Job summary
We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist (band 7) to join our dynamic and forward-thinking team . This role is ideal for an experienced clinician with a strong background in community paediatrics and complex needs who is looking to further develop their specialist expertise.
As a valued member of our occupational therapy team, the post holder will provide advanced clinical expertise across a range of service areas, working with children and young people with complex presentations. In addition to delivering high-quality, evidence-based intervention, there will be excellent opportunities to develop leadership, service development, and management skills within a supportive and collaborative environment.
This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact while progressing your professional growth within a committed and innovative team.
Main duties of the job
The role offers the opportunity to deliver highly specialist, child-centred assessment and intervention, drawing on advanced knowledge of child development, disability, environmental factors and occupation. The post holder will analyse occupational performance skills, roles and contexts to design meaningful, outcomes-focused interventions that enable children and young people to thrive in their daily lives. You will manage a complex and varied caseload across children with complex physical needs, pre-school children, special schools and school-aged populations. The role involves coordinating OT provision within the specialist clinical area, maintaining oversight of care to ensure timely, high-quality and responsive intervention.
A key component of the post is acting as an expert advisor to Lewisham Education SEN Service, providing specialist clinical opinion at SEN Tribunals, Disagreement Resolution Meetings and other statutory forums. You will clearly articulate children's occupational therapy needs and the resources required to meet them. Working collaboratively with schools and community AHP colleagues, you will support the development and delivery of sustainable intervention programmes. You will also contribute to audit, service development and clinical pathway implementation, helping shape the future direction of the OT service. This is an influential and developmental role suited to a clinician passionate about complex paediatrics and service innovation.
About us
Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:
- Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
- Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
- Improving the experience of staff with disability
- Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
- Making equalities mainstream
Job description
Job responsibilities
Accountable to the Occupational Therapy Manager, Community Children and Young Peoples Specialist Services.
- To work as a Band 7 therapist in a range of clinical areas. The children will have a wide range of diagnosis and in-depth understanding and experience is needed in childrens occupational therapy, as well as the ability to work competently at a band 7 level across the service with a range of casework.
- To be responsible for providing highly specialist individual child focused assessments and intervention. Requiring integration of knowledge and understanding of child development, environment, disability and occupations, to address occupational performance skills, roles, contexts and activity demands.
- To contribute to the overall development of the occupational therapy service as the service evolves in line with organisational changes.
- To ensure the successful implementation of a specialist area of an occupational therapy clinical pathway alongside other service development initiatives.
- To contribute to the work of the Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist in scoping for a designated occupational therapy services in areas of unmet need, supporting the training initiative in mainstream nurseries and schools and supporting the initiatives around enhanced provision and pilot study work on-going and planned.
- To co-ordinate the delivery of Occupational Therapy services to named children in the specialist neonatal and early years area of provision, holding an overview of the caseload.
- To provide support and guidance to other Occupational Therapists.
- To be responsible for providing highly specialist individual child focused assessments and intervention. Requiring integration of knowledge and understanding of child development, environment, disability and occupations, to address occupational performance skills, roles, contexts and activity demands.
- To select, administer and apply a highly specialist level of analysis to standardised and non-standardised assessments, tools and materials specific to community paediatric occupational therapy, in order to provide diagnostic and predictive information and contribute to accurate diagnosis, prognosis and intervention.
- To use a highly specialist level of skills in negotiating, agreeing and setting goals with the family, school staff and other professionals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely (SMART) and address key occupational performance needs. To monitor, evaluate and modify intervention against set GAS goals in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness, negotiating new goals where appropriate.
- To identify the need and where appropriate, assess and plan management/intervention to meet the assistive technology needs of children (Orthotics, equipment for home and school including special seating and postural management, AT, mobility equipment and environmental controls).
- To be responsible for ordering, referral, liaison with other agencies and/or joint assessments and appropriate after care such as training, setting up equipment and reviewing progress
- To undertake complex risk assessments in relation to children on caseload.
- To assess for and advise others in determining appropriate and safe use of equipment and to assess the competence of others (school staff, family, carers) to carry out advice regarding safe use of equipment.
- To address consent throughout involvement with a child and aim to work co-operatively with parents, teaching staff and other professionals.
- To work with families from a variety of social, economic and cultural backgrounds and respond appropriately to clients needs.
- To work with families and children with additional vulnerability and provide appropriate support (e.g. Children in care, children with terminal illness / degenerative conditions, child protection, challenging behaviours).
- To adapt own style of communication to meet the differing needs of children and families e.g. use of an interpreter, sign language, uncomplicated language or pictures and symbols.
- To record and maintain all client contact information and data in client files or on electronic recording system in an accurate and contemporaneous manner, adhering to local and national policies and guidance.
- In response to individual need, to develop and deliver training packages to mainstream nurseries and schools to assist them in having a whole school approach to meeting childrens educational, self-help and motor coordination needs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Accountable to the Occupational Therapy Manager, Community Children and Young Peoples Specialist Services.
- To work as a Band 7 therapist in a range of clinical areas. The children will have a wide range of diagnosis and in-depth understanding and experience is needed in childrens occupational therapy, as well as the ability to work competently at a band 7 level across the service with a range of casework.
- To be responsible for providing highly specialist individual child focused assessments and intervention. Requiring integration of knowledge and understanding of child development, environment, disability and occupations, to address occupational performance skills, roles, contexts and activity demands.
- To contribute to the overall development of the occupational therapy service as the service evolves in line with organisational changes.
- To ensure the successful implementation of a specialist area of an occupational therapy clinical pathway alongside other service development initiatives.
- To contribute to the work of the Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist in scoping for a designated occupational therapy services in areas of unmet need, supporting the training initiative in mainstream nurseries and schools and supporting the initiatives around enhanced provision and pilot study work on-going and planned.
- To co-ordinate the delivery of Occupational Therapy services to named children in the specialist neonatal and early years area of provision, holding an overview of the caseload.
- To provide support and guidance to other Occupational Therapists.
- To be responsible for providing highly specialist individual child focused assessments and intervention. Requiring integration of knowledge and understanding of child development, environment, disability and occupations, to address occupational performance skills, roles, contexts and activity demands.
- To select, administer and apply a highly specialist level of analysis to standardised and non-standardised assessments, tools and materials specific to community paediatric occupational therapy, in order to provide diagnostic and predictive information and contribute to accurate diagnosis, prognosis and intervention.
- To use a highly specialist level of skills in negotiating, agreeing and setting goals with the family, school staff and other professionals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely (SMART) and address key occupational performance needs. To monitor, evaluate and modify intervention against set GAS goals in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness, negotiating new goals where appropriate.
- To identify the need and where appropriate, assess and plan management/intervention to meet the assistive technology needs of children (Orthotics, equipment for home and school including special seating and postural management, AT, mobility equipment and environmental controls).
- To be responsible for ordering, referral, liaison with other agencies and/or joint assessments and appropriate after care such as training, setting up equipment and reviewing progress
- To undertake complex risk assessments in relation to children on caseload.
- To assess for and advise others in determining appropriate and safe use of equipment and to assess the competence of others (school staff, family, carers) to carry out advice regarding safe use of equipment.
- To address consent throughout involvement with a child and aim to work co-operatively with parents, teaching staff and other professionals.
- To work with families from a variety of social, economic and cultural backgrounds and respond appropriately to clients needs.
- To work with families and children with additional vulnerability and provide appropriate support (e.g. Children in care, children with terminal illness / degenerative conditions, child protection, challenging behaviours).
- To adapt own style of communication to meet the differing needs of children and families e.g. use of an interpreter, sign language, uncomplicated language or pictures and symbols.
- To record and maintain all client contact information and data in client files or on electronic recording system in an accurate and contemporaneous manner, adhering to local and national policies and guidance.
- In response to individual need, to develop and deliver training packages to mainstream nurseries and schools to assist them in having a whole school approach to meeting childrens educational, self-help and motor coordination needs.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or degree in occupational therapy
- Registered Occupational Therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Safeguarding/Child Protection Paediatric
- Evidence of competencies in advanced clinical practice and paediatric assessment/intervention
- Current evidence of continuing professional development relevant to paediatrics and community practice.
Desirable
- Training in leadership, supervision, or service development
- Training or certification in manual handling, postural management, or equipment provision.
- Training in audit, research methods, or quality improvement relevant to community occupational therapy
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as an Occupational Therapist with children and young people (0-19 years).
- Experience working in an NHS environment
- Experience of delivering child-centred assessment and intervention in community settings (e.g. home, clinic, mainstream and/or special schools).
- Experience managing a defined caseload, including prioritisation and risk management.
- Experience contributing to Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNA) and writing professional reports.
- Experience of collaborative working with families, education staff and multi-disciplinary teams.
- Experience maintaining accurate, timely clinical records and outcome measures.
Desirable
- Experience supervising students, assistants or junior staff.
- Experience with equipment provision, adaptations and postural management.
- Experience delivering training to parents, carers, schools or other professionals.
- Experience participating in audit, service development or quality improvement initiatives.
- Experience supporting children in special schools or specialist provisions.
- Experience working with children with a range of needs, including developmental delay, neurodevelopmental conditions, and/or complex physical disabilities.
Knowledge
Essential
- Broad and in-depth understanding of typical and atypical child development, and its relationship to occupational performance across childhood and adolescence.
- Specialist knowledge of the impact of developmental challenges (including physical, neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions) on functional skills, participation and independence.
- Sound knowledge of a wide range of occupational therapy interventions and their application within community settings.
- Specialist understanding of the Occupational Therapy process, applied within child-centred and family-centred practice frameworks.
- Understanding of national legislation and guidance relating to disability, education, health and social care (including SEND processes and EHCP frameworks).
- Knowledge of safeguarding legislation and policies relating to children and young people.
- Knowledge of relevant education legislation, including the Education Act and School Standards and Framework Act.
- Understanding of clinical governance, audit and evidence-based practice.
Desirable
- Knowledge of specialist equipment provision, postural management and environmental adaptations.
- Awareness of current research and emerging evidence within community paediatrics.
- Understanding of service development and quality improvement methodologies. Desirable Skills
personal qualities
Essential
- Highly effective communicator, able to engage with children, families, schools, and multi-agency teams, with excellent verbal and written communication skills tailored to different audiences.
- Organised, proactive and self-directed, with the ability to manage a complex caseload, meet clinical targets, and balance leadership or service development responsibilities.
- Flexible and adaptable, able to respond to change, work across multiple settings (clinics, homes, schools, community) and adjust to new systems or ways of working.
- Committed to equitable and inclusive practice, with a positive attitude towards disability and the ability to work effectively within culturally, socially, and economically diverse communities.
Desirable
- Ability to work autonomously while negotiating role and responsibilities collaboratively with line manager.
- Resilient and confident in handling, moving, and positioning children with complex physical and learning difficulties, including assessing and adjusting specialist equipment.
- Strong planning and organisational skills to coordinate complex clinical, leadership, and service development activities efficiently.
- Motivated to contribute to service improvement, innovation, and quality initiatives, demonstrating a proactive approach to problem-solving and professional development.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or degree in occupational therapy
- Registered Occupational Therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Safeguarding/Child Protection Paediatric
- Evidence of competencies in advanced clinical practice and paediatric assessment/intervention
- Current evidence of continuing professional development relevant to paediatrics and community practice.
Desirable
- Training in leadership, supervision, or service development
- Training or certification in manual handling, postural management, or equipment provision.
- Training in audit, research methods, or quality improvement relevant to community occupational therapy
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as an Occupational Therapist with children and young people (0-19 years).
- Experience working in an NHS environment
- Experience of delivering child-centred assessment and intervention in community settings (e.g. home, clinic, mainstream and/or special schools).
- Experience managing a defined caseload, including prioritisation and risk management.
- Experience contributing to Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNA) and writing professional reports.
- Experience of collaborative working with families, education staff and multi-disciplinary teams.
- Experience maintaining accurate, timely clinical records and outcome measures.
Desirable
- Experience supervising students, assistants or junior staff.
- Experience with equipment provision, adaptations and postural management.
- Experience delivering training to parents, carers, schools or other professionals.
- Experience participating in audit, service development or quality improvement initiatives.
- Experience supporting children in special schools or specialist provisions.
- Experience working with children with a range of needs, including developmental delay, neurodevelopmental conditions, and/or complex physical disabilities.
Knowledge
Essential
- Broad and in-depth understanding of typical and atypical child development, and its relationship to occupational performance across childhood and adolescence.
- Specialist knowledge of the impact of developmental challenges (including physical, neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions) on functional skills, participation and independence.
- Sound knowledge of a wide range of occupational therapy interventions and their application within community settings.
- Specialist understanding of the Occupational Therapy process, applied within child-centred and family-centred practice frameworks.
- Understanding of national legislation and guidance relating to disability, education, health and social care (including SEND processes and EHCP frameworks).
- Knowledge of safeguarding legislation and policies relating to children and young people.
- Knowledge of relevant education legislation, including the Education Act and School Standards and Framework Act.
- Understanding of clinical governance, audit and evidence-based practice.
Desirable
- Knowledge of specialist equipment provision, postural management and environmental adaptations.
- Awareness of current research and emerging evidence within community paediatrics.
- Understanding of service development and quality improvement methodologies. Desirable Skills
personal qualities
Essential
- Highly effective communicator, able to engage with children, families, schools, and multi-agency teams, with excellent verbal and written communication skills tailored to different audiences.
- Organised, proactive and self-directed, with the ability to manage a complex caseload, meet clinical targets, and balance leadership or service development responsibilities.
- Flexible and adaptable, able to respond to change, work across multiple settings (clinics, homes, schools, community) and adjust to new systems or ways of working.
- Committed to equitable and inclusive practice, with a positive attitude towards disability and the ability to work effectively within culturally, socially, and economically diverse communities.
Desirable
- Ability to work autonomously while negotiating role and responsibilities collaboratively with line manager.
- Resilient and confident in handling, moving, and positioning children with complex physical and learning difficulties, including assessing and adjusting specialist equipment.
- Strong planning and organisational skills to coordinate complex clinical, leadership, and service development activities efficiently.
- Motivated to contribute to service improvement, innovation, and quality initiatives, demonstrating a proactive approach to problem-solving and professional development.
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).
