Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist

We are seeking an experienced Occupational Therapist with full certification in Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI®) to join our Neurodevelopmental Occupational Therapy service. You will practise in a high-fidelity clinical environment aligned with the Ayres Sensory Integration Fidelity Measure© (ASIFM), with state-of-the-art suspended equipment and robust safety protocols. The role requires an evidence-based, child-led approach that delivers individually tailored “just-right” challenges and supports families to achieve meaningful participation and developmental outcomes.

As a Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist, you will assess and treat children and young people aged 0–18 years with autism, ADHD, anxiety and other conditions managed within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Working with the wider multidisciplinary team, you will help develop neurodevelopmental OT pathways and improve children’s functional participation at home, in education and in the community.

You will bring substantial experience of supporting children and young people with autism, ADHD, anxiety, sensory processing differences and other CAMHS diagnoses. Leadership experience within specialist paediatric occupational therapy is essential.

If you are passionate about advancing neurodevelopmental occupational therapy and improving outcomes for children and families, we welcome your application to join our specialist team.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead specialist OT clinics independently
• Provide specialist OT input within multidisciplinary clinics and services
• Supervise and support junior occupational therapists
• Contribute to service improvement, pathway development and resource planning

Clinical

• Provides in-patient and/or out-patient occupational therapy care to patients with complex and high needs as appropriate to patient demand and specialty clinical skills.

• Provides therapy care that is patient centered including setting meaningful goals for independence in daily activities.

• Provides high quality, evidenced based patient care including assessment and occupation-based treatment within the designated specialist clinical area.

• Uses appropriate clinical outcome measures to evaluate effectiveness of care.

• Contributes to patient diagnosis through the use of specialist assessments and observations.

• Where appropriate modifies task, person, or environment to enable participation in daily occupations such as bathing or dressing.

• Where appropriate assesses the patient for adaptations and use of specialist equipment.

• Liaises with the appropriate occupational therapy services in the community and provides transfer/discharge information.

• Educates the patient/family and other members of the health care team regarding the occupational therapy plan.

• Documents all relevant information correctly, appropriately and in a timely manner as per occupational therapy documentation standards.

• Acts as an advocate by empowering children and their families to make informed choices by providing them with information and support and directing to the relevant support services when appropriate.

• Provides appropriate cross cover into other specialist clinical areas as required, ensuring they have the required skills and competencies to do so.

• Demonstrates an understanding of evidence-based healthcare methodology and its ability to positively impact patient outcomes.

• Participates in the integration and evaluation of research into practice.

• Participates in patient education programs.

• Utilizing a professional practice framework and evidence-based care, identifies quality improvement initiatives while minimizing risks, creating care that is optimal for our patients and families.

• Promotes a safe environment and safe patient care by embracing a safety culture and identifying areas of risk to Occupational Therapy Supervisor. Complies with policies for personal and patient safety and for the prevention of healthcare associated infections.

Professional Practice

• Provides documented evidence of own performance and maintenance of skills with appropriate continuing professional development activities consistent with the specialty post.

• Responsible for maintaining a Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners Continuing Professional Development Profile for licensure.

• Responsible for maintaining up to date mandatory Life Support Training requirements as directed by MoPH and Sidra (e.g. BLS, AED etc).

• Participates in service activities that contribute to excellence in outcomes, a positive patient experience and a healthy professional environment.

• Contributes to the achievement of clinical quality outcome indicators and patient satisfaction.

• Leads service-based Performance Improvement activities and organizational committees as assigned.

• Participates in quality improvement activities linked to occupational therapy strategic priorities and professional practice model.

• Feeds back to supervisor regularly about day-to-day operational needs (eg. clinical service development, staffing, clinical service provision etc.) in the specialty area and assists with ad hoc operational service planning activities as needed.

• Participates in the continued development, implementation, and evaluation of Sidra Policy and Procedures to align with international best practices.

• Participates in new staff orientation aimed at developing competence and performance.

• Assists in maintaining a suitable learning environment supporting and teaching staff to develop. This includes mentoring, coaching, and providing formal clinical supervision to junior occupational therapist (Occupational Therapist I) and the occupational therapy technician, along with providing ongoing formal and informal education (e.g., conferences, inservices, journal club etc.)

• Coordinates with the supervisor regarding staff absences (e.g., sickness, annual, study, maternity).

• Participates in the promotion and maintenance of effective communication and teamwork. Treats colleagues, patients, and visitors with dignity and respect at all times.

• Responsible for completing their supervision agreements, readiness for supervision sessions and maintaining accurate supervision records.

• Follows all organizational policies and procedures.

• Adheres to Sidra’s standards as they appear in the Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest policies.

• Adheres to and promotes Sidra’s Values

In view of the evolving needs and opportunities within Sidra, this position may be required to perform other duties as assigned and reporting relationships may vary.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS – REQUIREMENTS

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from a WFOT-accredited programme

Experience

• 5+ years of relevant clinical experience.

• Demonstrated expertise in neurodevelopmental conditions

• Experience of multidisciplinary assessment and intervention

Certification and Licensure

• Postgraduate ASI® certification (CLASI CASI, USC/WPS SIPT or equivalent)

• Current registration and license from Country of Origin

• Eligible for licensure with the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners

Job Specific Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of Occupational Therapy principles and practices.
• Demonstrated ability to apply and integrate knowledge and skills into practice.
• Evidence of effective communication skills.
• Effective team member
• Motivated and enthusiastic
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite
• Fluency in written and spoken English