable Able to cope with multiple demands and scenarios Qualifications Essential Dip COT or relevant Occupational Therapy Degree Bsc/Msc HCPC registration Desirable Masters level credits in relevant field Leadership and management qualifications/courses RCOT membership Knowledge and Awareness Essential Evidence of relevant ongoing professional and clinical development Understanding of current NHS Policy direction & service modernisation Understanding current policy, statute and guidelines pertaining to childrens therapy services.
Awareness of up-to-date NICE guidance relevant to role Understanding of Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) and the legislation for health within this area Knowledge of local and regional safeguarding practice Skills and Abilities Essential Excellent interpersonal skills Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with key stakeholders Dynamic and forward thinking Ability to pass on knowledge and skills within both formal and informal environments Ability to present information, written and orally in a clear and logical manner Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate Understanding of Clinical Governance and its implications for leading services in a healthcare setting.
IT skills Goal/objective setting and negotiating skills Understanding & experience of inter-agency working & services available within health & social care and education services Evidence of providing accurate records of communication consistent with legislation, policies and procedures Managing complaints, risk and incident reporting Desirable Clinical audit & evaluation Previous use of Systmone Teaching/presentation skills Coaching skills