County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Children's Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 30 July 2025

Job summary

An desirable opportunity is available for Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our dynamic team - working in the sought after speciality of Paediatric Occupational Therapy. Our service prides itself on providing high quality assessment and interventions to children and young people -supporting families and carers to promote independence and improving functional skills for children and young people with a wide range of needs. You will deliver an integrated model of health and social care OT interventions for children, young people and families residing across County Durham and Darlington supported by a well-established team with a wealth of clinical expertise and knowledge.

The service offers excellent clinical support and opportunities for continued professional development, with robust appraisal and supervision systems in place.

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest integrated care providers in England, with a population of around 600,000 people. We are a high performing organisation with a track record of success.

The post will be based within the Children's Centre at Chester-le-Street Community Hospital.

Main duties of the job

Within this role, the successful candidate will be expected to:

- provide high quality Occupational Therapy assessments and intervention programmes to children and young people referred into the service.

- assess for and provide recommendations for major and minor home adaptations as part of the social care remit of the service

-work in collaboration with children, young people, parents and carers as well as other professionals and colleagues across a wide variety of sectors, including health, education and social care.

- work as an autonomous practitioner in managing a varied and often complex caseload with the supervision and support of the locality OT team

- take an active part in the development and delivery of training packages to parents, carers and colleagues, as well as activley participate in their own continued professional development, appraisal and supervision

- take an active part in service development and quality improvement initiatives

- demonstrate a high level of skill in clinical documentation including accurate case records and compilation of professional reports

- participate in the supervision of student occupational therapists and therapy assistants

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within 3 months)

Details

Date posted

09 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

C9439-2526-0403

Job locations

Chester Le Street Community Hospital

Front Street

Chester Le Street

County Durham

DH3 3AT


Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Requirements

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work, including the management of children in your care.

To undertake skilled assessment of children and young people, including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi-pathologies.

To formulate and deliver outcome focused, individual therapy treatment programmes, based on evidence based practice using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills.

To take delegated responsibility from Team Lead Occupational Therapists for managing children with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist therapy assessment and treatment plans.

To formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention.

To use effective communication skills, verbal and non-verbal to communicate treatment programmes to children who may have barriers to understanding or communication e.g. children with developmental delays, visual impairment, hearing impairment, impairments of cognition and difficulties with verbal communication etc.

To evaluate and review the progress of Occupational Therapy interventions, making changes to treatment programmes as required.

To work as an autonomous practitioner with regular supervision and support from supervising therapists.

* To prioritise the health and wellbeing of children and young people at all times and immediately raise any Safeguarding concerns through the correct channels and processes.

To supervise assistant and student therapists in line with Professional and Service standards.

To represent the Occupational Therapy Service and/or individual children at the multi-agency team meetings, to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary service, and integrate therapy into the treatment programme.

To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all equipment, appliances and aids used by children and young people, ensuring that assistants and students are competent in their use.

To maintain comprehensive contemporaneous clinical and statistical records in line with professional and service standards.

* To contribute to multi-agency assessments including Education, Health and Care Plans, Child Safeguarding reports etc

Professional

To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities, and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development.

To teach, assess and contribute to the performance assessment and appraisal of therapy assistant staff.

Participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development programme to meet set knowledge and competencies.

Undertake measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence based practice projects, audit and outcome measures, as required, under the direction of senior therapists.

Be an active member of in-service training by attendance at, and participation in events such as in-Service programmes, tutorials, training sessions, external courses and peer review.

Be actively involved in professional clinical groups, such as Children Young People and their Families, Occupational Therapy special interest group, Peer Review Groups and other professional development activities.

Organisational

Ensure that your own practice meets the required professional standards of therapy practice.

Deputise for other Occupational Therapy staff in their absence, taking responsibility for caseload management, allocating and organising the work of assistant staff to meet service priorities on daily basis.

To be responsible for organising and planning your own caseload to meet service and patient priorities. Readjusting plans at short notice as situations change/arise.

Work safely at all times and report all untoward incidents via the quality and safety reporting systems within the Trust.

Any other duties commensurate with role and responsibilities of the post.

Ensure the corporate identity guidelines for the Trust are implemented and adhered to at all times.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Requirements

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work, including the management of children in your care.

To undertake skilled assessment of children and young people, including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi-pathologies.

To formulate and deliver outcome focused, individual therapy treatment programmes, based on evidence based practice using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills.

To take delegated responsibility from Team Lead Occupational Therapists for managing children with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist therapy assessment and treatment plans.

To formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention.

To use effective communication skills, verbal and non-verbal to communicate treatment programmes to children who may have barriers to understanding or communication e.g. children with developmental delays, visual impairment, hearing impairment, impairments of cognition and difficulties with verbal communication etc.

To evaluate and review the progress of Occupational Therapy interventions, making changes to treatment programmes as required.

To work as an autonomous practitioner with regular supervision and support from supervising therapists.

* To prioritise the health and wellbeing of children and young people at all times and immediately raise any Safeguarding concerns through the correct channels and processes.

To supervise assistant and student therapists in line with Professional and Service standards.

To represent the Occupational Therapy Service and/or individual children at the multi-agency team meetings, to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary service, and integrate therapy into the treatment programme.

To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all equipment, appliances and aids used by children and young people, ensuring that assistants and students are competent in their use.

To maintain comprehensive contemporaneous clinical and statistical records in line with professional and service standards.

* To contribute to multi-agency assessments including Education, Health and Care Plans, Child Safeguarding reports etc

Professional

To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities, and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development.

To teach, assess and contribute to the performance assessment and appraisal of therapy assistant staff.

Participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development programme to meet set knowledge and competencies.

Undertake measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence based practice projects, audit and outcome measures, as required, under the direction of senior therapists.

Be an active member of in-service training by attendance at, and participation in events such as in-Service programmes, tutorials, training sessions, external courses and peer review.

Be actively involved in professional clinical groups, such as Children Young People and their Families, Occupational Therapy special interest group, Peer Review Groups and other professional development activities.

Organisational

Ensure that your own practice meets the required professional standards of therapy practice.

Deputise for other Occupational Therapy staff in their absence, taking responsibility for caseload management, allocating and organising the work of assistant staff to meet service priorities on daily basis.

To be responsible for organising and planning your own caseload to meet service and patient priorities. Readjusting plans at short notice as situations change/arise.

Work safely at all times and report all untoward incidents via the quality and safety reporting systems within the Trust.

Any other duties commensurate with role and responsibilities of the post.

Ensure the corporate identity guidelines for the Trust are implemented and adhered to at all times.

Person Specification

Special Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to travel independently across the County to fulfil the requirements of the post.

Statutory Registration

Essential

  • Qualified Occupational Therapist registered with H.C.P.C.

Desirable

  • Member of relevant Specialist Sections of RCOT / participation in Special Interest Groups in a related field

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Proven ability to communicate effectively about a client's health and social care needs - on a formal and informal basis. Professional expereince of providing written and verbal reports and feedback to a wide range of people
  • Demonstrates excellence in presentation skills
  • Proven ability to prioritise workload and work within timescales

Desirable

  • Specialist skills in related fields of Occupational Therapy such as postural management, fine and gross motor skills, handwriting skills development, skills related to provision of aids and adaptations
  • Skills and knowledge related to Sensory Development and related difficulties in Children and Young People

Experience

Essential

  • Post registration clinical experience as a Band 5 or Band 6 Occupational Therapist in a health or community based setting

Desirable

  • Working experience and knowledge related to delivery of Social Care OT interventions eg specialist aids and environmental advice/adaptations.
  • OT Clinical experience with children and young people with additional and/or complex needs
  • Experience of delivering training sessions / presentations to groups of service users / other professionals

Qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma, BSc or MSc in Occupational Therapy

Desirable

  • Specialist post graduate clinical experience in Occupational Therapy practice, linked to a related field e.g. Neurology, Paediatrics, Learning Disabilities, Social Care
Person Specification

Special Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to travel independently across the County to fulfil the requirements of the post.

Statutory Registration

Essential

  • Qualified Occupational Therapist registered with H.C.P.C.

Desirable

  • Member of relevant Specialist Sections of RCOT / participation in Special Interest Groups in a related field

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Proven ability to communicate effectively about a client's health and social care needs - on a formal and informal basis. Professional expereince of providing written and verbal reports and feedback to a wide range of people
  • Demonstrates excellence in presentation skills
  • Proven ability to prioritise workload and work within timescales

Desirable

  • Specialist skills in related fields of Occupational Therapy such as postural management, fine and gross motor skills, handwriting skills development, skills related to provision of aids and adaptations
  • Skills and knowledge related to Sensory Development and related difficulties in Children and Young People

Experience

Essential

  • Post registration clinical experience as a Band 5 or Band 6 Occupational Therapist in a health or community based setting

Desirable

  • Working experience and knowledge related to delivery of Social Care OT interventions eg specialist aids and environmental advice/adaptations.
  • OT Clinical experience with children and young people with additional and/or complex needs
  • Experience of delivering training sessions / presentations to groups of service users / other professionals

Qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma, BSc or MSc in Occupational Therapy

Desirable

  • Specialist post graduate clinical experience in Occupational Therapy practice, linked to a related field e.g. Neurology, Paediatrics, Learning Disabilities, Social Care

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).

Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Chester Le Street Community Hospital

Front Street

Chester Le Street

County Durham

DH3 3AT


Employer's website

https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Chester Le Street Community Hospital

Front Street

Chester Le Street

County Durham

DH3 3AT


Employer's website

https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Operational Lead, Children's Occupational Therapy

Kath Seddon

k.seddon@nhs.net

07920889292

Details

Date posted

09 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

C9439-2526-0403

Job locations

Chester Le Street Community Hospital

Front Street

Chester Le Street

County Durham

DH3 3AT


Supporting documents

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