JOB TITLE:                            OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

REPORTING:                       Doctor in charge at the health facility

WORKING HOURS:         40 hours per week (8 hours a day)

SALARY:                               Gross salary TZS 680,000

TYPE OF CONTRACT:       The contract will end on 31^st March, 2021.

JOB PURPOSE:                   To provide sensory screening and early intervention services, including but not limited to sensory stimulation, counselling, and support to strengthen activities of daily living for children with deafblindness and multi-sensory impairments with the aim to increase mobility, independence, self-reliance and overall function. To provide training and counselling to parents/caregivers of children with disabilities with the aim to build their confidence and capacity to improve their support to their children with disabilities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Sensory Screening

• Assist nurses / clinical officer / Community Health Workers with either or both risk factor screening questionnaire and basic equipment screening of infants for sensory impairments.

Early Intervention

• Facilitate and conduct the initial assessment to determine whether a child qualifies to be enrolled in the Early Intervention programme, and make appropriate referrals where needed.
• Provide rehabilitative services for children with deafblindness and multi-sensory impairments, including sensory stimulation, training for activities of daily living and therapy, guided by existing Screening and Early Intervention Protocols, Curriculums and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Advise on gaps in specialist equipment to help children with deafblindness and sensory-impairments with daily activities.
• Provide training and guidance of parents/caregivers to learn early stimulation exercises and strategies to teach their children daily living skills.
• Develop a rehabilitation programme translated into an Individualised Development Plan (IDP) for children with deafblindness and multi-sensory impairments enrolled in the Early Intervention programme.
• Perform regular, at least quarterly, home visits to children with deafblindness and multi-sensory impairments and their families to advice on accessibility in the home and school environment, such as adjustments for wheelchair access and to maximise therapy at home, and to support families to facilitate inclusion in home and community life.
• Provide counselling services to children with deafblindness and multi-sensory impairments and their parents/guardians.
• Liaise with other professionals, such as doctors, physiotherapists, social workers, community health workers (CHW), equipment suppliers, as well as children’s families, all centred on the development of the child.

Early Intervention Unit Management

• Manage the day to day running of the Early Intervention unit.
• Requisition and account for therapy and office equipment and other supplies.
• Maintain an updated asset register of all therapy and office equipment.
• Maintain and ensure optimal function of sensory screening, occupational therapy and sensory stimulation equipment.
• Manage patient data both electronically and hard copy. Responsible for data entry, filing and storing of patient sensitive information.
• Compile and submit weekly and monthly reports on screening and Early Intervention and for submission to Sense International Tanzania and others as relevant and directed.

Awareness Raising

• Participate in community sensitisation and awareness raising, including health talks within the facility and in the community whenever required.

Other relevant duties

• Perform any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
• Adhere to professional code of conducts and ethics.
• Report immediately to the Project Officer at Sense International Tanzania, any challenge or dispute that may significantly affect the process of screening or the image of Sense International Tanzania as a whole.
• Adhere to the policies of Sense International Tanzania, including the children and vulnerable adults safeguarding policy.

PERSON SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

Qualifications

• A diploma in Occupational Therapy from a recognised Institution.
• Must be registered and licensed with the Tanzania Occupational Therapy Association (KOPA).
• At least 2 years’ experience as an Occupational Therapist in an active role.
• Experience in working with people with disabilities, experience in working with people with deafblindness or multi-sensory Impairments is an added advantage.

Competencies and skills

You will need to demonstrate the following skills in the day to day work:

• Strong communication and observation skills;
• The ability to think outside the box and work under pressure;
• Decision-making skills and the ability to organise, prioritise and plan one’s workload;
• A flexible approach to work;
• Clinical assessment and report writing skills;
• Team working skills as you will often liaise with other professionals such as doctors and social workers;
• Enthusiasm, sensitivity and patience to deal with patients with a range of complex needs;
• The ability to explain, encourage and build confidence, and develop rapport with your patients;
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and Access.

APPLICATION METHOD:

Send your cover letter and Curriculum Vitae (CV to be no more than 3 pages) to infotz@senseint-ea.org. The deadline for submitting applications is 5^th October, 2018 at 5:00 PM. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Sense International Tanzania is an equal opportunity employer.