Occupational Therapy Lead

Job summary
Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts, the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Medway Community Healthcare. Nursing vacancies are also open to Student Nurses and Newly Qualified Nurses.

The Children's Therapies Team is an integrated therapies team providing Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Specialist Nurse Advisors and Care Co-ordinators to children 0 - 19 years within KCHFT.

This vacancy is within the East Kent Team based covering the Canterbury and Thanet areas. The successful applicant will join other Clinical Leads and Team Leads in East Kent and will join the network of Clinical Leads working in the Children's Therapies Service across Kent.

We work closely with colleagues from other health, education and social care teams to provide an integrated team around the child approach. The post will cover is primarily a School Years caseload for 30 hours a week.

Please note, this vacancy does not meet the criteria for skilled worker sponsorship and therefore, we are unable to accept applications from candidates that cannot provide documentary evidence of right to work in the United Kingdom. If you feel you qualify for sponsorship via a discounted salary threshold, please contact us via View email address on meeveem.com quoting the vacancy reference number and how you feel you qualify for a discounted salary threshold.

Main duties of the job

• To co-ordinate and lead the neurodiversity specialism across Kent
• To lead on service policy and clinical care pathways across the service in this specialist clinical area
• To report to and advise on development requirements in this specialist area to Professional Leads, Team Leads, Locality Clinical Manager and/or Head of Service
• To be responsible for delegated line management and supervision of staff within the team
• To ensure staff have regular access to effective supervision, training and support to enhance their CPD in this area
• To advise on development requirements in this specialist area to Professional Leads, Team Leads, Locality Clinical Manager and/or Head of Service
• On a day to day basis you will manage a complex /specialist clinical caseload within the School Years Occupational Therapy team in order to support children with a range of needs to participate in occupations of childhood

About us
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is due to integrate with Medway Community Healthcare on 1 October 2026. Following integration and to align our community services to the new Neighbourhood Model of care delivery, there will be a period of consultation which may result in changes affecting some services, teams or roles. Depending on the area you are applying to work in, this could include potential changes to your role, work base, reporting arrangements, or terms and conditions of employment. Any changes would be subject to consultation and managed sensitively and in line with relevant employment processes. Please do contact the recruiting manager if you have any concerns about this so they can answer any questions you might have.

Rated 'Outstanding' by CQC, we deliver high-quality care that improves the health of our communities. We are looking for people who share our values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Responsive and Excellent .

We are proud to be an inclusive, welcoming organisation and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We use protected characteristic information for monitoring only and it is not seen by recruiting managers, except where applicants choose to be considered under our disability guaranteed interview scheme.

We know life outside work matters. As a flexible working-friendly organisation, we welcome conversations about arrangements that help you thrive while supporting excellent care for our patients.

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Details
Date posted: 27 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 846-8030528-UJ
Job locations: Green Banks Children's Centre, Margate, CT9 5PA, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
As a community Trust, many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. Where driving is a requirement of the role, you will be asked to confirm that you hold a full UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via View email address on meeveem.com, quoting the vacancy reference number, so we can support you further.

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.

We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.

At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.

Find out more about the community difference here.

Good luck! We can't wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered health care professional (HCPC registration);
• Health related degree and evidence of relevant post graduate development at Level 6;
• Evidence of Post Graduate Specialist qualifications relevant to specialist area of practice (Neurodiversity);
• Management or supervisory qualification / programme of study

Desirable

• PTLLS/DTLLS, PGCE or Certificate in Education;
• Working towards Master level study

Experience
Essential

• Demonstratable experience in area of practice;
• Experience of leading and managing teams;
• Experience of developing policy and service development plans with practical experience of change management;
• Supporting others (mentor / educator / supervisor) experience
• Practical experience in managing health related projects/complex caseloads;

Desirable

• Experience with the use of Microsoft Office and a variety of IT packages (E-Pay / E-roster/ AT-P/ CIS)

Special Knowledge and Expertise
Essential

• Understanding of National Service Frameworks and NICE guidance to relevant to care setting and its application across health care services;
• Evidence of continued relevant professional development and implementation in practice within the last 12 months;
• Proven ability to develop effective partnerships to achieve practical outcomes across organisational boundaries including statutory organisations, external agencies, community and voluntary organisations

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Ability to manage time effectively, priorities and work under pressure to meet deadlines;
• Ability to work effectively with a variety of people at all organisational levels across different sectors including areas of social deprivation;
• Ability to communicate complex, sensitive information to individuals and groups;
• Strong influencing and negotiating skills;
• Highly developed facilitation skills

Personal Attributes
Essential

• Ability to motivate and organise others to ensure best practice;
• Ability to manage and lead change

Ability to Manage
Essential

• Able to support the implementation of local and national agenda's for health under the guidance of the senior Practitioner;
• Ability to prioritise care delivery in a professional manner, taking into account Trust policies and procedures;
• Ability to manage own time effectively.

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: Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Green Banks Children's Centre, Margate, CT9 5PA, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Locality Clinical Manager, Sandra Dawson, View email address on meeveem.com