Childrens Occupational Therapist (SEN Post)

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Greater London is seeking a motivated Occupational Therapist to manage a special needs caseload. This role involves collaborating with a dynamic team, providing expert advice, and ensuring quality assessments for children with diverse needs. Candidates should demonstrate creativity and enthusiasm in developing specialized SEN OT skills within the team. The position offers various work arrangements like part-time or term-time only, promoting a supportive working environment with strong job satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Manage the SEN OT caseload of children and young people with diverse needs.
• Act as an expert practitioner in Children’s OT providing second opinions.
• Be the Lead OT for SEND appeals and tribunal processes.
• Develop and maintain specialist knowledge of the EHCP process.
• Work with the Clinical Lead OT on quality assurance regarding OT input.
• Be the point of contact for the SEN Team for OT queries and advice.
• Hold a community caseload for continued professional development.
• Provide highly specialist advice and intervention for clients with complex disabilities.

Job description

Overview

Looking for a smaller OT caseload of children you can get to know well? Want to work on an ongoing basis with specific students across mainstream and special school provision? Well our SEN OT post may be just for you! This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated Occupational Therapist who wishes to develop specialist SEN OT skills within a dynamic team. We are looking for a creative, friendly and enthusiastic OT to join our established Children’s Team. We are located near Enfield Town, with easy commuter links from central London/Hertfordshire.

We are a friendly, supportive OT team who report high levels of job satisfaction. We offer a professionally led service with direct support from an OT Clinical Lead Specialist, good working relationships with the MDT, monthly in‑service team training, effective supervision and external training opportunities through the Trust. The service is committed to evidence‑based input and offers CO‑OP, M‑CIMT, Parent Coaching & community leisure groups within our community pathways of care. Part‑time, job‑share or term‑time only will also be considered.

Responsibilities

• To manage the SEN OT caseload of children and young people with a range of needs including those with complex disabilities, providing occupationally focused assessment and intervention.
• To act as an expert advisor and practitioner in Children’s OT providing second opinions if OT provision in an EHCP is contested.
• Be the Lead OT for SEND appeals and tribunal legal processes, with specialist knowledge of complex cases within an educational context; work closely with the SEN Team by contributing to appeals as an expert witness where OT provision is contested.
• To develop and maintain specialist knowledge of the EHCP process and relevant legislation, to become the lead on EHCPs and the SEND Code of Practice within the OT team.
• To work with the Clinical Lead OT on quality assurance regarding OT input into EHCPs, specifically developing the quality of the OT team’s EHCP assessments and reports.
• Be the point of contact for the SEN Team for OT queries and advice in relation to OT provision in EHCPs.
• Upon agreement with the Local Authority and OT clinical lead, to hold a community caseload to ensure continuation of CPD for the SEN Post holder; at these times, part of the SEN OT caseload will be covered by NHS OT.
• Provision of highly specialist advice and intervention for a client group with complex physical, social, mental health and cognitive disabilities.

About the Trust

The North Middlesex University Hospital, Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust is a medium‑sized acute and community trust with over 525 beds and over 600 community staff, serving more than 600,000 people living across Enfield and Haringey and the surrounding areas, including Barnet and Waltham Forest. In the year ending 31 March 2022, the Trust reported a turnover of £419.7m and employed almost 4,000 staff. Following the transfer of Enfield Community Services on 1 April 2023, this has increased as we have welcomed over 600 new staff including District Nurses, Community Matrons, Community Physiotherapists, Psychologists and many more across a wide range of adult and children’s community services in Enfield. In January 2025 we joined the Royal Free group: it is an exciting time to join North Mid as we continue our journey to become an integrated care organisation to deliver high quality, seamless care in our local communities, with a focus on tackling health inequalities.

Contact

For an informal chat or to arrange a visit please contact:
Fiona Kingsley
0204 553 7704
[e-mail]

Alternatively, to discuss the role further:
Name: Fiona Kingsley
Job title: Clinical Lead
Email address: [e-mail]
Telephone number: 0204 5537704