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 studentxe2x80x99s 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 studentxe2x80x99s 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 studentxe2x80x99s 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 studentsxe2x80x99 and familiesxe2x80x99/carersxe2x80x99 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 studentsxe2x80x99 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) - Please note: The norm in the industry is to not have more than 7 Skills and Behavioural Attributes per job profile.

Education (Formal Qualification Required)
Minimum

• BA or BSc Occupational Therapy

Ideal

• NDT and SI Trained

Legal Requirements (e.g. Driverxe2x80x99s 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 xe2x80x93 type and number of years)
Minimum time spent in job

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