Description

  
About Dundaloo Allied Health
Dundaloo’s Allied Health Team provides a range of allied health services including occupational therapy, speech therapy, and psychology. The services are available to all people in the community.

Position Purpose
The Paediatric Occupational Therapist provides specialist occupational therapy services and support to clients accessing Dundaloo Allied Health services. 

This role supports children and young people to achieve their day-to-day tasks, which can include self-care, fine motor, following routines, sensory needs, and play and social skills through a variety of therapeutic approaches. Services are provided using best evidence, a flexible, early intervention approach working with children and young people presenting with developmental delays or with diagnosed disabilities. 

This includes the provision of evidence based occupational therapy support in a format appropriate to developmental age and may include the provision of clinical assessment, therapy / interventions including group programs and centre based or outreach support for individuals and or their families/guardians. 

Your role ensures clinical practice is based on the best evidence available facilitating high-quality services which is responsive to community need. 

The Paediatric Occupational Therapist will work as part of the Dundaloo Allied Health multidisciplinary team which includes mental health professionals, Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology.
 
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Corporate Citizenship

As an employee of Dundaloo Support Services and a member of the Dundaloo Allied Health team, it is expected that the Paediatric Occupational Therapist

• Works in accordance with Dundaloo’s mission, values and Code of Conduct
•  Supports a culture that is characterised by accountability, respect, professionalism, support, safety, collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making.
•  Demonstrates commitment to ongoing personal and professional development, including active participation in supervision meetings, clinical supervision and professional development activities.
• Complies with all relevant legislation, policies, procedures and standards.
•  Provides a high standard of customer service, both internally and externally, including the provision of services in a person-centred way.
•  Takes reasonable care for their own health and safety and the health and safety of others.
•   Works collaboratively within and across teams to foster constructive workplace relationships, ensure the delivery of quality services, and continuously improve the services that Dundaloo offers.
•  Positively promote the Dundaloo Allied Health service in the local community. 

 Allied Health Specific

• Contribute to the achievement of Dundaloo Allied Health strategic objectives and priorities.
• Meet key performance indicators including funding and performance targets. 

Position Specific 

This position will provide clinical occupational therapy services to children and young people involved with Dundaloo Allied Health services and its associated partners. Primarily this service is delivered to children aged 0 to 12. The position utilises both group and individual therapy models. The position works closely with other occupational therapists, paediatric allied health / mental health staff, and the broader organisation. 

Specific responsibilities include:

• Provide high standard, evidenced based, best practice occupational therapy services to children and young people who experience a broad range of developmental difficulties or functional delays which impact their daily routines and activity participation, whilst building the capacity of clients, participants, carers / families, and community in a wholistic child and family centred strengths-based approach. 
•  Deliver a range of paediatric assessments (including functional assessments), therapeutic and interventional supports in clinical, home, educational and community settings (including to act as the key worker when deemed necessary). 
•  Utilise evidence-based practice for individuals and group programs, and where suitable adopt an early childhood approach to care. 
•  Work autonomously and within a team managing a mixed case load of clients. 
•  Complete all documentation in a timely and accurate manner in accordance with required standards. organisational standards. 
•  Complete all reports and billing in a timely manner.
•  Demonstrate and foster good understanding of professional values and ethics that also are reflective of Family Law Act 1975, National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2021–2031, Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 No 51, Child Safety standards, NDIS Practice Standards, and organisational standards. 
•  Be self-motivated and take initiative to identify and resolve problems. 
•  Demonstrate and model effective written, verbal and non-verbal formal/informal communication skills with others including the multi/interdisciplinary team, clients, carers, and community agencies and stakeholders. 
•  Demonstrate and foster sound organisational skills. 
•  Meet the requirements of participants who are the recipients of NDIS plans. 
•  Supervise students, early career clinicians, and allied health assistants ensuring the maintenance and adherence of professional, clinical, ethical and safety standards. 
•  Participate in and have a commitment to all clinical governance activities, including clinical peer review, case conference, professional development, and supervision. 
•  Demonstrate high-quality clinical service provision in Occupational Therapy that are child and family centered, using a neuro diverse affirming, strength-based approach to ensure children, young people and their families/carers receive evidenced based interventions within appropriate environments
•  Conduct effective and efficient provision of service to ensure access, promotion and delivery maintains the legal and human rights of clients. 
•  Provide evidence of key stakeholder engagement and communication. 

The role, specific tasks and responsibilities of the occupational therapist will be reviewed and may alter over time to meet the changing needs of the organisation. 

Requirements

 1. Key Relationships

•  Executive Leader, Corporate Services
•  Allied Health Practice Manager – direct supervisor
•  Allied Health Assistant – direct report
•  Dundaloo Allied Health Team.

 2. Qualifications & Experience

• Recognised tertiary qualification in Occupational Therapy and general registration with AHPRA 
• Advanced clinical skills and demonstrated high level clinical problem solving in paediatric. occupational therapy including extensive experience in assessment and delivery of therapy (in both group and one to one model) for clients with developmental difficulties and/or functional delays which impact their daily routines and activity participation.
• Demonstrated ability to practice in a collaborative, neuro diverse affirming, strength based, family and child centred model, with emphasis on parent upskilling on how to best support their child. 
• Experience working as a therapist under multiple funding and practice framework such as Community Health, NDIS and Home and Community Care Program for Younger People. 
• Experience in supervision and coaching of staff and/or undergraduate students (preferred).
• Training and practical experience in an autism assessment clinic, or with working with young people with complex developmental trauma.

 3. Capabilities and Attributes

• High level and effective interpersonal skills, including teamwork, leadership, communication (written and verbal), and conflict management.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, efficient and flexible work practices including the ability to manage a busy caseload, meet deadlines, prioritise, and respond to change. 
• Demonstrated commitment to professional development and quality improvement by maintaining, applying, and sharing clinical knowledge. 
• Demonstrated understanding of professional codes of conduct, child welfare and human rights. 
• Competent in the use of information technology e.g., Microsoft Office and Client Management Systems. 

 4. Certification Requirements

• Current Driver’s Licence for NSW 
• Current NDIS Worker Screening Check 
• Current Working with Children Check