Job summaryFamily Futures is actively seeking a Sessional Sensory Integration Occupational Therapist who aligns with our ethos and ambition to provide high-quality therapeutic support for children, young people, and families. The position will support the delivery of our specialist therapy services across the organisation, working with children who present with a range of sensory, developmental, emotional, and relational needs. The role will include supporting children and families accessing our therapeutic services, including adoptive families, special guardians, kinship carers, foster carers, and others seeking specialist support. You will also contribute to the ongoing development of our innovative, multidisciplinary approach to helping children and families thrive.
Main duties of the job- To provide functional assessment and sensory integration assessments and treatment programmes for the child or adolescent within the context of the family, school and social environments
- To provide a range of therapeutic interventions with the core skills of occupational therapy underpinning the work, however it will be necessary to draw on other therapeutic interventions as required
About usFamily Futures is a not-for-profit, independent voluntary adoption agency and specialist therapy centre based in London, rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2025 for the fifth consecutive time.
We support families with holistic, evidence-based therapeutic support in a homely space designed specifically for children. We are here for children affected by early trauma, neurodevelopmental conditions and mental health issues. Our mission is to help children, young people and their families have safe, happy relationships and improved wellbeing by promoting and enabling access to the right therapy and support that is evidence-based and neuro-affirming.
Alongside our adoption agency services, we provide support to adoptive parents, special guardians, kinship carers, foster carers, and other families, helping them create stable and nurturing environments in which children can thrive.
Job responsibilitiesThe post holder will be responsible for providing OT assessment and treatment to children seen by the therapy team, the i-Adopt and We-foster team as well as some sensory profiles with parents. The expertise required for the post is at senior clinical level and therefore service development and teaching responsibilities will be expected.
The post holder will have a highly specialised clinical role, working with both children/adolescents and their parents. The children and young people present with multiple and complex needs often demonstrate challenging, disturbing or distressing behaviour.
Main Tasks- To operate as an integrated member of the therapy team offering telephone advice or video link, email support, consultations, assessments and treatment to children and their parents/carers referred to Family Futures
- To provide functional assessment and sensory integration assessments and treatment programmes for the child or adolescent within the context of the family, school and social environments
- To devise sensory diets for children and their parents in consultation with the rest of the therapy team - implementing them both at home and at school in consultation with the key worker.
- A senior practitioner level occupational therapist would key work some cases, taking responsibility for co-ordinating these families service provision
- To provide a range of therapeutic interventions with the core skills of occupational therapy underpinning the work, however it will be necessary to draw on other therapeutic interventions as required
- To offer specialist OT advice to colleagues as required
- To share responsibility for the occupational therapy equipment budget
- To liaise with local authorities, health authorities and other agencies on behalf of Family Futures
- To attend professionals meetings on behalf of Family Futures
- To take responsibility for the compilation of occupational therapy and sensory integration reports and ensure that they are finished to a high standard
- To be involved in contributing to the compilation of comprehensive Family Futures assessment reports, network reports, end of year reports, closing reports and any other reports as required in connection to the children and their parents referred to Family Futures
- To write good quality session notes
- To maintain good and up to date computer record
- To be efficient in managing case load and checking telephone messages, email messages as well as post and then to respond appropriate
- To have a teaching and tutoring role on courses and trainings run by Family Futures
- To participate in research projects as well as the monitoring and evaluation of Family Futures services. To attend team meetings, supervision and consultation and participate fully as a member of the therapy team
- Any other reasonable requests by Family Futures
Other:- To contribute to the development and delivery of a range of media and educational content, including (but not limited to) articles, books, blogs, newsletters, podcasts, online videos, and digital training materials, to share clinical insights and promote Family Futures work to a wider audience.
- To participate in and support the creation of multimedia content for both professional and public audiences, ensuring materials are evidence-informed, accessible, and aligned with Family Futures values
Manner of Work:- To adhere to the policies and procedures of Family Futures as laid down in the Adoption Agency handbook and Statement of Purpose, this includes child protection and equal opportunities policies
- At all times, to maintain the highest standards of professional practice and to adhere to the Royal College of Occupational Therapy and Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC) standards
- To comply with the requirements for registration of their respective professional body and to keep their professional membership up to date
- To work in a collaborative and empathetic manner with parents, children and their support networks
- Ensure that duties are undertaken with due regard and compliance with the Data Protection Act, GDPR and Family Futures confidentiality standards.
- Family Futures provides regular supervision and consultation with our psychotherapist and access to our team of specialist consultants
Person SpecificationQualifications- Degree, Diploma in Occupational Therapy (Essential)
- Sensory Integration Training (Essential)
- Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC) registration (Essential)
Knowledge- An understanding of the use of the creative arts in a therapeutic setting (Essential)
- An understanding of theory and research in the field of trauma, attachment and therapeutic interventions with children and their parents (Essential)
- A detailed knowledge of the principles of sensory integration theory assessment and the impact of sensory and motor development (Essential)
- An understanding of safeguarding children issues as well as an understanding of equal opportunities, data protection and general good practice. (Essential)
- An understanding and competence in using computers and office technology (Essential)
- To have good financial skills in managing budgets (Desirable)
Experience- Experience of undertaking assessment of children and families with complex presentations (Essential)
- Experience of working with children and families in a therapeutic setting for mental health, physical disability and or learning disability (Essential)
- Experience of taking case responsibility for cases and leading multi-disciplinary teams (Essential)
- Experience of working with or knowledge of complex or developmental trauma (Essential)
- Experience of working with a high degree of complexity. (Essential)
- Experience of co-ordinating and writing reports that include formulations of children and familys presentation and recommendations for treatments (Essential)
- Experience of working with children and families in the field of fostering and adoption is ideal but not essential (Desirable)
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer detailsEmployer name: Family Futures CIC
Address: 440a, Hornsey Road, London, N19 4EB, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.familyfutures.co.uk/
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact: Ingrid Resnitschek, ingrid@familyfutures.co.uk, 02073544161
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. 