Palliative Care Occupational Therapist

at  The Royal Childrens Hospital

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Current National Criminal Record Check, or willing to obtain
• Valid Working with Children Check
• Compliance with RCHs “Staff Immunisation - Prevention of Vaccine Preventable Diseases” procedure

THE ROLE:

The Palliative Care occupational therapist (OT) provides clinical leadership and expertise that optimises quality of life for paediatric palliative care patients and families. It is largely a consultancy role and includes the provision of equipment and expert advice to both health professionals and families about:

• Mobility and independence
• Personal Care
• Pressure care
• Safety (e.g. safe transport in vehicles, transfers)
• Assessment of the home environment and equipment needs of children who are discharged home
• Organisation of the hire or purchase of necessary equipment
• Working closely with rural health care providers to facilitate home care for children.

The VPPCP OT will at times prescribe and source specialist equipment when this is not available through existing services and agencies.

TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR THIS ROLE YOU HAVE:

• Comprehensive knowledge and assessment and intervention skills specific to paediatric palliative care
• Highly developed problem solving and clinical reasoning to support complex decision making, care planning and coordination.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in research, quality improvement or program evaluation
• Demonstrated strong clinical leadership and organisation.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate with and motivate children, young people and their families and to negotiate with multiple stakeholders in a professional, efficient, and sustainable manner.
• High-level written skills, including clinical documentation, performance reporting and/or business cases.
• Ability to work well under pressure and be flexible to changing priorities
• Demonstrated computer skills, including spreadsheets, database programs, and word processing programs
• Skills and experience as a member of a team including a willingness to contribute to team initiatives, share knowledge and educate others
• Knowledge of the issues confronting children with life-limiting conditions and their families
• Knowledge of the principles of palliative care and key elements of practice
• A capacity to work in both hospital and community settings
• Ability to monitor the management of children with palliative care needs and their families through the treating healthcare and community teams
• Demonstrated capacity to manage stressful situations and conflict
• Commitment to Quality Improvement principles, and evidence of initiation, implementation, and completion of projects aligned to service enhancement.
  If this sounds like you, click here to view the position description.