Specialist Occupational Therapist Band 6 - School

The Methodist Church in Britain; Tadworth; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

The Children's Trust School is seeking a Specialist Occupational Therapist for a 12-month fixed-term post, delivering school-based therapy and clinical cover across residential services. Goals are set with families and multidisciplinary colleagues to support neurodisabilities and EHCP outcomes.

You will conduct assessments, develop 24-hour programmes, and integrate OT interventions in the child's environment, while supervising junior staff and contributing to child reports and governance.

Qualifications

• RCOT-recognised degree or postgraduate diploma in occupational therapy.
• HCPC registration is required.
• Two years' clinical experience post qualification.

Responsibilities

• Provide evidence-based OT assessment and intervention to children with neurodisabilities across school and residential services.
• Carry out standardised and non-standardised assessments of children with complex needs.
• Devise, monitor and adjust individualised 24-hour OT programmes for families, MDT or school staff to deliver.
• Set therapy goals and annual review and EHCP outcomes with the child, family and teams.
• Teach, integrate and monitor OT interventions in the child's environment with school staff, carers and volunteers.
• Support assistive technology assessment and management, and assess and organise OT equipment.
• Support upper limb splinting and casting alongside the Highly Specialist OT.
• Keep accurate intervention records and contribute to child reports, including looked-after children and annual review reports.
• Liaise with medical staff, attend clinics, and carry out home and school visits and child-related meetings.
• Provide clinical cover across the service during staff shortage or heavy workload.
• Supervise and support junior OTs, MDT technicians and students, including monthly formal supervision.
• Carry out clinical audit and risk assessment, and keep up to date with policy and evidence-based practice.

Skills

OT management for neurodisability

Clinical reasoning

Report writing

Written and verbal communication

Observation and treatment skills

Workload management

Education

RCOT-recognised degree or postgraduate diploma in occupational therapy

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

This 12-month fixed-term Specialist Occupational Therapist post sits within The Children's Trust School, serving children and young people who also use its residential services. The work centres on specialist assessment and individualised 24-hour programmes for children with neurodisabilities, with goals set alongside families and multidisciplinary colleagues. The post combines school-based therapy with clinical cover across the service, including a weekly early evening and one weekend day a month. Registration with the HCPC and an RCOT-recognised qualification are required.

What the job involves

• Provide evidence-based OT assessment and intervention to children and young people with neurodisabilities and neurodevelopmental concerns across school and residential services
• Carry out standardised and non-standardised assessments of children with complex needs, including clinical observation
• Devise, monitor and adjust individualised 24-hour OT programmes for parents, MDT or school staff to deliver
• Set therapy goals and annual review and EHCP outcomes with the child, family and teams
• Teach, integrate and monitor OT interventions in the child's environment, including with school staff, carers and volunteers
• Support assistive technology assessment and management, and assess and organise OT equipment
• Support upper limb splinting and casting alongside the Highly Specialist OT
• Keep accurate intervention records and contribute to child reports, including looked-after children and annual review reports
• Liaise with medical staff, attend clinics, and carry out home and school visits and child-related meetings
• Provide clinical cover across the service during staff shortage or heavy workload
• Supervise and support junior OTs, MDT technicians and students, including monthly formal supervision
• Carry out clinical audit and risk assessment, and keep up to date with policy and evidence-based practice

What’s required

Qualifications

• RCOT-recognised degree or postgraduate diploma in occupational therapy
• Continuing professional development in line with regulator standards, identifying own training needs

Registration & licences

• HCPC registration

Experience

• Two years' clinical experience post qualification
• Experience with children with neurodisabilities, in schools or paediatrics, and within a multi-professional team

Skills & knowledge

• Knowledge of OT management for neurodisability, supported by clinical reasoning
• Presenting evidence analysis in reports or presentations
• Workload management, including delegation
• Observation and treatment skills, with attention to detail
• Written and verbal communication, with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint skills
• Knowledge of outcome measures and statutory outcome requirements

Other

• Knowledge of safeguarding children and young people with complex disabilities
• Ability to meet the physical demands of a school therapy role
• Ability to supervise others and develop their skills
• Professional integrity and commitment to the Trust's values, particularly in clinical governance
• Flexible working, including one weekend day a month and early evening working

Nice to have

• Membership of RCOT or a specialist interest group
• Experience of the 24 postural care approach
• Experience of working with families
• Experience of SEND legislation
• Experience of specialist equipment
• Recent relevant assistive technology training
• Risk assessment skills
• Knowledge of research, clinical audit and service evaluation methods

What’s offered

• Adoption pay and enhanced paternity leave
• Time off for fertility treatment, menopause symptoms and gender reassignment
• Paid carers' leave
• 35 to 41 days' annual leave including bank holidays, rising with length of service
• Retention of NHS pension or an alternative pension scheme
• Free on-site parking and a staff shuttle from local stations
• Subsidised cafeteria and on-site staff accommodation, subject to availability
• Career development in a supportive and collaborative environment