Job summary
We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated Band 6 Children's Community Occupational Therapist to join our dynamic Children's Occupational Therapy team across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

In this role, you will work with children and young people aged 0-19 years with a range of physical disabilities, neurodevelopmental conditions, and motor coordination difficulties, supporting them to maximise independence and participation in daily life at home, school, and within their communities.

You will manage a complex caseload, delivering specialist, evidence-based assessments and interventions across a variety of settings including clinics, homes, nurseries, and schools. You will play a key role in supporting children with more complex needs, using advanced clinical reasoning to plan, implement, and evaluate treatment programmes.

You will contribute to the development of universal and targeted support for schools, while also providing clinical supervision, training, and support to junior staff and students.

You will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary and multi-agency environment, contributing specialist advice to processes such as Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and wider service development initiatives.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference to children and families, while developing your leadership skills within a supportive and forward-thinking service.

Main duties of the job

• To manage a specialist caseload of children and young people aged 0-19 years with physical disabilities, neurodevelopmental conditions and motor coordination difficulties, providing assessment, intervention and ongoing evaluation of outcomes. To undertake specialist occupational therapy assessments using clinical observations, standardised and non-standardised assessment tools, applying advanced clinical reasoning to identify functional needs and appropriate interventions.
• To plan, implement and review evidence-based, child-centred treatment programmes that support participation and independence.
• To work collaboratively with children, families, schools, health professionals, social care and other partner agencies to ensure coordinated and effective care.
• To contribute specialist occupational therapy advice to Education, (EHCPs), providing high-quality written reports when required.
• To support the development and delivery of universal and targeted occupational therapy resources and interventions for mainstream educational settings.
• To provide clinical supervision to junior occupational therapy staff, support workers and students, contributing to workforce development and quality of care.
• To deliver training and education to parents, carers, education staff and other professionals.
• To contribute to service development, ensuring practice is evidence-based and aligned with national guidance and service priorities.

About us
Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.

We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Job responsibilities
For further information relating to this vacancy please refer to the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy

Desirable

• Practice placement educator

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working with children as an Occupational Therapist

Desirable

• Experience of working in a community children's Occupational Therapy team

Knowledge
Essential

• Evidence of specialist clinical knowledge relevant to this post
• Knowledge of the application of assessments and interventions within Children's OT
• Sound knowledge base in the application of a wide range of interventions to meets a child's occupational performance needs

Desirable

• Experience of formal presentations

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).