Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a highly specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist to join an MDT team at Paddock Secondary School. The ideal candidate will provide quality occupational therapy to children with severe learning difficulties and complex needs. This role offers a competitive salary of £56,276 to £63,176 p.a. pro rata, inclusive of HCAS in a challenging yet rewarding environment.

Qualifications

• Evidence of ongoing learning/CPD related to Paediatrics, learning disabilities and/or Autism.
• Experience of using a wide range of assessments, clinical observations and intervention strategies.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership as part of the multi-disciplinary team within the paediatric therapy service.
• Support children who attend the school and their families as outlined in their Education, Health and Care plan.

Skills

Ability to independently manage a complex caseload

Ability to solve complex problems

Excellent presentation skills

Ability to write concise, legible notes

Education

Recognised post-graduate qualification in a relevant area

Registration with Health Care Professions Council

Member of RCOT

Job description

Overview

Highly Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist role in an MDT team based at Paddock Special School (Secondary site). Paddock School supports pupils aged 4-19 years old with severe learning difficulties, complex communication needs and/or ASD. The closing date is 06 October 2025.

Main duties of the job

To work as a dynamic senior occupational therapist providing leadership as part of the multi-disciplinary team within the paediatric therapy service based at Paddock Secondary School. To provide a high standard of occupational therapy assessment, treatment and advice to children, young people and their families accessing the school. The Occupational Therapist will support children who attend the school and their families as outlined in their Education, Health and Care plan. The occupational therapy team at Paddock School implement an integrated therapy model, working closely with speech and language therapists and teaching colleagues onsite, and also collaborating with psychologists, psychotherapists, medical professionals and social workers from the Local Authority and NHS.

About us

St George's Hospital is a major acute hospital that offers very specialist care for complex injuries and illnesses, including trauma, neurology, cardiac care, renal transplantation, cancer care and stroke. It has a helipad which opened in spring 2014 and the work of its emergency department has been seen on Channel 4's '24 Hours in A&E' programme. The hospital also provides all the usual care you would expect from a local NHS district general hospital. We also provide services at Queen Mary's Hospital in Roehampton. These include outpatient rapid diagnostic and treatment facilities, a minor injuries unit, limb fitting services and 70 elderly, intermediate care and rehabilitation beds. As well as hospital services, we provide a wide variety of specialist, maternity and community services to children, adults, older people and people with learning disabilities. These services are provided from St John's Therapy Centre, 11 health centres and clinics, schools, nursing homes and people's own homes. The trust also manages the healthcare service at HMP Wandsworth.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the supporting documents, ensuring that any application supports the person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications and training

• Registration with Health Care Professions Council
• Evidence of ongoing learning / CPD related to Paediatrics, learning disabilities and/or Autism
• Recognised post-graduate qualification in a relevant area
• Member of RCOT
• Member of specialist section of RCOT, such as children, young people and families
• Attended sensory integration training

Experience

• Extensive post-registration experience in working with children with additional needs
• Relevant post graduate experience in assessment and intervention of pupils within a school setting
• Experience of using a wide range of assessments, clinical observations and intervention strategies demonstrated by advanced clinical reasoning
• Experience of working with autistic children and young people
• Experience of working with pupils with complex and/or severe learning difficulties
• Experience of working in special schools
• Knowledge of communication strategies used with this population
• Student supervision
• Experience managing self-care and eating and drinking difficulties in children with Autism.

Skills

• Ability to independently manage a complex caseload & to reflect on clinical practice & experience
• Ability to solve complex problems & take appropriate decisions.
• Able to adapt to different demands & situations and the ability to work under pressure and the ability to prioritise & organise workload & time, and delegate appropriately
• Ability to write concise, legible notes & highly specialist reports
• Excellent presentation skills

Knowledge

• In depth knowledge of national health, education and children's services agendas in the UK and policies and procedures relevant to the client group, for example NICE Guidelines
• In depth knowledge of a range of standardised and functional assessment tools relevant to the client group
• In depth understanding of the range of physical & developmental disabilities which can occur with children and the role of the OT in this area
• In depth understanding of sensory processing difficulties and the impact this has on function for school age children
• In depth knowledge of the SEND reform and the therapist role in contributing to education, health and care plans
• Knowledge of integrated therapy models and universal/targeted/individual model
• Knowledge in TEACCH approach
• Knowledge of and contribution to the evidence base for the relevant population

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.

St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£56,276 to £63,176 a year p.a. pro rata inclusive of HCAS (Inner)