Closing date: 19 November 2026

Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated clinician to join our large, dynamic, and supportive Children's Occupational Therapy team in a fixed-term maternity cover Specialist Occupational Therapist role.

This is an excellent development opportunity, offering the chance to enhance your specialist skills while making a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people. Working with children and young people aged 0-19 years, you will provide high-quality specialist assessment, intervention, and support for those with a wide range of developmental disabilities, long-term conditions, and additional needs.

You will manage a varied and rewarding caseload, helping children and young people maximise their independence and participation in everyday occupations, including self-care, play, learning, and school-based activities. As part of a thriving multidisciplinary service, you will have access to experienced colleagues, professional support, and opportunities to contribute to service development and innovation.

Main duties of the job

• Accountable to Occupational Therapy Team Manager
• To provide specialist occupational therapy assessment and interventions to children and young people, managing a caseload of clients with a variety of developmental disabilities. The children and young people will present with a range of occupational therapy participation needs relating to self care, play and school activities.
• To contribute to the overall development of the occupational therapy service as the service evolves in line with organisational changes, holding responsibility for defined projects.
• To work in a range of community settings including special schools under the supervision of senior staff.
• To involve the child or young person and their carers throughout intervention and to work co-operatively with other professionals and agencies in meeting their needs.

Key Result Areas

• Provision of clinically effective occupational therapy assessment and intervention.
• Using sound evidence base to inform practice.
• Provide child-centred and family centred interventions.
• Work as part of wider multi-disciplinary team.
• Support other staff and students in their development.
• Work within a changing environment, adapting own practice to these changes.

Job responsibilities

• To select, administer and apply a specialist level of analysis to standardised and non-standardised assessments, tools and materials specific to paediatric occupational therapy, in order to provide diagnostic and predictive information and contribute to accurate diagnosis, prognosis and intervention.
• To use a specialist level of skills in negotiating, agreeing and setting goals with the family and other professionals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely (SMART) and address key occupational performance needs. To monitor, evaluate and modify intervention against set goals in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness, negotiating new goals where appropriate.
• To provide varied modes of intervention e.g. group settings, advice / consultation, teaching others.
• To identify the need and where appropriate assess and plan appropriate management/intervention to meet the assistive technology needs of children (orthotics, equipment for home and school including special seating and postural management, AAC, mobility equipment and environmental controls).
• To be responsible for ordering, referral, liaison with other agencies and/or joint assessments and appropriate after care such as training, setting up equipment and reviewing progress.
• To undertake risk assessments in relation to children on caseload.
• To assess for and advise others in determining appropriate and safe use of equipment and to assess the competence of others (school staff, family, carers) to carry out advice regarding safe use of equipment.
• To address consent throughout involvement with a child and aim to work co-operatively with parents, teaching staff and other professionals.
• To work with families from a variety of social, economical and cultural backgrounds and respond appropriately to clients needs.
• To work with families and children with additional vulnerability and provide appropriate support (e.g. Children in care, children with terminal illness /degenerative conditions, child protection, challenging behaviours).
• To adapt own style of communication to meet the differing needs of children and families e.g. use of an interpreter, sign language, uncomplicated language or pictures and symbols.
• To record and maintain all client contact information and data in client files or on electronic recording system in an accurate and contemporaneous manner, adhering to local and national policies and guidance.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Diploma or degree in occupational therapy
• Post registration training in specialist field of paediatrics
• Safeguarding training level 3

Desirable

• Student supervisors course
• Further training in specialist paediatric intervention approaches

Experience
Essential

• Occupational Therapist working in children and young people's services.
• Working in an NHS environment
• Working with education services
• Client centred practice within a multidisciplinary environment
• Experience in developing and providing education and teaching programmes to other professionals and students
• Use of a variety of standardised and non standardised assessment tools.

Desirable

• Supervision of staff
• Working in community services
• Member of professional body and special interest group

Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• A broad and sound understanding of child development and its relationship to the development of occupational performance through childhood.
• Specialised knowledge of the impact of specific developmental disabilities on a child's occupational performance
• Sound knowledge base in the application of a variety of interventions, whether restorative or compensatory to meet a child's occupational performance needs
• Specialist knowledge and understanding of the OT process applied to family centred and child focused practice.

Desirable

• Understanding of national legislation and initiatives relating to disability and to the education, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people across health, education and social care.
• General understanding of the requirements of the national curriculum.

Personal qualities
Essential

• To be a highly effective communicator with children and families
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to meet the needs of different audiences.
• Good planning and organisational skills and ability to work to deadlines
• Able to work within a culturally, socially and economically diverse borough.
• Ability to work autonomously in clinics, home, nursery school and other community settings

Desirable

• Able to travel around borough of Lewisham and occasionally outside borough.

Details
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Fixed term, 11 months
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 197-RF8937
Job location: Kaleidoscope Children's Centre, 32 Rushey green, Catford, SE6 4JF, United Kingdom

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.

Contact
Occupational Therapy Team lead: rachelle curtis, rachellecurtis@nhs.net, 02030491337

Apply through our website.