Senior Occupational Therapist / Key Worker

Are you a Paediatric Occupational Therapist looking for the next exciting step in your career? Are you ready to lead and inspire a small team of Allied Health Professionals? Do you enjoy working with consumers to build their capacity and reach set goals?

If you are looking to move away from the hustle and bustle of a busy healthcare environment and really dedicate quality time to working with consumers to reach their goals and supporting others to continually learn and upskill, then read on as this is the perfect opportunity for you!

In line with Windermere’s 2020 – 2023 Strategic Plan ‘Doing It Better Together’, we are entering a period of growth and transformation. We are seeking a Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist/Key Worker to provide quality Early Intervention & Therapy services and display exemplary people leadership skills to be a positive and encouraging advocate for change.

Why Windermere?

We are committed to outcome-focused care for children, families and individuals and to making a positive difference in the community. As well as tailored support services for individuals and families, Windermere provides a varied scope of services to support disadvantaged and vulnerable people. Windermere offers a culture of flexibility, support and wellbeing.

Staff Benefits - this is where we stand out from the crowd!  Windermere offers staff a wide range of unique benefits beyond the salary.

• Flexible Ways of Working - home, in the office or combination of both
• Above Award Personal Leave and 17.5% annual leave loading
• Gifted days off (between Christmas and New Year)
• Employee Referral Program
• Flexible Leave Scheme (50/52, 51/52, nine-day fortnight)
• Study leave and opportunities for professional development
• Generous salary packaging (up to $15,900 per year + additional $2,650 meals and entertainment)
• Staff discount program for everyday items
• Rostered Days Off
• Paid Parental Leave

Windermere care about staff and strive for continuous improvement, which is why we regularly ask our staff and consumers about what we can do better. In our latest staff survey 95% of respondents said they are "happy to tell their family and friends they work at Windermere" and 95% agree "staff are welcome regardless of age, cultural background, race, religion, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation".  

Now, let’s talk about this exciting opportunity!

Reporting to the Team Leader of EITS (Early Intervention & Therapy Services), you will join an enthusiastic and highly skilled team of Allied Health Professionals who provide a range of tailored services to children and youth aged 0-12 years. You will play a pivotal role in supporting the Team Leader through coaching and mentoring of other Allied Health Practitioners. As a Senior Practitioner, you will have the opportunity to improve the knowledge, skills and capabilities of colleagues and families. You will have variety in your role with a mixture of staff supervision and consumer caseload to:

• liaise and collaborate with a team of different discipline areas (Occupational Therapists, speech pathologists, early childhood education specialists, physiotherapists, psychologists, dietitians) to design and deliver comprehensive support for consumers;
• actively model processes to improve others’ skills by providing knowledge, constructive feedback, coaching and learning opportunities;
• deliver a broad range of evidence informed intervention strategies, standardised assessments and parent education to increase communication and active participation in social and educational settings for children;
• undertake face to face consultation and relationship building in natural environments, schools and kindergartens as well as our modern office facilities and therapy spaces; and
• provide Key Worker support and advice to families and children across different areas, including social skills, basic gross and fine motor skills, routine implementation and emotional regulation.

This is a full-time position working 38 hours per week, however as we are a family friendly and flexible workplace environment, we would be open to considering part-time (0.8 – 30.4 hours per week). We also offer a hybrid model of working remotely from home and meeting with consumers in their natural surroundings or within our offices in Narre Warren, Berwick, Cranbourne and / or Pakenham.

Key Selection Criteria:

• Tertiary qualifications in Occupational Therapy and current registration with AHPRA
• Minimum 3 years’ experience managing, supervising and leading staff
• Minimum 5 years’ discipline specific clinical experience, with sound theoretical knowledge in paediatric practice 0-12

• Demonstrated knowledge of typical development and common conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy and developmental delay
• Knowledge and skills in the assessment, implementation and evaluation of plans and services for children & families
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team as well as work independently, including office based or remote off-site locations
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage use of time to meet service KPIs and provide a consumer-focused, high-quality and responsive service
• Demonstrated knowledge in the prescription of assistive technology
• Competence in the use of ICT to support with service delivery, such as telehealth.

• Current Victorian Drivers’ Licence
• Willingness to undertake relevant pre-employment screening and checks.
• Right to Work in Australia e.g. Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or Visa holder with full working rights.

Windermere is committed to equity & equality for consumers and employees, this by building diverse and inclusive services and work environments, where all peoples from Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander, CALD, LGBTIQ+ Communities and those living with disability will know and feel accepted, affirmed, safe and celebrated. Windermere is delivering this through the continued development and implementation of our Welcoming and Inclusion Strategy 2021 to 2024 as we seek to provide a diverse workforce at all levels.