OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

The Occupational Therapist is responsible for the evaluation, therapeutic intervention and/or rehabilitation and training of paediatric clients (from birth to 15 years) and educating and training of their caregiver(s).

VACANCY

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons to fill the following position at the North-Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA):

 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

The Occupational Therapist is responsible for the evaluation, therapeutic intervention and/or rehabilitation and training of paediatric clients (from birth to 15 years) and educating and training of their caregiver(s).

 Main Responsibilities

• Organizes, plans and directs relevant activities, related to their professional scope of practice as an Occupational Therapist in the Department of Paediatric Medicine, North-Central Regional Health Authority.
• Evaluates, diagnoses and records the nature of the client’s general daily functioning as well as specific strengths and weaknesses, relevant to their ADL’s by using clinical and observational assessments, as well as special standardized evaluation tools and instruments, per scope of practice and established international standards; specifically, but not limited to, the following areas:

            Daily living activities - self-care, feeding,  relevant assistive devices; 

            Fine-motor skills rehabilitation—motor control, pre-writing/writing skills, bilateral integration,

            motor planning; 

            Perceptual processing—body scheme, visual closure, spatial relations, position in space; 

            Sensory processing—tactile, proprioceptive, vestibular, visual.

• Provides treatments by developing and revising individualized plans of care tailored to each client's needs.
• Establishes and maintains a system of written documentation that is professional, efficient and accountable.
• Keeps and maintains client’s records by recording and updating evaluations, changes, progress, and treatments.
• Develops, as appropriate, home and community programming to maintain and enhance the performance of Paediatric clients in their natural environments.
• Communicates assessment findings in an appropriate manner (via written report and also via verbal review) to caregivers, clients (as relevant), referral source and any other named agent as per standards of NCRHA. Where conflicts or concerns arise, consultation with the relevant consultant.
• Makes every effort to coordinate individual goals with parent and clients identified “core multidisciplinary team” to ensure that goals are relevant and will generally contribute to the client’s progress towards his/her functional ability.
• Designs, makes and fits adaptive devices such as splints, braces and switches according to scope of practice as well as to medical prescription.
• Identifies and obtains materials, tools, supplies and equipment for the various types of activities in which clients are engaged and instructs/assists client and/or their caregiver in their appropriate use.
• Manages caseloads taking account of priority cases, waiting lists, successful outcomes, referrals and timing of discharge of service users.
• Attends case conferences concerning client’s welfare and represent the professional viewpoint of occupational therapists of the Department of Paediatric Medicine multi-disciplinary team.
• Improves quality of outcomes by studying, evaluating, and re-designing processes; implementing changes; participating in research programs and evaluating new equipment, devices, and techniques.
• Keeps up to date on new techniques and approaches by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
• Maintains accreditation compliance by adhering to the respective regulations, and professional standards.
• Counsels and provides guidance to clients with challenges with activities of daily living, and educates their families and caregivers. 
• Assists in professional development of other members of the multidisciplinary team in the Department of Paediatric Medicine of the fundamentals of Occupational Therapy and facilitating ADL skills including those of eating and feeding.
• Maintains supplies inventory by checking stock; anticipating needs; placing and communicating these in a timely manner to the Business Manager, Paediatric Medicine Department and the Head of Department, Paediatric Medicine Department.
  • Performs other related duties as directed by the organisational relationship.

Minimum Qualification, Requirements and Experience:

• Training as evidenced by a Masters Level degree in Occupational Therapy, from an institution accredited by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT).
• Licensed & Registered to practice in Trinidad & Tobago, with the Council for Professions Related to Medicine.
• A minimum of 3 years post training experience in evaluating and treating infants, children and adolescents with developmental disabilities and/or medical challenges.

 *Certificates acquired at foreign universities MUST be supported by certified transcripts as well as evidence that the completed programme is accredited in Trinidad and Tobago.*

All applications should be submitted with a cover letter, a detailed Curriculum Vitae, copies of relevant certificates, birth certificate, a police certificate of good character, a contact number and two (2) testimonials  by August 28, 2023 and addressed (with the name of the position applied for, clearly labelled, on the outside of the envelope and the cover letter). To:

Office of the General Manager, Human Resources

North-Central Regional Health Authority

Building # 39, Third Floor

Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex

ONLY APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED VIA POST WILL BE CONSIDERED

Unsuitable/late applications will not be acknowledged.