Job summary
Do you find joy in turning play into therapy? Perhaps you've transformed a school hall into a jungle adventure, or shared a make-believe feast with a superhero on the moon. In children's occupational therapy, imagination isn't just fun - it's a powerful tool for growth, learning, and independence.
If you're inspired by the idea of supporting children and young people to build confidence in self-care, learning, and play, this role could offer the creative and meaningful career move you've been waiting for.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our Community Paediatric Occupational Therapy Team at Buckinghamshire NHS Trust on a fixed-term basis.
In this role, you'll deliver universal, targeted, and specialist interventions for children with EHCPs in mainstream settings. You'll manage your own caseload, provide specialist assessments and interventions, support colleagues and students, and contribute to training and service development alongside the leadership team.
We're seeking a positive, proactive clinician with paediatric experience and a commitment to advancing occupational therapy for children and young people.
In return, we offer a supportive team environment that puts patient care first, values professional development, and champions the vital role of occupational therapy in children's services.
Main duties of the job
As a Band 6 Paediatric Occupational Therapist, you will manage your own complex caseload of children and young people with a variety of conditions, using specialist clinical skills to provide assessments, interventions, and coaching to families, education staff, and other professionals. You will lead on supporting and training team members, supervise students and therapy assistants, and contribute to service development through evidence-based, multi-agency projects. The role requires strong prioritisation, organisational and communication skills to balance clinical duties with non-clinical responsibilities such as service improvement initiatives, resource development, and training delivery. Working closely with colleagues in Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, health, education, and social care, as well as the Buckinghamshire Integrated SEND team and tertiary centres, you will play a vital role in ensuring a successful multidisciplinary approach. You will provide universal and targeted advice within the SEND Code of Practice, design and deliver training to parents and practitioners, and embed yourself within the service's clinical pathway by actively participating in team meetings, all while ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, child-centred occupational therapy service.
About us
Why colleagues think we are "a great place to work!"
What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
As part of our BHT family, you'll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
Alongside NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme, you'll have access to NHS discount schemes.
We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.
What do we stand for?
Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
We are working hard to increase diversity at all levels within the trust. We believe a diverse workforce can have a positive effect on both staff wellbeing and patient outcomes.
We welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, candidates with disabilities and care-experienced candidates.
We are proud to achieve the Gold award for the Armed Forces Covenant and support applications from the Armed Forces Community. Please contact Pam.Daley@nhs.net (our Armed Forces Covenant Lead) if you would like guidance or assistance with your application.
We make employment decisions by matching our service needs with the skills and experience of candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.
If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.
If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on bht.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.
If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.
If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on bht.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number.
Person Specification
Application and interview
Essential
- oRegistered member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) oRecognised Occupational Therapy degree qualification or equivalent oHealth Professions Council Licence to Practice oEvidence of continuing professional development and personal development in the area of working with school aged children
application and interview
Essential
- oClinical Experience of working in a range of settings oEvidence of good presentation skills oEvidence of supervision of others oEvidence of knowledge in safe guarding procedures oDemonstrates knowledge of specialist OT assessment tools relevant to the client group oDemonstrates knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic intervention oDemonstrates awareness of the roles of other professionals oDemonstrates awareness of standards of record keeping oExperience of coaching oExperience of delivering intervention/advice in person.
application and interview
Essential
- oSpecialist knowledge of management of occupational performance and participation challenges for children and young people oHighly developed communication skills, written and verbal, to ensure effective liaison with multi-disciplinary team, children, young people and their families oEvidence of CPD and competence in using evidence base to inform clinical practice. oDemonstrate understanding of statutory/legal requirements for working with children and families and application in practice oInsight into local, regional and government initiatives relating to occupational therapy oAble to demonstrate empathy, motivate and persuade children with impaired cognitive or physical disabilities oAbility to write concise reports / referrals to ensure interpretation by other members of the multi-disciplinary team or Local Authority so that the child or young person can access the appropriate care and support. oThe ability to prioritise & organise own work and monitor delegated work in a skill mix team. oEnthusiastic approach to professional and staff development oAbility to respond flexibly and professionally to unforeseen clinical and non-clinical situations oAble to demonstrate knowledge of clinical governance and clinical risk management principles oAbility to motivate, negotiate and reassure others oAbility to identify and manage stress in self and others oAble to listen to views and issues raised by families and work collaboratively to resolve these where possible
Person Specification
Application and interview
Essential
- oRegistered member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) oRecognised Occupational Therapy degree qualification or equivalent oHealth Professions Council Licence to Practice oEvidence of continuing professional development and personal development in the area of working with school aged children
application and interview
Essential
- oClinical Experience of working in a range of settings oEvidence of good presentation skills oEvidence of supervision of others oEvidence of knowledge in safe guarding procedures oDemonstrates knowledge of specialist OT assessment tools relevant to the client group oDemonstrates knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic intervention oDemonstrates awareness of the roles of other professionals oDemonstrates awareness of standards of record keeping oExperience of coaching oExperience of delivering intervention/advice in person.
application and interview
Essential
- oSpecialist knowledge of management of occupational performance and participation challenges for children and young people oHighly developed communication skills, written and verbal, to ensure effective liaison with multi-disciplinary team, children, young people and their families oEvidence of CPD and competence in using evidence base to inform clinical practice. oDemonstrate understanding of statutory/legal requirements for working with children and families and application in practice oInsight into local, regional and government initiatives relating to occupational therapy oAble to demonstrate empathy, motivate and persuade children with impaired cognitive or physical disabilities oAbility to write concise reports / referrals to ensure interpretation by other members of the multi-disciplinary team or Local Authority so that the child or young person can access the appropriate care and support. oThe ability to prioritise & organise own work and monitor delegated work in a skill mix team. oEnthusiastic approach to professional and staff development oAbility to respond flexibly and professionally to unforeseen clinical and non-clinical situations oAble to demonstrate knowledge of clinical governance and clinical risk management principles oAbility to motivate, negotiate and reassure others oAbility to identify and manage stress in self and others oAble to listen to views and issues raised by families and work collaboratively to resolve these where possible
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).
