Highly Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist: Mainstream School

NHS; Harrow; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in the UK is looking for a Highly Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist to join their dedicated team. This permanent, full-time role involves delivering specialized assessments and interventions for children aged 5-19 within mainstream school settings. The successful candidate will manage a complex caseload, lead service development, and provide training to school staff. Ideal for Band 7 OTs or motivated Band 6 practitioners ready to take the next step. Competitive salary offered, along with personal and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience working with school-aged children with complex needs.
• Experience in managing a caseload and writing clinical reports.
• Knowledge of National curricula and safeguarding policies.

Responsibilities

• Support and lead a specialist Occupational Therapy service to children aged 5-19.
• Manage a complex caseload of children with special needs.
• Develop service projects and provide training to schools and parents.

Skills

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Organisational skills

Empathy skills

Education

Recognised Occupational Therapy Degree Qualification

Health Professions Council - Licence to Practice

Advanced training in Paediatric Occupational Therapy

Tools

Assessment tools

Assistive technology

Wheelchairs

Job description

Go back Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist: Mainstream School

The closing date is 14 January 2026

Harrow Occupational Therapy are thrilled to announce that new funding has been secured for this fantastic opportunity to join our dynamic and inspiring OT team!

If you're a passionate Band 7 ready for an exciting new challenge, or a motivated Band 6 eager to take the next bold step in your career, we want to hear from you!

Join us as a creative and forward-thinking Band 7 OT, delivering specialist assessments and interventions for children aged 5-19 within the mainstream school settings. You'll enjoy managing your own clinical caseload while making a real difference in young lives across schools and clinic environments.

This role offers more than just clinical work, you'll have the chance to lead innovative service developments, champion the growth of your colleagues and OT students, and be fully supported by a collaborative, passionate leadership team. If you're ready to grow, lead, and inspire, this is the perfect next step for you!

Main duties of the job

The post holder will support in the co-ordinating and leading of a highly specialist Occupational Therapy service to children and young people attending mainstream schools within the borough of Harrow. This role will involve working with mainstream schools in Harrow to ensure they have the adequate skills, knowledge and training to support children and young people in their educational setting.

You will work alongside the other Band 7 pathway leads to ensure that a high quality, evidence based Occupational Therapy service is being delivered for our children, young people and families. The post holder will support the development of the service for children with both physical disability and learning needs, providing opportunities for service development projects and training within the team.

The post holder will support and promote OT service development including provision of a targeted service to schools and parents through training and support of the wider workforce and parent groups as required by the department.

About us

We are a very friendly and dynamic team who are passionate about supporting children, young people and families in Harrow while also supporting you and your wellbeing!

We strongly encourage staff input and influence to help design the OT service and the wider MDT team. We value personal development and we have an established internal training programme alongside regular opportunities for external training.

We are based at Alexandra Avenue where there is a high level of integration and collaboration between different health, education and social care services.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

Job responsibilities

1. To communicate complex patient related information effectively to ensure collaborative working with multidisciplinary team members across health, education and social services and the voluntary sector. In particular to work with school staff to ensure the delivery of a well co-ordinated care plan and/or individual education plan which facilitates the development of sensory, perceptual, motor and daily living skills.
2. To manage a highly specialist and complex caseload of CYP with SEN particularly those attending specially resourced provisions for CYP with ASD. This includes:
   • Gaining appropriate consent
   • Lead clinician for provision of comprehensive specialist assessment and differential diagnosis of individual children with diverse and complex presentations using a range of specialist assessments/techniques
   • Planning, delivering and evaluating highly specialist treatment programmes in the area of mainstream school provision,
   • Referring on to other services/professionals as appropriate in particular, Harrow Wheelchair services, Community equipment store, Consultant Paediatricians,
   • Using specialist knowledge and demonstrating advanced skills in dealing with complex issues, including those where there are conflicting clinical indicators, to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management and wider issues relating to service provision for school children
   • Negotiating with CYP parents/carers, and others around individual case management
   • Writing reports reflecting highly specialist knowledgeand providing specific advice for statutory assessment of special educational needs
   • Analyse clinical and social information from a range of sources and integrate into assessment and development of care/treatment plan
3. To demonstrate established negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.
4. To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible and report to Line Manager or Head of Paediatric Therapy Service.
5. To form productive relationships with others in particular parents/carers who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties.
6. To write clinical reports as per departmental standards reflecting highly specialist knowledge.

Person Specification

Other

• Car Driver

Education and Qualifications

• Recognised Occupational Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
• Health Professions Council - Licence to Practice
• Evidence of CPD in portfolio including attendance of specialist short courses relevant to CYP with special needs/ disability
• Training in Moving and Handling people with disabilities
• Advanced training up to Masters level equivalent in area of Paediatric Occupational Therapy e.g. Assisting Hand Assessment, parent coaching, child development sensory Integration modules
• Member of College of Occupational Therapy
• Member of CYPF RCOT specialist section

Experience

• Extensive experience to of working with school aged children: owith complex needs ophysical and learning disabilities operceptual-motor disorders oNeuro-developmental disorders
• Extensive experience of : oAssessment, treatment and management of CYP with complex needs oWorking as part of an MDT within an early years setting oManaging own caseload oWorking with parents / carriers oWriting clinical notes and reports
• Experience of: oTeaching other professionals/parents oClinical audit, research. oLine management/Supervision of staff. oContributing to Appraisal of others oLeading teams/projects.
• Knowledge of a range of specialist aids, equipment and seating systems including wheelchairs and assistive technology
• Knowledge of foundation stage and National curriculums
• Knowledge of the Balanced system and its application within OT

Skills and Knowledge

• oWell established knowledge of assessment tools and appropriate therapeutic interventions relevant to CYP with complex needs physical difficulties
• oWell established knowledge range of specialist aids, equipment and seating systems available to CYP including wheelchairs, seating and assistive technology.
• Working knowledge of the roles of: oOther professionals in Health, Education and Social Care involved with CYP
• oOccupational Therapist in the Education system.
• oUnderstanding and application of standards of record keeping and reporting
• oNational policies and procedures in particular safeguarding children, SEN and disability act, SEN reforms, Childrens and families act, National Service framework for children, the children's bill and foundation stage and National curriculum's.
• oClinical governance/audit
• oExcellent organisational skills
• oAbility to communicate effectively with children and young people of all ages and abilities
• oExcellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills
• oExcellent presentation skills, both written and verbal (English)
• oNegotiation and problem solving skills
• oAbility to work in an unpredictable environment and to prioritise own and others workload
• oGood analytical and reflection skills

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.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

£53,751 to £60,651 a yearPer annum incl. HCAS (pro rata if P/T)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

333-G-HCS-1150-A

Job locations

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust