Specialist Occupational Therapist – Community Paediatric Service
Band 6

Location: Community Clinics Trust Wide
Reports to: Band 7 Occupational Therapist
Salary: Band 6 (£38,682 - £46,580)
Contract Type: Permanent

Job Summary/Main Purpose
The post holder will provide a comprehensive Paediatric Occupational Therapy Service for children and young people in various locations across the trust.

The post holder will assist in the day-to-day management and co-ordination of the Occupational Therapy Service and support the various teams depending on service priorities.

The paediatric Occupational Therapy service works across community clinics, special schools, specialist multi-disciplinary teams and acute hospitals.

Main Duties / Responsibilities
Clinical:

• Manage a caseload of clients and be responsible for organising workload in line with the agreed priorities, policies and procedures of the employing authority.
• Collaborate with the client, carer, team members and significant others to plan appropriate treatment approaches to achieve the agreed goals.
• Provide specialist Occupational Therapy assessment, plan and carry out treatment on either an individual or a group basis as appropriate to their needs.
• Carry out specific assessments as required informing subsequent intervention and/or drafting of professional reports.
• Continuously evaluate treatment methods used, monitor progress of clients and make adjustments to ensure best possible service is given.
• Work with Band 7 Occupational Therapists in co-working of cases and in the organisation and provision of group interventions.
• Identify individual requirements for intervention, including specialised equipment provision under guidance of the line manager and where appropriate to action further intervention to meet client's holistic needs.
• Communicate and work jointly with other members in the Multidisciplinary Team(s) to ensure a co-ordinated approach to client care.
• Confirm the eligibility of registration of clients under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (NI) Act 1978.
• Under guidance of the line manager, make recommendations for minor adaptation needs in accordance with Section 1 & 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (NI) Act 1978 and liaise directly with Housing authorities and other agencies to ensure the correct provision of housing adaptations in terms of design criteria.
• Provide support, advice and training where necessary to parents and carers in relation to interventions and programmes that relate to their child.
• Participate in the development and delivery of workshops, training sessions for parents, carers and education staff in the delivery of a facilitative model of care.
• Contribute to the Education (NI) Order – Statutory Assessment of Children with Special Needs when requested by the Team Lead Occupational Therapist.

Professional:

• Work as an autonomous practitioner adhering to the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Occupational Therapists, Professional Standards for Occupational Therapy Practice and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards.
• Continually up-date and further develop any clinical skills needed to ensure effective service delivery.
• Actively participate in regular professional supervision in order to demonstrate and be accountable for professional performance.
• Participate in the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust appraisal system on an annual basis.
• Prepare / present appropriate professional reports as required, in a timely manner.
• Liaise with other team members, staff of other disciplines and agencies to ensure that effective communication and reporting takes place at all times.
• Maintain client treatment records, departmental data collection and returns in line with departmental procedures.
• Undertake management of junior staff, unqualified staff/students as directed by line manager to include allocation and monitoring of caseloads.
• Participate in undergraduate training as directed by line manager.
• Participate in other activities, which would benefit from the application of professional Occupational Therapy e.g. working parties as directed by the line manager.
• Contribute to development of policies, protocols and procedures in line with professional and organisational ethos.
• Assist in maintaining and reviewing of standards and provision of service.
• Attend courses / relevant lectures as directed by line manager in order to increase knowledge of specialised techniques, new developments and update clinical information in order to improve professional standards and practices, which would benefit the service to clients and carers and satisfy clinical governance requirements.
• Participate in audits both uni-professional and multi-disciplinary as appropriate to service area.
• To be aware of the views of service users, including professional staff, clients and carers.
• Be prepared to give talks / lectures / demonstrations to Occupational Therapy colleagues and other disciplines / agencies.
• Bring to the notice of the line manager any observed shortfall in provision to clients and carers together with any suggested measures to improve or further develop services.
• Be responsible for own continuous professional development as required by the Health Professions' Council.

Managerial:

• Manage and prioritise patient and non-patient related professional demands.
• Deputise in managerial position in the absence of the Occupational Therapy Service team lead.
• Delegate appropriate responsibility to staff within his/her control and consistent with effective decision making, whilst retaining overall responsibility and accountability for results.

Organisational

• Be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive treatment notes for patients in own care.
• Record patient and non-patient activity data in accordance with professional and Trust standards and produce reports relevant to clinical setting.
• Maintain sufficient IT skills for the demands of the job for example, keyboard skills, use of e-mail and Internet.

In response to continued service development, the post holder will be required to undertake flexible working including extended working and seven day working as determined by operational requirements.

General Responsibilities

• At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner.
• Promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with Belfast Trust's Whistleblowing Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.
• Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them.
• Comply with the Trust's Smoke Free Policy.
• Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with the Health and Safety Policies and Statutory Regulations.
• Adhere to Equality and Good Relations duties throughout the course of their employment.
• Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in-service provision.
• Maintain high standards of personal accountability.
• Comply with the HPSS Code of Conduct.

Essential Criteria

• Hold a degree in Occupational Therapy recognised by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists or a Diploma of the College of Occupational Therapists.
• Minimum of 2 years' postgraduate experience.
• A minimum of six months experience working as an Occupational Therapist with children and young people.
• Must be HCPC registered.
• Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment (where disability prohibits driving, this criteria will be waived if the applicant is able to organise suitable alternative arrangements).
• Be familiar with the range of Occupational Therapy standardised assessments administered within children's services.

Desirable Criteria

• Additional postgraduate training relevant to paediatrics.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience in providing training to colleagues and service users.
• Good communication skills.

Information Governance
All employees of Belfast Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including for example the ICT Security Policy, Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

Infection Prevention and Control
The Belfast Trust is committed to reducing Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and all staff have a part to play in making this happen. Standard Infection Prevention and Control Precautions must be used at all times to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

• Cleaning hands either with soap and water or a hand sanitiser at the appropriate times (WHO '5 moments');
• Using the correct '7 step' hand hygiene technique;
• Being 'bare below the elbows' when in a clinical environment;
• Following Trust policies and the Regional Infection Control Manual (found on intranet);
• Wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);
• Ensuring correct handling and disposal of waste (including sharps) and laundry;
• Ensuring all medical devices (equipment) are decontaminated appropriately i.e. cleaned, disinfected and/or sterilised;
• Ensuring compliance with High Impact Interventions.

Personal Public Involvement
Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community where relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust's ongoing commitment to Personal Public Involvement (PPI).

This job description is not meant to be definitive and may be amended to meet the changing needs of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

The Organisation is an equal opportunities employer. All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times.

Closing date: Thu, 12 November 2026 at 4:30 PM. We accept online applications only. Please save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application.