Occupational Therapist

Chelsea And Westminster Hospital Nhs Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Outstanding learning and development

Specialist clinical supervision

Research and innovation opportunities

Multidisciplinary environment

NHS pension and staff benefits

Job summary

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Band 7 Occupational Therapist to lead the development of the paediatric acute OT service across Chelsea and West Middlesex sites. You will deliver advanced assessments and management for infants and children, working within a multidisciplinary team and across cross-site pathways.

The role includes supervision of junior staff, engagement in education, audit and research, and contribution to service improvement.

Qualifications

• Degree in Occupational Therapy.
• HCPC registration
• RCOT member
• Member of relevant CIG
• Clinical educators course or equivalent
• Significant recent clinical experience in paediatrics
• Evidence of MDT working
• Evidence of goal planning and using outcome measures
• Previous Band 7 experience
• Recent NHS experience
• Experience of planning and implementing service improvements
• Paediatric experience including neurological presentations
• Use of paediatric assessments and outcomes measures
• Ongoing CPD
• Acute paediatric experience
• Up-to-date with professional practice and research
• Experience of setting up a new service
• Negotiation and conflict resolution skills

Responsibilities

• Provide highly specialist paediatric OT assessment, treatment and management for infants, children and young people in hospital.
• Provide leadership and supervision to junior staff, assistants and students.
• Support education, audit and research activities within the specialty.
• Contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with MDT across sites and with families to maximise function.

Skills

Paediatric experience

MDT collaboration

Clinical leadership

Goal setting & outcomes

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Occupational Therapist to join the Paediatric Acute and Respiratory service within West London Children's Healthcare (WLCH).

This specialist Band 7 role offers the opportunity to work within a highly skilled multidisciplinary team delivering advanced occupational therapy care to infants, children and young people whilst in hospital.

WLCH brings together paediatric services across Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, providing outstanding opportunities for cross-site collaboration, service development, education and research.

We are looking for an enthusiastic clinician with significant paediatric respiratory experience, excellent clinical reasoning skills and a passion for delivering high-quality family-centred care.

In return, WLCH offers:

• Outstanding learning and development opportunities
• Access to specialist clinical supervision and leadership development
• Opportunities to participate in research and innovation through Imperial College London and the Centre for Paediatrics and Child Health (PaeCH)
• A supportive multidisciplinary working environment
• Opportunities to work across diverse specialist paediatric services
• Access to NHS pension and staff benefits schemes

Main duties of the job

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and passionate Occupational Therapist to join our AHP team in acute paediatrics. This role will be responsible for establishing the paediatric acute OT service at the Trust and will include service evaluation and audit to measure impact.

You will work closely with the acute paediatric physiotherapy team and Clinical Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist and work collaboratively with families and the wider MDT. The post holder will provide assessment and management for BCYP with neuro-developmental needs, neurological needs, sensory needs and complex discharges to maximise function and reduce impact of illness and hospital admission. There may be a requirement to work with the neonatal occupational therapy team in this role. You will be joining a dynamic, embedded team with opportunities for joint working, education and training.

This role will predominately be based at the Chelsea site with some input at the West Middlesex Hospital site dependent on clinical needs. There may be a requirement to work on other sites within WLCH.

About us

Our Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid.

We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan. In line with Greener NHS ambitions, we aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Achieving this requires collective effort. We encourage staff to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution wherever possible. Every action counts to create a healthier, more sustainable future.

We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.

If you haven't heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probation. Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.

Details

Date posted: 14 September 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £58,133 to £65,261 a year

per annum incl. HCAS (pro rata)

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 289-WLCH-105-A

Job locations: Cross Site -- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital/West Middlesex Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

The post holder will work as a Band 7 Occupational Therapist within Paediatrics across West London Childrens Healthcare (WLCH). The role involves providing highly specialist occupational therapy assessment, treatment and management for infants, children and young people whilst in hospital.

The post holder will also provide leadership and supervision to junior staff, assistants and students, contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives, and support education, audit and research activities within the specialty.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a progressive and research-active paediatric service within a unique integrated childrens healthcare organisation committed to improving outcomes for children and young people across North West London.

Please see attached JD for full details.

Person Specification

• Degree in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of CPD in relevant clinical area
• RCOT member
• Member of relevant CIG
• Clinical educators course or equivalent
• Significant recent clinical experience in relevant area
• Evidence of broad experience at Band 6 (or equivalent)
• Evidence of MDT working
• Evidence of goal planning and using outcome measures
• Previous Band 7 experience
• Recent relevant work in NHS
• Expereince of planning and managing service improvement activities
• Significant paediatric experience including neurological presentations
• Use of paediatric assessments and outcome measures
• Ongoing CPD
• Acute paediatric experience
• Up to date with professional practice and research
• Experience of setting up a new service
• Negotiation and conflict resolution 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Cross Site -- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital/West Middlesex Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details For questions about the job, contact: Clinical Therapy Lead, David Soulsby, [e-mail]

We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.