Highly Specialist Acute Paediatric Occupational Therapist

St George'S University Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust; Tooting; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in London is seeking an experienced Band 7 Occupational Therapist to join the Acute Paediatric OT team at St George's Hospital. You will provide highly specialist assessment and intervention to children across paediatric wards and the PICU, supporting families through acute illness and discharge planning.

Working with MDTs in neurology, orthopaedics and major trauma, you will develop leadership and supervision responsibilities and contribute

Qualifications

• Qualified Occupational Therapist with HCPC registration.
• Significant paediatric clinical experience is essential.
• Experience in acute hospital paediatrics is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide highly specialist paediatric OT assessment and intervention across acute inpatients and PICU.
• Manage a varied caseload across paediatric wards and units.
• Develop individualised care plans based on advanced clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice.
• Supervise junior staff and contribute to the development of the team.
• Support complex discharge planning and collaboration with families and MDTs.

Skills

Advanced clinical assessment

Leadership / supervision

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy

HCPC Registration

CPD for acute paediatrics

Job description

Job summary

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Band 7 Occupational Therapist to join our dynamic Acute Paediatric Occupational Therapy team within St George's Hospital, one of London's four major trauma centres. This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate paediatric OT to work across a diverse acute caseload, providing specialist assessment and intervention to children and young people across all paediatric wards and the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The post holder will manage a varied and complex caseload, working alongside multidisciplinary teams within specialist areas including neurology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, long term ventilation and major trauma. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting children and families through acute illness, injury and recovery, promoting participation, independence and safe discharge planning. They will contribute to complex discharge pathways, rehabilitation, functional assessments and specialist occupational therapy interventions within a fast-paced and rewarding environment. We are looking for an OT who is passionate about paediatrics, committed to delivering high-quality, family-centred care, and motivated to develop services and support the ongoing growth of acute paediatric occupational therapy. The successful candidate will have supervision responsibilities and opportunities to develop leadership skills.

Main duties of the job

As part of the Acute Paediatric Occupational Therapy team you will provide highly specialist acute occupational therapy assessment and intervention to children and young people admitted to the acute paediatric wards. Alongside the Clinical Team Lead you will contribute to the ongoing growth and development of the service shaping the care of children and young people admitted to St George's Hospital. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking, dynamic team that is committed to innovation, collaboration, and making a lasting difference in the lives of children and families admitted to hospital.

About us

St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC). After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce. At gesh we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.

Details

Closing date: 02 November 2026 Date posted: 19 October 2026 Pay scheme: Agenda for change Band: Band 7 Salary: £58,133 to £65,261 a year Pro rata per annum inc HCAS (inner London) Contract: Permanent Working pattern: Full-time Reference number: 200-8276768-DE-UB Job locations: St George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, London, SW170QT, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

1. Job purpose As a Band 7 Occupational Therapist working in paediatric inpatients the post holder will be responsible for performing highly specialist assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex medical, physical and psychological conditions, to develop and deliver an individualised management/treatment programme, relevant to specialism. Following assessment, the post holder will be responsible for making therapeutic diagnoses and treating their own caseload of specialised and complex patients/clients and maintaining associated records. The post holder will be responsible for providing a highly specialist standard of care to patients. The post holder will supervise the work of other more junior staff and support workers. The post holder will be required to work across Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Paediatric Step Down Unit, the three general medical wards and occasional outpatient clinics when required. Together with other senior staff, you will act as a resource of specialist advice to the rest of the therapy service and other professions. This post will provide input to long-stay patients, complex neurological conditions and complex discharges.

Key stakeholders

• Patients, families and carers
• Acute Therapies Team (Speech and Language Therapists, Physiotherapists, Dietitians)
• Medical and Nursing staff within and external to GESH (St Georgs, Epsom and St Helier hospitals)
• Other Allied Health Professionals in the acute and community settings
• Other External agencies e.g. Social Services
• Administration and Clerical staff
• QI team

Key areas of responsibility

• 1.1 To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including management of patients in your care and undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.
• 1.2 To provide comprehensive and specialist therapy assessment and diagnosis for patients with a range of highly complex presentations, by utilising advanced clinical reasoning, evidence-based knowledge, investigative and analytical skills and specialist assessment techniques.
• 1.3 To work both independently and within a team structure, demonstrating leadership to manage own and team caseload. To efficiently manage a caseload and organise this effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.
• 1.4 To formulate and deliver an individualised and specialist care plan / therapy management programme based on advanced knowledge of evidence-based practice, advanced clinical reasoning skills and a wide range of specialist treatment options. As a specialist clinician to provide a second opinion where required.
• 1.5 To provide clarity and communicate complex clinical findings to the patient/carers to gain valid informed consent, prior to any intervention. To work within a legal framework for those patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.

Please view attached job description for further details on main responsibilities.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

• Degree in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration
• Evidence of CPD relevant to area of acute paediatrics

Desirable

• Membership of Professional Organisation
• Membership of SIG
• Clinical Educators Course

Experience

• Significant recent clinical experience in relevant clinical area
• Evidence of a broad base of clinical experience at Band 6 level or equivalent
• Significant experience of working as an integral member of a multidisciplinary team and inter agency working
• Experience of service development/change management

Desirable

• Previous Band 7 or equivalent experience in relevant post
• Recent, relevant work in an NHS environment

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of assessment and treatment approaches for the effective management of relevant conditions
• Significant experience of working as an integral member of a multidisciplinary team and inter agency working

Desirable

• Knowledge of recent NHS developments and their impact on service provision

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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Address: St George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, London, SW170QT, United Kingdom Employer's website: https://www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/ Contact: TL Acute Paeds Occupational Therapist, Amy Willis, [e-mail], 02087253594