Job summary
Are you an experienced, enthusiastic Band 7 Occupational Therapist with the vision and leadership skills to lead our Experts at Hand service?

Two full-time opportunities are available within our Childrens Community Occupational Therapy Service, leading Experts at Hand across Halton and Warrington. You will provide clinical and operational leadership so children and young people receive timely, high-quality occupational therapy support. Working with families, schools, colleagues and partner agencies, you will develop pathways that promote participation, independence and meaningful outcomes across home, school and community settings.

You will join a supportive, collaborative team whose experienced leaders prioritise wellbeing, work-life balance and professional development. Clinical supervision and opportunities to shape the service will help you lead improvement, strengthen governance and build confidence across the wider workforce.

If you are an innovative, motivated occupational therapist with strong clinical leadership, communication and service-development skills, we would be delighted to welcome you to lead this accessible, evidence-based service.

At North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust, our values of Kind, Open, Fair and One Team guide our work. You will model them through compassionate leadership, open communication, equitable access, inclusive practice and partnership working to deliver outstanding care.

Interview dates:- 21 & 22 October 2026

Main duties of the job
As a Band 7 Occupational Therapist within the innovative Experts at Hand service, you will provide senior clinical leadership and expert occupational therapy advice to help schools develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to support children and young people with occupational performance, participation and independence needs.

You will lead the development and delivery of engaging whole-school training, consultation and coaching, enabling education staff to embed inclusive occupational therapy approaches and deliver appropriate targeted, evidence-based interventions. You will also provide clinical supervision and guidance to colleagues involved in the service.

You will lead drop-in consultation sessions within schools, supporting staff to identify occupational needs early, agree appropriate strategies and navigate pathways so children receive support at a universal, targeted or specialist level. Working collaboratively with education staff, families and partner agencies, you will promote inclusive environments, embed practical approaches into everyday routines and contribute to sustainable support across school communities.

You will lead the evaluation and continuous improvement of the service by monitoring outcomes, analysing impact and using feedback and performance information to demonstrate how the Experts at Hand model improves staff confidence, inclusive practice and outcomes for children and young people.

About us
Flexible working will be considered for all roles.

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM) serves more than one million residents across the Halton and Warrington boroughs and the wider North West region.

Bringing together community and out-of-hospital services (formerly provided by Bridgewater Community Healthcare) with inpatient and elective care (formerly Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals) we provide services at two hospital sites and more than 70 community hubs and facilities.

Our mission, vision and values are at the heart of North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM).

They underpin everything we do and everything we aspire to be as an organisation.

Our mission
We will be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other

Our vision
We will be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn

Our values

• Kind: We are caring, supportive and respectful to everyone
• Open: We are honest, transparent and open to new ways of working
• Fair: We listen, value our differences and are inclusive to all
• One team: We work well together and with our communities

Job responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities:
Clinical Leadership:
To provide clinical leadership for staff in the specialist area, including supporting across Bridgewater when required. To work in conjunction with other specialists in OT, PT and SLT in developing services.

When required for service needs and in conjunction with team leader, to lead service development / policy development in specialist area.

Clinical:
To act as a source of expertise and demonstrate advanced knowledge skills and experience in the management of complex caseloads including managing own designated caseload and supervising caseload of band 6 and 5 and Assistant OTs

To provide education, training, monitoring to carers, relatives, junior grade staff, assistants, occupational therapy students, health / social care and education colleagues as required.

To provide supervision, mentorship, training, emotional support and support for colleagues and newly qualified therapists and assistants as per professional guidance

To manage a highly specialist complex caseload, within an inter-disciplinary / multi-agency setting, acting as an autonomous professional and lone worker in the community

To support less experienced staff in supporting complex cases ensuring they deliver high quality interventions.

To ensure that clients / parents / teachers are involved in the planning and implementation of treatment programmes.

Take the lead role in the day-to-day clinical management and development of the highly specialist area for the service, working as a lone practitioner with a high degree of autonomy and clinical freedom.

To determine clinical diagnosis and Occupational Therapy treatment plan indicated, based on highly specialist skills and knowledge, measuring and evaluating outcomes.

To maintain clinical records as an autonomous practitioner

To promote and provide best practice via highly specialised assessment and treatment using a variety of principals and techniques as appropriate for children with a variety of complex needs (including chronic, disabling and life limiting conditions) working in collaboration with the child, family and carers / involved agencies

To assess a childs occupational therapy needs using complex and advanced clinical reasoning and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to their social and physical environment.

To work as an autonomous practitioner being professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work.

To accept clinical responsibility for a highly specialist caseload ensuring a high standard of clinical care, organising work in line with identified service priorities, clinical priorities, and managing own time.

To contribute to accurate clinical diagnosis as part of a childs overall assessment and assist in the breaking / Sharing the News process for families with other inter-disciplinary members of the child and family services team.

To identify Occupational Therapy goals and priorities as part of a childs overall care plan using highly specialised assessment tools and advanced level treatment interventions, in collaboration with clients, carers and involved agencies / professionals.

To develop multi-agency working with health colleagues and partner agencies e.g. Social Services and the Local Education Authority.

To contribute to legal documents such as Education Health and Care Plans and Annual Reviews, as appropriate

To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible, in line with trust policy

To plan and implement client centred individual and/or group interventions, evaluating treatment to measure progress, outcomes and ensure clinical effectiveness.

To deliver highly specialist Occupational Therapy services in a variety of community settings i.e. child development centre, nurseries, mainstream/special schools, childs own home or elsewhere, as appropriate.

To carry out highly specialist assessments and interventions, e.g. orthotics independently or jointly with other health or partner agency colleagues, as appropriate.

To attend case conferences, reviews and meetings as required by clinical or managerial responsibility.

To assist in the transition planning process at various stages of a childs life as required by clinical responsibility and in collaboration with appropriate agencies.

To maintain communication networks with clients, carers, other health colleagues and partner agencies.

To remain aware of and up to date with legislation and policies affecting Occupational Therapy and childrens service practice and plan for the effects on designated service area.

Analyse and interpret complex assessment information in order to develop specialist interventions, ensuring advanced levels of treatment are provided, outcomes are recorded and evaluated to determine clinical effectiveness.

To provide, highly specialist Occupational Therapy reports relevant to the practice setting.

To maintain up to date written/electronic records and statistical data, documenting /registering these in line with professional and local requirements.

To represent the Trust externally (locally and regionally) regarding Occupational Therapy services provided to patients in the community.

To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory skills to enable accurate assessment of patient condition and deliver effective treatment.

To provide highly specialist advice to other members of the MDT regarding the Occupational Therapy management of patients with complex problems to ensure holistic care. To represent at health panels where required

To be responsible for under-graduate Occupational Therapy students and the assessment of their clinical practice (physical and theoretical) to ensure that it is of degree standard in the assessment and training that they undertake.

To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework regarding consent to treatment.

To have highly developed knowledge and be competent in the administration and interpretation of standardised clinical assessment tools to diagnose level of function and cognitive performance.

To assess for, prescribe and authorise requests for minor adaptations for the patients home / school environment, and specialist equipment, balancing the complex interactions of functional need, independence, risk, safety, patient choice, areas of conflict, eligibility and cost effectiveness.

To routinely handle patients with unpredictable movements, providing physical support and ensuring safety. Daily moving and handling of patients and equipment including frequent changing of positions from standing to sitting/crawling whilst facilitating the patient to do such.

To discharge appropriately agreeing a point of closure with the parents and child and informing other professionals as appropriate.

Responsibility for Client Care and Contact with Carers
To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to client contact as they arise: for example exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions, encountered on a regular basis.

Please see attached full job description.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy. Health and Care Professionals Council registration
• Evidence of CPD attending post registration training in advanced area of clinical practice
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to masters level equivalent

Desirable

• Membership of Occupational Therapy specialist interest group relevant Special Interest Groups.
• Computer Skills

Experience
Essential

• Extensive post graduate experience as an childrens Occupational Therapist including experience at a senior level
• Evidence of significant practical specialist experience or training in designated area Community work experience.
• Experience of advanced assessment and treatment techniques. Working collaboratively with other health professionals and or partner agencies.
• Supervision of junior grade staff / support staff and students.
• Fieldwork accreditation.
• Training and education of health and other professionals and carers, in the (Role of Occupational Therapy in advanced practice)
• Service evaluation, review and development.
• Review and development of standards, policies, and procedures
• Experience of Clinical Governance issues and best practice initiatives.

Desirable

• Leadership/supervisory management training
• Research experience

Job Specific Requirements
Essential

• Ability to work in a variety of positions, kneeling sitting standing on the floor.
• Ability to travel freely around the Bridgewater Trust areas.
• The ability to work flexibly in accordance with service needs.

Desirable

• Membership of Professional body
• Membership of Occupational therapy special interest group.

Relationships
Essential

• If you are related to a director or have a relationship with a director or employee of an appointing organisation, please state the relationship.

Skills and Knowledge
Essential

• Specialist knowledge, understanding and application of advanced best practice Occupational Therapy processes relating to client centred practice and OT service delivery.
• Planning and decision-making skills.
• Proven supervisory skills.
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
• Ability to reflect on and critically appraise own and other practice.
• Proven organisational skills, demonstrating ability to prioritise, managing own workload to meet deadlines.
• Ability to apply clinical governance principles to practice and demonstrate advanced clinical reflection.
• Ability to work autonomously acting decisively on behalf of self and others.
• Knowledge of a childs normal/impaired development/function and disease processes and their implications on occupational performance.
• Ability to empower children and families within therapeutic practice.
• Ability to assess physical social, sensory and environmental needs of a client.
• Ability to assess for equipment as required for area of speciality.
• Ability to deliver sensitive information to children, families carers under stressful circumstances
• Awareness of and ability to implement national initiatives and legislation relating to area of specialist practice.

Desirable

• Ability to promote professional excellence in self and others.
• Training, presentation and teaching skills.
• Commitment to improving the experience of children, families and carers appreciating culture and diversity.
• Ability to carry out risk assessments.
• Advanced skills in interpretation of specialist assessment materials including sensory assessments.
• Competent to use both standardised and non standardised child specific assessment tools requiring dexterity, co-ordination, and sensory skills in their administration. E.g. VMI, TVPS, SPM, S.P., S.I.P.T. SI Clinical Obs

Right to Work
Essential

• Do you currently have the unrestricted right to work in the UK?
• If appointed, will you require sponsorship under a UK work visa route (now or in the future)?
• Please note that sponsorship is not available for all roles. Sponsorship will only be considered where the post meets the relevant UK immigration requirements and where the organisation determines that sponsorship is appropriate for the role.

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. 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).
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).