Job Description

Occupational Therapist

The Bridge School Preparatory

Apply by: 20 August 2023

Position Summary

Industry: Education & Training
Job category: Education and Training
Location: Lonehill
Contract: Permanent
School: The Bridge School Preparatory
EE position: No
Remuneration: Negotiable

Introduction

The Occupational Therapist assists in developing and supporting programmes to enhance or support Individual Educational Plan (IEPs) and conduct activities to improve cognitive, physical and motor skills and sense of accomplishment. Interest in or qualification in Sensory Integration would be ideal.

Job description

Position Description

KPA / Main Outputs and Responsibilities for this Position

Detailed Description

Clinical Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver a student-centred occupational therapy service to a personal caseload of students and their families/ carer.
• Assess and treat students with various conditions/disabilities and complex social and functional needs, within occupational therapy performance guidelines.
• Formulate intervention plans from thorough assessment results with individuals and their family and carers as required to bring about positive change.
• Recommend and implement support/intervention plan based on individual needs.
• Assess students applying for future placements and identify their needs and make recommendations based on outcomes.
• Assess motor, sensory and cognitive function in the context of the student's social and physical environment.
• Discuss treatment proposal with parent/carer and obtain informed consent for interventions.
• Manage and treat a diagnostically varied and complex patient caseload.
• Assess, prescribe, arrange provision and installation of specialised equipment and adaptations including seating, safety and assisted devices.
• Monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
• Ensure student's reviews demonstrate clinical reasoning and problem-solving techniques to determine agreed outcomes across health services.
• Conduct risk assessments to determine appropriate management, specifically related to moving and handling, safe use of equipment, and safety in the home and care environment.
• Ensure safety for self and others during all occupational therapy interventions.
• Provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the student's social and physical environment.
• Ensure that services provided comply with professional and departmental standards of practice.
• Execute tests, activities or interventions including but not limited to fine motor skills (i.e. handwriting, computer access), gross motor skills, praxis, activities of daily living (i.e. eating dressing), equipment (i.e. wheelchairs, specialised equipment, hand splints, computer switches) and sensory integration/ self-regulation and sensory processing.
• Maintain up-to-date and accurate case/progress notes and write reports reflecting advanced knowledge and clinical reasoning for audited purposes and as per HPCSA requirements.

Communication

• Communicate and liaise effectively with other professionals, students, family/carers and other agencies to ensure an integrated pattern of service delivery. Use formal and informal reporting mechanisms to ensure effective communication.
• Use verbal and nonverbal communication to receive and disseminate clinical information, acknowledging sensitivity and complexity e.g. adult/ child safeguarding issues, and using approaches appropriate to the context or culture. Use effective interpersonal skills to encourage students' and families'/carers' active participation in the occupational therapy process.
• Attend and contribute to department meetings, including multi-disciplinary- and Therapy team meetings, and progress meetings relating to clinical caseload.
• Record students' treatment and other related activity in accordance with professional and departmental guidelines.
• Build and sustain relationships as an independent practitioner and collaboratively as a member of the team.

Professional Development

• Remain informed on developments and trends in occupational therapy practice by study of the current literature available and to adapt own working practices accordingly.
• Develop clinical, managerial and teaching skills via continuous professional development (CPD), including maintenance of an up to date CPD portfolio.
• Attend and contribute to regular supervision sessions and participate in performance reviews.
• Attend mandatory training for moving and handling, first aid, and safeguarding children.
• Maintain own professional registration as a practicing professional with the Health Care Professions Council as an Occupational Therapist.

Service Development and Delivery

• Collect, collate and analyse workload statistics required for departmental purposes and for service reviews.
• Report to Principal of changes in trends related to caseload activity.
• Provide services which are sensitive to the needs of the culture and diversity of individual students and their families/ carers.
• Advise and collaborate with the Principal in further development/consolidation of services, to contribute to service reviews, and to hold responsibility for defined projects.
• Lead and contribute to the development of collaborative working practices with team and other therapy staff.
• Develop and consolidate protocols and guidelines regarding service delivery.

Competencies (Skills and Behavioural Attributes) xe2x80x93 Please note: The norm in the industry is to not have more than 7 Skills and Behavioural Attributes per job profile.

Skill xe2x80x93 Weighting Importance

• Problem Analysis: The ability to detect problems, recognise important information, and link various data; to trace potential causes and look for relevant details.
• 20%
• Verbal Expression and Written Expression: The ability to communicate in clear language and to adjust one's use of language to the audience's level and express ideas and views clearly to others in writing.
• 20%
• Forming Judgment: The ability to balance facts and potential approaches taking the appropriate criteria into account.
• 20%
• Developing other: The ability to review and analyse others' strengths and weaknesses, to distinguish their talents and development needs, and to make sure they are enhanced appropriately.
• 20%
• Integrity: Adherence to the standards, values and rules of conduct associated with one's position and the culture in which one operates. Being incorruptible.
• 20%

Minimum requirements

Education (Formal Qualification Required)

Minimum

• BA or BSc Occupational Therapy

Ideal

• NDT and SI Trained

Legal Requirements (e.g. Driver's License, Blasting Certificate, etc.)

Minimum

Professional Registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)

Training and Knowledge (Should the current incumbent leave)

Minimum

6 months

Experience (Minimum Experience Required - type and number of years)

Minimum time spent in job

• Occupation Therapist trained and experienced with special needs xe2x80x93 3 Years
• Senior Occupational Therapist xe2x80x93 5 Years
• Beginner Occupational Therapist 1-3 Years

Please apply online via the ADvTECH Career Portal:

(Please note that the above link will direct you off the ISASA website and onto the ADvTECH Career Portal site. If you do not have an existing account on the ADvTECH portal, you will need to register on their website to apply for this vacancy. You do not need to register on the ISASA site.)

ADvTECH is an equal opportunity employer. Only successful candidates will be notified. Preference will be given to EE candidates.

ADvTECH, in line with POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act) will attempt to ensure the confidentiality of all applicants for this role. All reasonable measures will be in place to protect personal information but will be used in the recruitment, selection and reporting process. By submitting your application for this position, you are recognizing and accepting this disclaimer.

The Bridge School Preparatory