Childrens Occupational Therapist (SEN Post) | Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS trust in Greater London is seeking a Pediatric Occupational Therapist to manage a specialized caseload of children. The role includes a focus on complex disabilities and requires collaboration with the SEN Team and involvement in EHCP processes. The ideal candidate will be skilled in evidence-based practices, able to form supportive relationships with families, and has experience in occupational therapy with children. This position offers an opportunity to significantly impact children's lives through targeted interventions.

Benefits

Ongoing professional development

Qualifications

• Minimum experience in occupational therapy with children, preferably in an educational context.
• Strong understanding of complex disabilities and interventions.
• Ability to analyze and adapt interventions based on child needs.

Responsibilities

• Manage caseload of children with diverse needs.
• Provide expert advice on contested OT provision.
• Collaborate with the SEN Team for appeals and quality assurance.

Skills

Expertise in Children's Occupational Therapy

Specialist knowledge of EHCP processes

Ability to form productive relationships

Evidence-based clinical practice

Education

Relevant occupational therapy qualification

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!

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.
• To 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 appropriate 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.
• To set occupationally focused intervention goals with children and/or their parents/carers and schools that are child centred and agreed by the child and/or their parents/carers and school staff.
• To set and maintain high standards of clinical practice, which is evidence based, and includes outcome measures to monitor achievement of person centred goals.
• To demonstrate the ability to analyse the interplay of the child, environment and activity when assessing the child’s level of functioning and identifying appropriate strategies and intervention to facilitate and enhance participation in self-care, school and play/leisure.
• To devise and manage a specialised treatment plan individual to a child’s presenting condition through: occupationally focused intervention, school equipment provision (as appropriate), school and parental support & training, advice & strategies and programmes.
• To form productive relationships with parents/carers who may be under stress.
• To advise and teach parents/carers and school staff of children with additional needs on appropriate ongoing Occupational Therapy management programmes and develop integrated support plans with schools, multidisciplinary teams and external agencies to ensure effective management in achieving the best care for the child.
• To work as part of the core OT service in the delivery of training and workshop programmes to educational establishments, to best help children achieve outcomes within inclusive facilities.

Contact

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

Additional Context

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.

This advert closes on Friday 2 Jan 2026