Job summary
We are recruiting to a full time B7 post in our Community Paediatric OT Service
As a member of the OT team the post holder will primarily work with babies and young children referred by the Neo-natal units in Suffolk ,and their families. Using evidence based practice we provide in-patient intervention on the neo-natal units at West Suffolk Hospital and Ipswich Hospital as well as home-based early intervention programmes for children who are at risk of ongoing developmental complications.
The role will cover in-patient neo-natal units and community visits across a wide geographical area in Suffolk (excluding the Waveney area); much of the post holders working week will be spent working in the community.
This is a new post with a focus on expanding the OT role within the neo-natal units and delivery of the community follow up program. There will therefore initially be a focus on service development and promoting the OT role in this specialist field. The post holder will work with the OT team leads, and the multi-disciplinary team across the community and acute settings, to develop training programs for health professionals, parents/ carers and other agencies.
We offer a strong internal supervision structure with regular CPD and training opportunities, including access to external courses and neo-natal clinical forums.
Interview date: 21st August 2025
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be based with other OTs and work within a multi-disciplinary team and other therapy services to deliver OT pathways and packages of care.
We continue to review and develop our clinical care pathways with active staff involvement, and value evidence informed practice and outcome measures.
The post holder will:
Undertake Occupational Therapy assessments of children, and prioritise, plan and develop a programme of OT intervention using a client centred approach in accordance with our clinical pathways.
Empower parents and carers in understanding the nature of their child's disability or dysfunction, the impact it has on behaviour and function and the activities and strategies they can use in the daily routines at home to develop their child's play and functional abilities
The post holder will work with the clinical leads of the neo-natal units to develop and deliver training packages to the promote the importance of the role of the neo-natal OT
We offer a strong internal supervision structure with regular CPD and training opportunities, including access to external courses.
The successful candidate will have experience working with children and families, and have good communication skills.
Previous experience and/or training linked to OT interventions for neo-natal and pre-term babies and pre-school children would be an advantage.
Applications will be considered for part time working / job share, please call to discuss.
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the full job description for further information
Job summary:
To provide a high-quality occupational therapy service to a caseload of children and young people, including children on the neo-natal pathway, children with severe physical disabilities, profound and multiple learning difficulties, high social needs and neurodevelopmental difficulties. This will include children and young people with statutory needs, e.g. Education, Health and Care Plans, safeguarding and child protection issues/concerns.
To carry an independent caseload of babies and children which may include a range of settings including hospital based care and the community.
To work with the Team Lead, Complex Pathway Leads and other senior members of the team to develop and implement delivery of effective, evidence based clinical practise across the Occupational Therapy team within the Integrated Community Paediatric Service
Job responsibilities:
1. Clinical and Professional
1.1 As a member of the OT team the post holder will initially primarily work with babies and young children referred by the Neo-natal units in Suffolk ,and their families. Using evidence based practice we provide in-patient intervention on the neo-natal units at West Suffolk Hospital and Ipswich Hospital as well as home-based early intervention programmes for children who are at risk of ongoing developmental complications.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the full job description for further information
Job summary:
To provide a high-quality occupational therapy service to a caseload of children and young people, including children on the neo-natal pathway, children with severe physical disabilities, profound and multiple learning difficulties, high social needs and neurodevelopmental difficulties. This will include children and young people with statutory needs, e.g. Education, Health and Care Plans, safeguarding and child protection issues/concerns.
To carry an independent caseload of babies and children which may include a range of settings including hospital based care and the community.
To work with the Team Lead, Complex Pathway Leads and other senior members of the team to develop and implement delivery of effective, evidence based clinical practise across the Occupational Therapy team within the Integrated Community Paediatric Service
Job responsibilities:
1. Clinical and Professional
1.1 As a member of the OT team the post holder will initially primarily work with babies and young children referred by the Neo-natal units in Suffolk ,and their families. Using evidence based practice we provide in-patient intervention on the neo-natal units at West Suffolk Hospital and Ipswich Hospital as well as home-based early intervention programmes for children who are at risk of ongoing developmental complications.
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Degree /Diploma in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC Registration
- Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio.
- Compliance with Professional Code of Conduct for OT
- oPost Graduate training relevant to paediatrics up to master's level, or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Occupational Therapy Student Educator experience
- Other post graduate specialist paediatric courses relevant to role
- Membership of RCOT
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of child development, paediatric conditions and in depth knowledge of developmental disabilities.
- Experience and working knowledge of Paediatrics as specialist area.
- Knowledge and experience of the impact of a child's disability on occupational performance and the child's family / carers
- Knowledge and experience of a range of treatment techniques and approaches in Paediatrics
- Experience of working with children with complex needs and long-term conditions
- Facilitation and involvement in audit and understanding of quality issues
- Contribution to clinical education.
- Supervision of junior staff and students.
- Documented evidence of lifelong learning.
Desirable
- Previous Band 7 experience or evidence of working on highly complex cases
- Previous experience and/or training linked to OT interventions for neo-natal and pre-term babies and pre-school children would be an advantage.
Skills and abilities
Essential
- oSpecialist knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions relevant to clinical specialism.
- oKnowledge and application of standardised assessments relevant to Paediatric Occupational Therapy.
- oKnowledge and prescribing of children's equipment.
- oUnderstand and implement standards, including risk management.
- oKnowledge and application of Occupational Therapy models of practice.
- oUnderstanding of Occupational Therapy outcome measures.
- oDetailed knowledge and application of relevant legislation and current best practice within clinical specialism i.e. NICE guidance for Children.
- oDetailed knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application in Children's Services
Desirable
- oResearch interest and literature research experience
- oAudit Skills
Personal qualities
Essential
- Flexible approach to working hours/duties
- Frequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.
- Ability to handle children and equipment, frequently exerting moderate physical effort for long periods.
- Ability to cope with frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Degree /Diploma in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC Registration
- Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio.
- Compliance with Professional Code of Conduct for OT
- oPost Graduate training relevant to paediatrics up to master's level, or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Occupational Therapy Student Educator experience
- Other post graduate specialist paediatric courses relevant to role
- Membership of RCOT
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of child development, paediatric conditions and in depth knowledge of developmental disabilities.
- Experience and working knowledge of Paediatrics as specialist area.
- Knowledge and experience of the impact of a child's disability on occupational performance and the child's family / carers
- Knowledge and experience of a range of treatment techniques and approaches in Paediatrics
- Experience of working with children with complex needs and long-term conditions
- Facilitation and involvement in audit and understanding of quality issues
- Contribution to clinical education.
- Supervision of junior staff and students.
- Documented evidence of lifelong learning.
Desirable
- Previous Band 7 experience or evidence of working on highly complex cases
- Previous experience and/or training linked to OT interventions for neo-natal and pre-term babies and pre-school children would be an advantage.
Skills and abilities
Essential
- oSpecialist knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions relevant to clinical specialism.
- oKnowledge and application of standardised assessments relevant to Paediatric Occupational Therapy.
- oKnowledge and prescribing of children's equipment.
- oUnderstand and implement standards, including risk management.
- oKnowledge and application of Occupational Therapy models of practice.
- oUnderstanding of Occupational Therapy outcome measures.
- oDetailed knowledge and application of relevant legislation and current best practice within clinical specialism i.e. NICE guidance for Children.
- oDetailed knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application in Children's Services
Desirable
- oResearch interest and literature research experience
- oAudit Skills
Personal qualities
Essential
- Flexible approach to working hours/duties
- Frequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.
- Ability to handle children and equipment, frequently exerting moderate physical effort for long periods.
- Ability to cope with frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
