Occupational Therapist

ROLE OVERVIEW: 

Occupational Therapists provide services to develop, enhance or restore functional skills of clients whose abilities to perform tasks of daily living are threatened or impaired by physical, cognitive, social-emotional, and sensory impairments.

Occupational Therapists at NAPA Centre provide skilful intervention to infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents with a variety of diagnoses. Treatment focuses on improving a client’s development in the areas of fine and gross motor skills, play skills, social skills, and self- care skills within the professional scope of practice. The job role will require all therapists to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team. It is expected that each therapist will be able to complete most of the below responsibilities autonomously with supervision available; however minimally required.   

RESPONSIBILITIES – KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS

Provision of Clinical Care:

• Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment with documentation of motor deficits, functional impairments, sensory impairments, and difficulties in motor skills primarily in the paediatric population.
• Possess general knowledge of child development to assess and refer families to other disciplines when appropriate.
• Assess a client’s physical condition using a variety of standardised tools and objective/observational measures and identify primary impairments to determine a plan for treatment.
• Utilise multiple frames of reference to inform practice including but not limited to neurodevelopmental, developmental biomechanical, sensory integration, motor learning, cognitive, and rehabilitation.
• Create tailored treatment plans to address client’s limitations, considering their age, abilities, client and family goals, and other medical/physical factors.
• Apply a range of therapy techniques to address presented conditions (including tailored exercises, passive and active stretching, basic level of gait analysis and training).
• Patient/caregiver training in the use of assistive technology devices, mobility devices, orthotic or prosthetic devices.
• Prescribe home exercise programs for patient/caregiver to promote carryover and continued progress in the community.
• Adapt environments and processes to enhance functional performance of clients.
• Develop rapport with clients to build a relationship of trust and mutual respect.

Data Administration: 

• Maintain impeccable documentation; Ensure that treatment notes are recorded accurately and timely in the electronic health record system in accordance with NAPA policies.
  
• Conduct report writing including but not limited to NDIS, School reports, Assistive Technology.
  
• Demonstrates the ability to complete ad hoc administration responsibilities including assessment and development of treatment plans for more complex cases (for discussion and review with Manager).
• Complete all documentation, reporting requirements and training in an accurate and timely manner.
  

Self- Management and Team Contribution 

• Actively participate in professional development including continuing education opportunities provided through the organisation, from outside providers, as well as through opportunities offered as part of regular clinical supervision.
  
• Create a safe, professional, and supportive environment where clients, families and colleagues feel empowered to succeed.
  
• Communicate confidently and effectively with clients and other medical professionals.
  
• Act a member of an interdisciplinary team to create a comprehensive developmental approach to client-centered care.   
  
• Work closely with administrative staff to manage the schedule and ensure that time is being used productively.
  
• Provide input into the development of clinical practices and procedures.
  
• Act in accordance with all company, legal and industry policies, and ethics.
  
• Comply with all professional development requirements for maintenance of registration as an Occupational Therapist with AHPRA.
  
• Work in a healthy and safe manner, in accordance with NAPA policies and procedures; always encouraging others to do the same.
  

The above descriptions are only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible responsibilities, tasks, and duties. All Napa Centre employees are required to comply with any reasonable work requests from Management that occur from time to time.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

REQUIREMENTS: QUALIFICATION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Minimum qualifications include completion of at least a Bachelor of Applied Science or relevant Occupational Therapy degree, from an accredited University.
  
• Clinical experience – 1-2 years post-graduate Occupational Therapy experience, preferably in paediatrics
• Current Working with Children Check & NDIS Workers Screening Check.
  
• CPR and First Aid certificates.
  
• Current registration with AHPRA.  
  
• Current Professional Indemnity Insurance.
  
• Current Medicare Provider Number 
  
• Create a safe, professional, and supportive environment where clients, families and colleagues feel empowered to succeed.
• Ability to communicate confidently and effectively with clients and other medical professionals.
• Display a level of professional empathy towards clients and the ability to develop rapport.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with clients and their families.
• Exercise discipline by completing all documentation, reporting requirements and training in an accurate and timely manner.
• Team player that can demonstrate the values for working as part of multi-disciplinary team to advance a client’s needs.
• Demonstrates the ability to take on additional responsibilities with time, including assessment and development of treatment plans for more complex cases, supervision of therapy aides/volunteers and additional clinic responsibilities.
• Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment with documentation of motor deficits, functional impairments, sensory impairments, and difficulties in motor skills primarily in the paediatric population.
• Good Physical health and fitness and the ability to:
  • Lift up to 20 kg, extended periods of standing and/or sitting on the floor.  
    
  • Independently pivot or complete a standing transfer dependent patients up to 38kg
  • Independently offer contact guard assistance for ambulatory patients of up to 57kg
  • Maintain extended periods of standing and/or sitting on the floor for up to 7 hours per day
  • Move from floor to standing position back to floor frequently (6-7 hours) throughout the day