Senior Occupational Therapist – CDNT
Senior Occupational Therapist (CDNT)
Job Purpose
The Senior Occupational Therapist will play a key role within the Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) in Sligo, working with children and young people with complex needs. This position will involve the assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic intervention for children with physical, sensory, and developmental disabilities, supporting their participation and inclusion in daily activities. The Senior Occupational Therapist will also provide clinical supervision, guidance, and leadership to junior staff and contribute to service development.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct comprehensive assessments of children with a range of disabilities, including physical, sensory, developmental, and learning difficulties.
- Develop and implement individualized intervention plans focused on enhancing the child’s functional skills, independence, and participation.
- Utilize a family-centered and evidence-based approach to provide interventions that improve the child’s abilities in self-care, play, education, and social participation.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary team members including physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, psychologists, social workers, and medical professionals.
- Provide specialized advice and strategies for families, caregivers, and educators to support the child’s development.
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions and adjust plans accordingly.
- Ensure timely documentation and reporting in line with professional and organizational standards.
- Provide clinical supervision and mentorship to junior occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and students.
- Act as a clinical resource within the team, offering specialist guidance and input into complex cases.
- Lead and contribute to the development of evidence-based clinical guidelines, protocols, and best practices for the team.
- Contribute to the performance management process and support staff development through training and reflective practice.
- Engage in ongoing service improvement initiatives to enhance the quality and accessibility of occupational therapy services within the CDNT.
- Participate in the planning and delivery of group interventions, training workshops, and health promotion activities.
- Support the Children’s Disability Network Manager in strategic planning, operational management, and policy development.
- Contribute to research and audit projects to advance service delivery and outcomes.
- Work closely with families, schools, and community services to ensure seamless service provision and support transitions in care.
- Represent the occupational therapy discipline at multidisciplinary meetings, case conferences, and stakeholder events.
- Maintain effective communication and working relationships with external agencies, such as schools, childcare services, and relevant health and social care organizations.
Essential Requirements of a Senior Occupational Therapist
- A recognized degree or Masters degree in Occupational Therapy.
- Registration with CORU as an Occupational Therapist in Ireland.
- A minimum of 3-5 years of post-graduate experience, with at least 2 years working in a paediatric or disability setting.
- Demonstrable experience in working with children with complex needs, including physical, intellectual, and sensory disabilities.
- Experience in providing supervision and mentoring to junior staff or students.
To apply please contact jreid@medforce.ie