Job summary
Due to maternity leave Family Futures is
actively seeking a Maternity
Cover for Lead Occupational Therapist / Sensory Integration (Clinical
Specialist) to do a
fixed term post from April 2026 to end of July 2027. We
are looking for a professional who aligns with our ethos and ambition to
provide high quality assessments
and therapeutic support for children who have experienced developmental trauma
and have attachment difficulties.
You will be part of a
small team that works collaboratively towards making a huge impact on the lives of the children and families we work
with. We look for people who want to be part of a service that is innovative,
creative and constantly striving to do better.
Please read attached recruitment pack.
APPLICANTS MUST EMAIL COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM TOGETHER WITH THEIR CV.
Main duties of the job
In this role, you will manage a full caseload within the Complex Trauma Service, carrying out comprehensive assessments and producing highquality reports for children and parents. You will provide supervision and consultation to Occupational Therapists and other clinical staff across multiple services, while also overseeing key cases, meeting reporting and funding deadlines, and monitoring service finances. The role involves close liaison with external professionals to support families and negotiate treatment arrangements, as well as maintaining strong safeguarding, risk management, and health and safety awareness particularly when deputising for managers. You will work as an integrated member of the clinical team, delivering assessments, therapeutic support, and occasional out of hours or homebased care to referred families.
About us
Family Futures is
a not for profit, independent adoption agency and therapy centre in London,
rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2025 for the fifth consecutive time. We have a
reputation for innovation and offer a high-quality service - an integrated
multi-disciplinary, assessment, treatment and family-finding service for
children who are traumatised or have attachment difficulties.
We also have our
Wellbeing Hub which offers evidence-based, one-to-one therapy for children,
young people, and families to improve their mental health, relationships,
physical health, and engagement at school.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Lead OT level tasks:
- To provide supervision/consultation for the OT team including sessional OTs.
- Consult with the OT team, oversee key cases, ensure report and funding deadlines, and manage case finances
- To provide some supervision/consultation for other clinical staff as appropriate for the Multi Disciplinary Assessment Service, Complex Trauma Service, Wellbeing Hub, Permanency Service and Neurodiversity Service.
- To support and supervise some assessments and treatment cases before, during and after the direct work with families across the Multi-Disciplinary Assessment Service, Complex Trauma Service, Wellbeing Hub, Permanency Service and Neurodiversity Service.
- To monitor some assessment and treatment reports for quality control purposes and ensure they are disseminated on time.
- To provide some professional and parent consultations.
- Liaise with external professionals to support FF-referred families and negotiate assessment and treatment contracts.
- To attend and chair some professionals meetings on behalf of Family Futures.
- To collaborate in the monitoring and tracking of the flow of work in the Assessment Service and Therapy Service (including the Complex Trauma Service, Wellbeing Hub and Neurodiversity Service) in conjunction with the Assessment Services Manager, Therapy Services Manager and other appropriate managers.
- To have an overview of the finances of the OT Service and the organisation as a whole under the direction of the other managers.
- To ensure that the Therapy Service complies with the requirements for Voluntary Adoption Agencies and Adoption Support Agencies.
- Be aware of Safeguarding, Risk, Care and Control, Notification procedures, and health and safety, especially when deputizing for managers
- To liaise with the Assessment and Therapy Services Managers as well as the other appropriate managers and to deputise for the Assessment and Therapy Service Managers or other managers in their absence.
- To attend various meetings as appropriate in connection with the smooth running or the organisation.
- In addition to the core responsibilities, the role requires fulfilling other duties befitting the position's grade level, as directed by Family Futures.
General Tasks:
- Work as an integrated clinical team member, providing support, assessments, and treatment to Family Futures referred children and families, including home visits and out-of-hours care.
- Manage a full caseload within the Complex Trauma Service, including taking on the key worker role as needed.
- To be on the rota for initial enquiries ensuring that initial enquires are dealt with in an efficient and empathetic manner
- To participate in clinical work in the iAdopt assessment programme (informing prospective adopters about sensory needs in traumatised children and being part of the evaluation of their understanding and skills) and post placement support.
- Compile comprehensive assessment, treatment, and other required reports on children and parents.
- To write good quality session/supervision notes and keeping a telephone log. As well as to ensure that this is done within 48 hours of the session.
- To maintain good and up to date computer records.
- Efficiently manage caseload, check messages (phone, email) and respond appropriately.
- Contribute to the development and execution of marketing and social media campaigns by sharing your role and expertise, helping to promote the company's services and brand presence.
Service Development
- To participate in the continued development of the integrative Neuro-Physiological Psychotherapy (NPP) model with a particular emphasis on the role of Sensory Integration.
- Contribute to the development of the new Neurodiversity Service, providing insights to ensure effective, person-cantered care.
- To take an active part in research projects as well as the monitoring and evaluation of Family Futures services.
- To be involved in the development of the Assessment and Therapy Service as a whole as well as the training of staff working across all services.
- To write/edit articles and books on behalf of Family Futures and in collaboration with other agencies as appropriate.
- To contribute to the Education and Development Programme as well as in house staff training programme as part of this dissemination process.
Manner of Work:
- To adhere to the policies and procedures of Family Futures as laid down in the Adoption Agency handbook and Statement of Purpose, this includes safeguarding, risk, care and control, notification and equal opportunities policies.
- Ensure that duties are undertaken with due regard and compliance with the Data Protection Act and Family Futures confidentiality standards.
- To comply with the requirements for registration of their respective professional body and to keep their professional membership up to date.
- At all times, to maintain the highest standards of professional practice and to adhere to the HCPC and UKCP guidelines for practice.
- To work in a collaborative and empathetic manner with parents, children and their support networks.
- To be aware of the need for personal therapy due to the particular nature of the work undertaken at Family Futures and to be prepared to fund personal therapy should at any time it appear to be a requirement of the job.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Lead OT level tasks:
- To provide supervision/consultation for the OT team including sessional OTs.
- Consult with the OT team, oversee key cases, ensure report and funding deadlines, and manage case finances
- To provide some supervision/consultation for other clinical staff as appropriate for the Multi Disciplinary Assessment Service, Complex Trauma Service, Wellbeing Hub, Permanency Service and Neurodiversity Service.
- To support and supervise some assessments and treatment cases before, during and after the direct work with families across the Multi-Disciplinary Assessment Service, Complex Trauma Service, Wellbeing Hub, Permanency Service and Neurodiversity Service.
- To monitor some assessment and treatment reports for quality control purposes and ensure they are disseminated on time.
- To provide some professional and parent consultations.
- Liaise with external professionals to support FF-referred families and negotiate assessment and treatment contracts.
- To attend and chair some professionals meetings on behalf of Family Futures.
- To collaborate in the monitoring and tracking of the flow of work in the Assessment Service and Therapy Service (including the Complex Trauma Service, Wellbeing Hub and Neurodiversity Service) in conjunction with the Assessment Services Manager, Therapy Services Manager and other appropriate managers.
- To have an overview of the finances of the OT Service and the organisation as a whole under the direction of the other managers.
- To ensure that the Therapy Service complies with the requirements for Voluntary Adoption Agencies and Adoption Support Agencies.
- Be aware of Safeguarding, Risk, Care and Control, Notification procedures, and health and safety, especially when deputizing for managers
- To liaise with the Assessment and Therapy Services Managers as well as the other appropriate managers and to deputise for the Assessment and Therapy Service Managers or other managers in their absence.
- To attend various meetings as appropriate in connection with the smooth running or the organisation.
- In addition to the core responsibilities, the role requires fulfilling other duties befitting the position's grade level, as directed by Family Futures.
General Tasks:
- Work as an integrated clinical team member, providing support, assessments, and treatment to Family Futures referred children and families, including home visits and out-of-hours care.
- Manage a full caseload within the Complex Trauma Service, including taking on the key worker role as needed.
- To be on the rota for initial enquiries ensuring that initial enquires are dealt with in an efficient and empathetic manner
- To participate in clinical work in the iAdopt assessment programme (informing prospective adopters about sensory needs in traumatised children and being part of the evaluation of their understanding and skills) and post placement support.
- Compile comprehensive assessment, treatment, and other required reports on children and parents.
- To write good quality session/supervision notes and keeping a telephone log. As well as to ensure that this is done within 48 hours of the session.
- To maintain good and up to date computer records.
- Efficiently manage caseload, check messages (phone, email) and respond appropriately.
- Contribute to the development and execution of marketing and social media campaigns by sharing your role and expertise, helping to promote the company's services and brand presence.
Service Development
- To participate in the continued development of the integrative Neuro-Physiological Psychotherapy (NPP) model with a particular emphasis on the role of Sensory Integration.
- Contribute to the development of the new Neurodiversity Service, providing insights to ensure effective, person-cantered care.
- To take an active part in research projects as well as the monitoring and evaluation of Family Futures services.
- To be involved in the development of the Assessment and Therapy Service as a whole as well as the training of staff working across all services.
- To write/edit articles and books on behalf of Family Futures and in collaboration with other agencies as appropriate.
- To contribute to the Education and Development Programme as well as in house staff training programme as part of this dissemination process.
Manner of Work:
- To adhere to the policies and procedures of Family Futures as laid down in the Adoption Agency handbook and Statement of Purpose, this includes safeguarding, risk, care and control, notification and equal opportunities policies.
- Ensure that duties are undertaken with due regard and compliance with the Data Protection Act and Family Futures confidentiality standards.
- To comply with the requirements for registration of their respective professional body and to keep their professional membership up to date.
- At all times, to maintain the highest standards of professional practice and to adhere to the HCPC and UKCP guidelines for practice.
- To work in a collaborative and empathetic manner with parents, children and their support networks.
- To be aware of the need for personal therapy due to the particular nature of the work undertaken at Family Futures and to be prepared to fund personal therapy should at any time it appear to be a requirement of the job.
Person Specification
Values
Essential
- To show respect and an enthusiasm for the work of Family Futures and its users.
- To show respect to all staff at Family Futures.
- To show respect and understanding to all clients and staff by following the Equal Opportunities Policy and working in accordance with the Equality Act (2010).
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised qualification as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist trained in Sensory Integration
- Additional training in autism
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with children and families in a therapeutic setting.
- Experience of supervising and consulting on complex cases.
- Experience of taking management responsibility and good financial management.
- An understanding of working therapeutically with families, children and adults.
- An understanding of the use of the creative arts in a therapeutic setting.
- An understanding of safeguarding children's issues as well as an understanding of care and control, notification procedures and equal opportunities, data protection and general good practice.
- Excellent time management skills and an ability to meet deadlines and prioritise workload.
- An ability to work collaboratively as a team member as well as to be a team leader.
- Excellent clinical skills and report writing skills.
Desirable
- Experience of working with children and families in the field of fostering and adoption.
- Minimum of two years as a senior practitioner.
- An understanding of contemporary adoption and fostering law and practice.
- An advanced understanding of theory and research in the field of trauma, attachment and therapeutic interventions with children and their parents as well as Neurodiversity and FASD.
- Must be able to travel (when required).
Person Specification
Values
Essential
- To show respect and an enthusiasm for the work of Family Futures and its users.
- To show respect to all staff at Family Futures.
- To show respect and understanding to all clients and staff by following the Equal Opportunities Policy and working in accordance with the Equality Act (2010).
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised qualification as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist trained in Sensory Integration
- Additional training in autism
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with children and families in a therapeutic setting.
- Experience of supervising and consulting on complex cases.
- Experience of taking management responsibility and good financial management.
- An understanding of working therapeutically with families, children and adults.
- An understanding of the use of the creative arts in a therapeutic setting.
- An understanding of safeguarding children's issues as well as an understanding of care and control, notification procedures and equal opportunities, data protection and general good practice.
- Excellent time management skills and an ability to meet deadlines and prioritise workload.
- An ability to work collaboratively as a team member as well as to be a team leader.
- Excellent clinical skills and report writing skills.
Desirable
- Experience of working with children and families in the field of fostering and adoption.
- Minimum of two years as a senior practitioner.
- An understanding of contemporary adoption and fostering law and practice.
- An advanced understanding of theory and research in the field of trauma, attachment and therapeutic interventions with children and their parents as well as Neurodiversity and FASD.
- Must be able to travel (when required).
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
