Job summary
- Main area
- Children's Occupational Therapy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity cover until approx September 2026)
- Hours
- Part time - 22.5 hours per week (Mon-Fri)
- Job ref
- 333-G-HC-1495-B
- Employer
- Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Wood End Centre
- Town
- Hayes
- Salary
- £53,751 - £60,651 pro rata per annum incl. HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 12/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Children's Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist
NHS AfC: Band 7
CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.
Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.
We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page
Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.
CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.
Job overview
Come and join us and be one of the friendly and supportive 300 Occupational Therapists (OTs) in CNWL. We work in many different teams in both physical and mental health, as well as a number of specialist areas. You could have a career for life with us and maintain your dual skills.
The Children’s Integrated Therapies Service (CITS) is a multi-therapies service, embedded in a multi-disciplinary, community children’s team. Centrally based within the Child Development Centre in Hillingdon, with services delivered from settings across the borough.
The service is open to all children and young people aged 0-19 with a range of needs. We work along with our therapy colleagues and other agency partners to deliver a service which supports and promotes the health and development of children and young people who are experiencing barriers to participation everyday occupations. These children may experience barriers due to physical disability, social communication challenges or other specific developmental differences.
The service is delivered to all school-aged children and young people within the school environment as part of close partnership with mainstream schools and SEND colleagues.
Pathways within the service ensure that MDT working is integral in the role and provides a whole systems approach for these families, supporting them to tell their story just once.
Main duties of the job
Within your clinical role you will demonstrate confidence and competence in delivering assessment and therapy in a range of settings and the ability to provide comprehensive written clinical reasoning in all documentation.
To demonstrate working autonomously with an understanding of safe lone working is essential as you will be working across various settings, from schools, children’s centres, homes, nurseries and clinics, often on your own.
You will have a strong interest in working with children and young people and comprehensive knowledge of statutory assessment for Education Health and Care Plans and SEND guidance.
You will be able to develop your leadership skills with the responsibility of day-to-day operational management of junior staff and monitoring the quality of care given. The post holder will be expected to pro-actively contribute to areas of service development.
Working for our organisation
CNWL OT have a long-established professional structure and this includes an AHP director, Trust wide Professional Head of OT, borough and specialist Head OTs. This huge benefit ensures representation of our profession at all levels - both strategically and operationally.
Personal and professional development is a high priority for the profession and is underpinned by our OT R&D strategy, R& D specialist groups and OT clinical networks. This enables us to invest in the development of our staff by providing excellent internal training as well as commissioning specialised external training and providing quality supervision. This ensures all our OTs reach their full potential at every stage of their career. Our commitment to research, audit and evidence-based practice is made possible by our strong links with local universities.
We recognise that Band 7’s bring valued, high levels of specialism knowledge and skills whilst also supporting with leadership and managerial tasks within clinical teams. We will therefore support role development both clinically and managerially. You will have opportunities to supervise staff, be an educator, support management and have access to both internal and external training.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As a member of the Children’s Integrated Therapies Service, you will be expected to be a competent Occupational Therapist who is able to adapt to wide and varied caseload; carrying out therapy in a range of community-based settings across the borough for children and young people from 0-19 years of age.
You will be part of a community team where your proven ability to work collaboratively with children, young people and their families will support their development and facilitate them in achieving their aspirations. This will include being part of an immediate Occupational Therapy team and working with a broad multidisciplinary team and other partner agencies - forming part of network of support around the child and their family.
Using evidence-informed practise and specialist skills & knowledge, you will provide a range of assessments and interventions, developing and delivering clear, goal-focused care plans.
You will be expected to work autonomously across the community settings, working jointly with our partner services of Education and Social Care. Throughout your working you are required to maintain safeguarding of children and young people at all times.
Your proficient caseload management and attuned communication skills will enable you to coordinate and deliver therapy effectively and be an effective member of the team.
Your leaderships skills will enable you to engage in development and support of the team, through supervision, training and guidance to team and contribute to development of the service.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Relevant extensive experience and practise in Paediatric Occupational Therapy
- Experience in working as part of a team.
- Experience of supervising students.
- Experience in devising and delivering training packages to patients, parents and carers and other professionals
- Relevant highly specialised experience post registration
- Experience of working in community settings and autonomously as a lone practitioner
- Specialist knowledge of (paediatric) occupational therapy equipment
- Experience of supervising students / more junior members of staff
Desirable criteria
- Experience of supervising students / more junior members of staff
- Experience of leading on service developments/projects
- Experience of delivering leadership tasks or projects
Education and Qualification
Essential criteria
- Recognised Occupational Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent
- HCPC Registered member of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Registered Member of the British Association of Occupational Therapist & Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
- Successful completion of post graduate specialist short courses
Desirable criteria
- Successful completion of post graduate qualification in Sensory Integration
- Attendance at relevant special interest group/ clinical excellence group
- Extensive training relevant to the post
Skills and Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Good knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group.
- Good knowledge of range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to client group)
- Good knowledge and experience of implementing SEND reforms including outcome focused EHCP assessment
- Extensive experience of goal setting, care plan development and delivery from evidence informed practice
- Sound knowledge of the principles of clinical governance including patient safety, quality, clinical audit and patient experience
- Good knowledge of the roles of other professionals across agencies
- Full knowledge of the standards of record keeping
- Evidence of reflective clinical practise such as audits and CPD
Desirable criteria
- Experience of using Systmone as the electronic record
- Experience of leading clinical audits
Apptitudes, Attitudes and Personal Characteristics
Essential criteria
- Evidence of being a pro-active and supportive team member.
- Good negotiation and problem solving skills.
- Good analytical and reflection skills.
- Good organisational skills and ability to prioritise and meet deadlines
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with professionals, children / young people and their families
- Willingness to embrace, adapt and thrive in a busy and changing environment
Other
Essential criteria
- IT literacy - various platforms
Desirable criteria
- Car owner and driver
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Emma Phillips
- Job title
- Occupational Therapy Clinical Team Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01895 488200
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