Children's Occupational Therapist

Job summary
Band 7 Children's Occupational Therapist, Russet House Special Needs School
Hrs: Part time ,15hrs/week.
Contract: Permanent

Job Overview
We are a dynamic, friendly OT team who report high levels of job satisfaction. We offer a professionally led service with direct support from an OT Clinical Lead Specialist, monthly in-service team training, effective supervision, and External Training opportunities through the Trust.

An exciting opportunity has risen for a highly motivated Occupational Therapist who wishes to develop specialist skills in Paediatrics within a supportive team. We are looking for a creative, friendly, and enthusiastic OT to join our established Children's Team. We are located within easy commuter links from central London/Hertfordshire.

This is an OT post based at Russet House Special School. Russet House is a primary school for autistic children aged 3 to 11 with Special Educational Needs.

The role will include staff/parent training and class-based provision as well as specialist individual work. You will also be providing OT support to Russet House School families in the school holidays.

Please see job description for further details.

Main duties of the job
To work within the Russet House school OT team to develop and provide Occupational Therapy services for Pupils who attend Russet House School (a maintained special school for Autistic Pupils, 3-11 years) both at home and school.

To provide high quality child centred, occupationally focused assessment and intervention to Russet House Pupils school pupils and their families.

To work with the OT team and school Leadership to plan and develop the OT service into Russet House school working at a Universal, Targeted and Specialist level.

To contribute to and lead on aspects of planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating the Children's Occupational Therapy Service. To contribute to and lead on specified service improvements in relation to the post and quality initiatives within the team.

To work as an autonomous practitioner with access to supervision.

To supervise, appraise and train Pupils and junior staff as required.

To work effectively and flexibly within an interdisciplinary framework in a multidisciplinary and multi-agency environment, including working with teachers, community providers, social workers, SLT, psychologists, dieticians, paediatricians, physiotherapists, and other professionals

To be flexible to the demands of the service in regard to location of work and area of clinical specialism.

About us
About our AHP strategy
Allied Health Professions (AHPs) are the third largest workforce in the Trust and include dietitians, physiotherapists, podiatrists, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers, and speech and language therapists.

AHPs can work autonomously, lead teams and have a critical contribution to make to children and adults and all patient journeys including end-of-life care. AHPs provide direct patient care, offer numerous rehabilitation approaches, operate sophisticated diagnostic, screening and treatment equipment, and contribute to broader population health outcomes.

Many patients have complex needs and AHPs, whether working autonomously or in collaboration with other health and social care staff, have a positive impact on health outcomes and are essential to high quality, timely and accessible healthcare.

The seven strategic ambitions set out our unique contribution as dietitians, physiotherapists, podiatrists, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers, and speech and language therapists to delivering the Trust's strategy. They recognise the innovations and improvements that have already been achieved.

Details
Date posted
07 August 2026

Pay scheme
Agenda for change

Band
Band 7

Salary
£55,524 to £62,652 a year

pro rata per annum Inclusive of HCAS

Contract
Permanent

Working pattern
Part-time

Reference number
391-NMUH-7945866-A

Job locations
St Michaeals site , Cedar House

Gater Drive

Enfield

EN2 0JB

United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
To manage a school caseload of young people with a range of needs including those with complex disabilities, providing occupationally focused assessment and intervention.

To work with the Russet House school and school team to develop a high quality, evidence-based service provision into Russet House school. This will include staff training and Universal and Targeted provision as well as Specialist support.

To provide both home and school-based OT input to the Pupils in Russet House school, focusing on occupational areas of need and preparing Pupils for adulthood.

To set occupationally focused intervention goals with children and/or their parents/carers and schools that are child centred and agreed by the child and/or their parents/carers and school staff.

To set and maintain high standards of clinical practice, which is evidence based, and includes outcome measures to monitor achievement of person-centred goals and whole class approaches.

To work alongside teaching staff to provide class based targeted intervention packages of care.

To work within an occupational frame of reference.

To demonstrate the ability to analyse the interplay of the child, environment and activity when assessing the childs level of functioning and identifying appropriate strategies and intervention to facilitate and enhance participation in self-care, school and play/leisure.

To devise and manage a specialised treatment plan individual to a childs presenting condition through occupationally focused intervention, school equipment provision (as appropriate), school and parental support & training, advice & strategies and programmes.

To form productive relationships with parents/carers who may be under stress.

To advise and teach parents/carers and school staff of children with additional needs on appropriate on-going Occupational Therapy management programmes. To develop integrated support plans with schools, multidisciplinary teams and external agencies to ensure effective management in achieving the best care for the child.

To work as part of the core OT service in the delivery of training and workshop programmes to educational establishments, to best help children achieve outcomes within inclusive facilities.

To have the ability, knowledge and skills required for moving and handling children in school environments.

To assess and manage clinical risk concerning the treatment of clients in own caseload and support junior staff to do the same e.g. Manual Handling risk assessment, Trust lone working Policy.

To implement evidence-based practice and manage clinical risk within specific area of specialism. To demonstrate clinical effectiveness in specialist area thorough the use of outcome measures and audits.

To work within a multidisciplinary and multi-agency framework.

To provide clinical support to junior staff and colleagues

To work within the standards and guidelines of the Childrens Occupational Therapy Service, the Trust, the British Association of Occupational Therapy (BAOT) and the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC)

To understand and apply National Guidelines and Legislation relating to Health, Education and Social Care in occupational therapy practise.

To have a good working knowledge of the Code of Practice and Educational Care Health Plans.

To be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions.

To complete other duties that may be delegated as appropriate by senior staff

Person Specification
Values
Essential

• Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Education & professional Qualifications
Essential

• Dip. COT or BSc OT or international equivalent
• HCPC registered Occupational Therapist
• Evidence of Continued Professional Development

Desirable

• Member of BAOT
• Manual Handling
• C.P.R.
• Fieldwork Education Certificate
• Relevant courses and/or experience equivalent to Master's level

Experience
Essential

• Extensive postgraduate clinical experience of Occupational Therapy
• Extensive relative experience and practise in Children's Occupational Therapy including experience of working with Children and Young People (CYP) with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Strong desire to work with students with Autistic Spectrum Disorder
• Good knowledge of current best practice in Occupational Therapy
• A good understanding of the importance of evidence base practice and how it applies to clinical practice
• Sound knowledge of child development and childhood occupations
• Experience of child centred practice and goal setting with families and school staff
• Experience of working closely with the Education sector including school staff within a special school setting.
• Experience in completing Education Health Care assessments and writing good quality EHCP reports.
• Specialist knowledge & application of OT Assessments (Standardised and Non-Standardised) & Interventions relevant to client group.
• Knowledge of evidence-based treatment approaches relevant to clinical area (e.g. Co-Op, Parent Coaching)
• Understanding and practical experience of using outcome measures
• Extensive experience of working within a Multi-Agency Team
• Experience of service development.
• Ability to incorporate principles of Clinical Governance into day to day workload.
• Experience in supervising & teaching junior staff & Students
• Understanding of risks involved in work in the community and clinical settings
• Well established knowledge of national policies, procedures and legislation relevant to Children's Occupational therapy (including Safeguarding).
• An excellent awareness of current issues and developments within the NHS and Education and how this relates to and impacts on service delivery.
• Good understanding of The SEND Code of Practice, Education Health Care Plans and the legislation that supports them.

Desirable

• Extensive postgraduate clinical experience of Occupational Therapy
• Extensive relative experience and practise in Children's Occupational Therapy including experience of working with Children and Young People (CYP) with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Strong desire to work with students with Autistic Spectrum Disorder
• Good knowledge of current best practice in Occupational Therapy
• A good understanding of the importance of evidence base practice and how it applies to clinical practice
• Sound knowledge of child development and childhood occupations
• Experience of child centred practice and goal setting with families and school staff
• Experience of working closely with the Education sector including school staff within a special school setting.
• Experience in completing Education Health Care assessments and writing good quality EHCP reports.
• Specialist knowledge & application of OT Assessments (Standardised and Non-Standardised) & Interventions relevant to client group.
• Knowledge of evidence-based treatment approaches relevant to clinical area (e.g. Co-Op, Parent Coaching)
• Understanding and practical experience of using outcome measures
• Extensive experience of working within a Multi-Agency Team
• Experience of service development.
• Ability to incorporate principles of Clinical Governance into day to day workload.
• Experience in supervising & teaching junior staff & Students
• Understanding of risks involved in work in the community and clinical settings
• Well established knowledge of national policies, procedures and legislation relevant to Children's Occupational therapy (including Safeguarding).
• An excellent awareness of current issues and developments within the NHS and Education and how this relates to and impacts on service delivery.
• Good understanding of The SEND Code of Practice, Education Health Care Plans and the legislation that supports them.

Skills and aptitudes
Essential

• Excellent communication skills both oral and written, including the ability to liaise and negotiate
• Demonstrate ability to work as an effective team member
• Ability to organise & respond effectively to complex information.
• Excellent analytical and critical appraisal skills.
• OT expertise in the management of service users with highly complex/special needs, utilizing advanced assessment and clinical reasoning skills to plan treatment
• Ability to laterally think and problem solve
• Ability to effectively promote self and the OT profession.
• Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner
• Clinical leadership and supervision skills
• Ability to organise and prioritise own and others workloads within a busy and pressured environment
• Ability to cope with working in a stressful environment and with potentially emotional or aggressive clients/carers
• Good computer literacy skills
• Ability to keep accurate documentation

Desirable

• Excellent presentation & training skills.
• Appraisal skills
• Team leadership skills

Personal Qualities & attributes
Essential

• Ability to meet the demands of the post including possible out of borough travel
• Ability to work sensitively with a multicultural and diverse population with a commitment to non-discriminatory practice
• Thorough understanding of own personal development and learning needs
• Evidence of being a pro-active and supportive team member
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to family centred care and co-production.

other
Desirable

• Ability to meet the demands of the post including possible out of borough travel
• Ability to work sensitively with a multicultural and diverse population with a commitment to non-discriminatory practice
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to family centred care and co-production.
• Thorough understanding of own personal development and learning needs
• Evidence of being a pro-active and supportive team member

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Address
St Michaeals site , Cedar House

Gater Drive

Enfield

EN2 0JB

United Kingdom

Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
clinical lead

Lauren Braham

View email address on meeveem.com

View phone number on meeveem.com

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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.