Community Children Occupational Therapist

Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in the UK is seeking an experienced individual to lead occupational therapy services for schools and partners in Special Educational Needs. The role requires strong leadership and communication skills, as well as a deep understanding of SEND processes. You will be responsible for managing a team of occupational therapists and ensuring the delivery of high-quality services to support children's educational needs. This position offers a competitive salary within the NHS pay band system and encourages flexible working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Experience in supervising a multidisciplinary OT team.
• Proven ability to deliver evidence-based services and meet statutory timelines.
• Strong analytical skills to report outcomes.
• Commitment to high professional standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the provision of occupational therapy services across schools.
• Oversee the management of occupational therapy services.
• Line-manage a team of occupational therapists.
• Monitor SEND referrals and ensure assessments are completed on time.
• Provide clinical expertise and leadership in care for school-aged children.

Skills

Knowledge of neuro-developmental disorders

Understanding of SEND process

Clinical leadership

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Job description

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to take the role of leading our services in our schools and with our partners in Special Education Needs and disabilities. You will work closely with our multi‑agency partners in education provision and in the local authority in contributing towards the delivery of occupational therapy educational and health‑care needs assessments and the provision of expert support and guidance for Educational Tribunal work.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the provision of occupational therapy services across schools, partner with multi‑agency teams, and contribute to the delivery of occupational therapy educational and health‑care needs assessments and expert support for Educational Tribunal work.
• Oversee the management and delivery of occupational therapy services to key partners and stakeholders.
• Line‑manage and supervise a team of occupational therapists supporting SEND work.
• Support commissioning schools in the development and delivery of school‑based community children occupational therapy service offers.
• Monitor SEND referrals, support triage and allocate cases ensuring assessments are completed within statutory timelines.
• Lead a small team of occupational therapists in carrying out assessments of need for children referred by our colleagues in Southwark and Lambeth SEND.
• Provide occupational therapy services to schools through commissioning arrangements.
• Work with schools commissioning OT, develop service packages, monitor and oversee the occupational therapy service offer into these schools.
• Carry a small caseload and provide support to our occupational therapy pathways and group offers to parents and carers.
• Assist the Head of Community Children OT with overseeing SEND commissioned work agreed in contracts and liaise closely with local authorities and schools.
• Deliver clinical leadership, provide specialist clinical knowledge, operationally manage the OT team, and coordinate the delivery of the service ensuring it is equitable, effective and meets local and national standards of practice.
• Ensure quality assurance of education health and care needs assessments provided to SEND and of the clinical offer for all care groups.
• Focus on outcomes‑based accountability while maintaining an evidence‑based service and contributing local knowledge and experience.
• Provide clinical expertise and leadership in the care and support of school‑aged children, offer advice to colleagues in SEND, and develop schools‑commissioned offers focused on systems and strategies that support children’s participation in occupations.
• Monitor impact and report outcomes to the Head of Service and respective commissioners in Lambeth and Southwark.
• Offer highly specialist assessment, including diagnostic assessment, intervention, mentoring and second opinions for schools supporting children with impairments in mainstream and special schools.
• Ensure delivery of intervention to school‑aged children is managed and supported by best evidence and that the OT input to schools is quality assured.
• Develop and deliver a regular programme of training to school teachers and TAs.

Qualifications & Experience

• Knowledge of a range of neuro‑developmental disorders and their impact within education settings.
• Understanding of SEND and Education Tribunal processes.
• Demonstrated clinical leadership and ability to provide specialist clinical knowledge and support.
• Experience in supervising, line‑managing and coordinating a multidisciplinary OT team.
• Proven ability to deliver evidence‑based occupational therapy services, monitor case loads and meet statutory timelines.
• Experience in developing, monitoring and auditing commissioned OT service offers and training programmes.
• Strong analytical skills to report outcomes and impact to senior leadership and commissioners.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, collaborating with schools, local authorities and multidisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to maintaining high professional standards and continuous improvement of service delivery.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. Our policies, procedures and practices are reviewed to ensure all employees, patients and carers are treated equitably according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring no one is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership. Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process.

Flexible Working

We support all employees in achieving a healthy work‑life balance and work in a way that is best for them and our patients. We will consider all requests to work flexibly, taking into account the individual's personal circumstances and the needs of the service. We encourage all prospective applicants to discuss their circumstances with the recruiting manager as part of the onboarding process.

Funding and Salary

NHS AfC: Band 8a

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