Children'S Occupational Therapist

Hertfordshire Community Nhs Trust; Waterford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group supervision

CPD opportunities

Leadership development

Supervision of staff

Induction period

Job summary

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust is seeking dynamic Occupational Therapists to join the Children and Young People’s Therapies team in West Hertfordshire, including Hemel Hempstead, St Albans and Watford.

The role offers opportunities for both newly qualified and experienced OTs to develop specialist skills, with a focus on the Experts at Hand model and collaborative working within CYPT services.

Qualifications

• Degree in Occupational Therapy is required and HCPC registration is essential.
• Experience with child and adolescent occupational therapy is preferred.
• Experience with evaluating and treating children with neurological or neurodiverse conditions is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide an 0-25 years caseload across health and education needs.
• Deliver interventions in mainstream, specialist, pre-school and clinic settings.
• Collaborate with education colleagues and multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Communication skills

Caseload management

Documentation

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy

HCPC registration

Job description

Closing date

27 October 2026

Job summary

If you are a newly qualified Occupational Therapist (OT) or an experienced OT looking to develop specialist skills in children's occupational therapy, then Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT) has posts that could be just right for you. Due to internal progression, Children and Young People's Therapies (CYPT) are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for full time and part time Children's Occupational Therapists to be based in the West part of Hertfordshire, ie. Hemel Hempstead; St Albans; and in Watford.

We are looking for dynamic, enthusiastic and creative Occupational Therapists to be a part of our well-established teams. You will be joining an innovative and agile CYPT Service, that is committed to delivering high quality intervention, and to supporting the development and delivery of the new Experts at Hand model across Hertfordshire.

HCT provides integrated Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Services for families across the county. Our CYPT integrated service provides opportunities for collaborative working, joint training and shared learning amongst each profession. Our service is jointly commissioned by health, social care and education, allowing us to provide a seamless pathway of care from early years through to schools, specialist provisions and further education settings, and at home.

Proposed interview date: 3rd November 2026

Main duties of the job

Our integrated service provides opportunities for collaborative working, joint training and shared learning amongst each profession. We work closely with colleagues in education, with well-established relationships.

The successful applicant will be expected to hold an 0-25 years caseload, providing a service which meets both the health and education Occupational Therapy needs of CYP, providing interventions in a variety of settings, e.g. mainstream settings, specialist provisions, pre-school settings and clinics. Ideally applicants should have post graduate experience/training in assessment and treatment of clients with neurological conditions; learning disability; neurodiverse conditions. We have a Practice Development Lead with dedicated time to support and upskill new band 5-6 staff. Training will be provided in areas where further up skilling and development is required.

We can offer

• Regular group supervision, managerial supervision, a well-established appraisal system, and an award winning preceptorship programme for newly qualified therapists
• CPD opportunities, including in service masterclasses
• Opportunities to develop leadership skills and to supervise less experienced members of staff
• Opportunities to work alongside other therapists/assistants to deliver intervention to children/young people requiring specialist support
• An initial induction period where you will have the opportunity to observe and shadow your team.

About us

We're delighted that you're exploring a career with HCT. As an organisation, we're committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and rewarding work environment, one where you'll feel valued and empowered to make a real difference.

At HCT, we put patients, their families, and carers at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is simple yet powerful: Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities. Our dedicated staff take pride in being Pioneering, Caring, and Inclusive, working together to turn this vision into reality.

Working with us comes with a host of benefits designed to support your wellbeing and work-life balance

• Generous annual leave (27 days rising to 33 with long service)
• Flexible working arrangements to help balance personal/ professional life, including up to 5 days of carers leave (pro rata)
• Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 confidential support for personal or work-related issues
• Cycle to Work and Car Lease Schemes
• Blue Light Card and NHS Discounts
• Health and wellbeing support, including free flu jabs, Physiotherapy referrals, eye care vouchers, etc
• Occupational Pension Scheme with competitive benefits
• Enhanced sick pay above statutory entitlements

We celebrate diversity and actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds, ages, and communities to apply.

You've taken a fantastic first step by considering HCT. We're excited about the possibility of welcoming you to our team and taking the next step in your journey with us.

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 5

Salary: £32,073 to £48,117 a year pro rata per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time

Reference number: 812-26-KWCYP36

Job location: Peace Children's Centre, Peace Prospect, Watford, WD17 3EW, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Please see Job Description attached, which details the responsibilities within this post.

Childrens Occupational Therapy is based on a 3 Tier model of service delivery, with provision at Universal, Targeted and Specialist tiers.

Successful candidates will need to be enthusiastic and motivated. Good communication, clinical reasoning and organisational skills are essential. You must be a team player and have the ability to champion the needs of your patients.

You will be joining a well-established, supportive team of therapists and assistants. CYP Therapies at HCT pride ourselves on the support we provide to staff.

Applicants wanting to work full time or part time will be considered. A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

In addition to the basic salary, this post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of basic salary subject to a minimum payment of £1,604 and a maximum payment of £2,270 per annum pro rata (pro rata where applicable and dependent on base location).

Contact: Team Lead, Watford, Hayley Moore, [e-mail]

HCT will prioritise recruitment of workers living in England under the new immigration rules for care workers effective from 9 April 2025. Employers must first prove that they have attempted to recruit a worker from within England who needs new sponsorship. The use of AI is monitored and if you have used it then you are required to declare this, as well as what type of AI tools you have used and for what purpose. We reserve the right to further test your individual knowledge and skills in relation to the requirements for the post through robust and thorough interview and assessment.

Person Specification

Essential qualifications

• Degree in Occupational Therapy
• Registered to practice with Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC)
• Relevant post graduate training or experience working as a children's occupational therapist
• Relevant continuing professional development to maintain and develop specialist knowledge and expertise
• Full, valid, UK driving licence and access to a car for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)

Desirable

• Membership of RCOT Special Interest Group

Essential knowledge and experience

• Experience of working with children using occupational therapy approaches, including types of assessments and interventions
• Examples of using typical development to inform your practice
• Analysing assessment results to formulate treatment plans, including SMART targets, suitable equipment, and client, social and environmental factors
• Effective multi-disciplinary and multi-agency working
• Involving patients in decision making around care and treatment planning while ensuring safe care
• Supporting or working with therapy assistants or student OTs on placement
• Training the wider children's workforce, parents, carers and junior colleagues
• Understanding of the Special Educational Needs Assessment process and contributing to Education, Health and Care Plans

Essential skills and abilities

• Adapting oral and written communication to the needs of the recipient
• Prioritising and managing a varied caseload, including tools and strategies used
• Recording interventions effectively for all CYP, including systems and processes used

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer details

Employer name: Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

Address: Peace Children's Centre, Peace Prospect, Watford, WD17 3EW, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.hct.nhs.uk