Community Children OT Clinical Specialist/SEND Team Leader

Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health service provider in the UK is looking for an experienced individual to lead occupational therapy services focused on Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND). You will manage a small team and oversee delivery of OT assessments, ensuring compliance with local standards. This role requires strong clinical expertise, leadership skills, and a passion for supporting children and families. The position offers the opportunity to work closely with educational partners and local authorities, shaping community health services.

Qualifications

• Experience in overseeing occupational therapy services.
• Ability to lead and supervise a team of occupational therapists.
• Expertise in managing SEND cases and assessments.

Responsibilities

• Manage and deliver occupational therapy services.
• Supervise a team of occupational therapists for SEND work.
• Monitor SEND referrals and ensure timely assessments.
• Provide clinical expertise in supporting school-aged children.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical Expertise in Occupational Therapy

Knowledge of Special Education Needs

Team Management

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy

Job description

A Vacancy at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to lead services in schools and with partners in Special Education Needs and Disabilities. The successful candidate will work closely with multi‑agency partners in education provision and local authorities to deliver occupational therapy assessments and provide expert support and guidance for educational tribunal work.

Key Responsibilities

• 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 developing and delivering school‑based community children OT service offers.
• Monitor SEND referrals, support triage and allocate cases, ensuring assessments are completed within statutory timelines.
• Collaborate with schools commissioning OT, develop service packages and oversee the OT service offer into schools.
• Carry a small caseload and provide support to 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.

Leadership & Management

• Supervise and lead a small team of occupational therapists.
• Ensure the service is equitable, effective and meets local and national standards of practice.
• Maintain quality assurance of education, health and care needs assessments provided to SEND and the clinical offer for all care groups.

Clinical Leadership & Quality Assurance

• Provide specialist clinical knowledge and deliver operational management of the OT team.
• Focus on outcomes‑based accountability while maintaining an evidence‑based service.
• Provide clinical expertise and leadership in supporting school‑aged children and advise colleagues in SEND.
• Contribute to the development of schools’ commissioned offers, developing systems and strategies to support children’s participation in occupations and to support service and staff development.
• Monitor impact and report outcomes to the Head of Service and respective commissioners in Lambeth and Southwark.
• Provide highly specialist assessment, including diagnostic assessment, intervention, mentoring and second opinions for schools supporting children with impairments in mainstream and special schools.
• Develop and deliver a regular programme of training for school teachers and teaching assistants.

Additional Duties

• Provide highly specialist knowledge of approaches and models of care that support school inclusion, ensuring delivery of intervention to school‑aged children is supported by best evidence.
• Quality‑assure OT input into commissioned schools work.

Interview & Closing Date

Interviews will take place on Thursday 15th January. This advert closes on Sunday 4 Jan 2026.