Job summary
Only available to current STSFT employees.

We are excited to have had additional investment into our service to further-support improvement in outcomes for our CYP and their families across South Tyneside and Sunderland.

This (22.5 hpw) role will improve the quality of life for CYP, prioritising early identification of needs to prevent escalation of needs and behaviours, as well as upskilling parents, carers and the wider childrens workforce to better-recognise barriers to participation.

Within this role you will support CYP and their families to identify sensory and/or motor difficulties and provide them with the best possible learning experience and outcomes. The role will also involve undertaking specialist assessments, providing appropriate interventions for children who are experiencing challenges, and enabling carers and education providers to increase their knowledge, confidence and understanding.

You will have excellent supervision and be encouraged to develop your clinical, leadership and management skills. We encourage staff to explore opportunities in research and innovation to improve patient experience and outcomes and as well as supporting staff development.

You will have a working knowledge of Education Health and Care Plans (Children and Families Act 2014) and report writing, SEND processes, and Tribunals. You will have good knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding issues.

You will be required to meet the travel requirements of this Post.

Main duties of the job
You will work across South Tyneside and Sunderland in clinic, home and education settings. You will be motivated to support children to achieve their best outcomes. Experience of team working is essential. You will be joining a team of OTs who are working together to develop services and improve outcomes for children. You will be part of a wider Therapies Directorate and part of a Trust that is keen to develop and support staff through supervision and CPD. You will be supported to work innovatively as we take the agenda for Childrens OT forward in-line with current national and clinical drivers.

You will provide highly-specialist OT assessment and intervention for a wide range of childhood disorders/disabilities and work together with the wider Therapies team towards integrated care for children. You will provide a cost-effective service with evidence of patient-focused outcomes and support regular monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of the role, service delivery and the interventions it provides using clear statistical and documented outcome measures. You will support the development and use of the hospital information system for clinical care and caseload management.

You will work with external stakeholders and other Trust colleagues to develop the OT service for children, demonstrating leadership skills, and providing supervisory support and/or development for staff / students / other professionals / parents and carers as required.

About us
Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Details
Date posted: 03 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year pro-rata for part-time
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number: C9155-CSAHP-0826-24-1
Job locations: STSFT, Sunderland Children's Centre, Sunderland, SR3 4AG, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
To be a Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist in Paediatrics, providing complex Occupational Therapy interventions, risk management, and implementing various appropriate approaches.

PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

Person Specification
Skills and Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of child development and paediatric conditions.
• Knowledge of approaches for supporting children with autism.
• Knowledge of current guidelines and best practice for supporting children with sensory differences and difficulties.
• Knowledge of specialist assessment tools relevant to Paediatric Occupational Therapy.
• Knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic assessments and interventions & an ability to compare & contrast relative benefits.
• Knowledge of safeguarding issues.
• Knowledge of the structure and functioning of the NHS, and how the Trust fits into the wider picture.
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance / audit / research.
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals & the principles of partnership-working with key stakeholders.
• Ability to plan and organise time / activities and developments for the Team, and lead on in-service developments.
• Demonstrate the ability to input data onto information systems and other databases.
• Demonstrates the ability to cope with distressing and / or emotional circumstances.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Intermediate IT skills.

Desirable

• Skills to facilitate or participate in research and/or clinical trials.
• Able to lead and/or participate in recruitment and retention of staff.
• Ability to interpret national priorities and to put into practice any relevant changes.
• Advanced IT skills.

Experience
Essential

• Post-registration experience working with children and young people.
• Experience working as part of a multi-disciplinary and multi-professional team.
• Experience of providing highly-specialist complex and expert advice to Occupational Therapy colleagues and others.
• Experience of working with children affected by long-term conditions.
• In-depth experience working with children in a variety of settings.
• Experience dealing with complex cases in an Occupational Therapy setting.
• Experience of working in Occupational Therapy in a variety of settings across community, health and education.
• Experience of working with children in a group setting.
• Experience in rehabilitation, goal-setting and relevant interventions.
• Experience representing the profession / service in meetings.
• Experience as a practice placement educator.

Desirable

• Significant post-graduate experience as an Occupational Therapist within a Childrens team.
• Knowledge of national and local policies & procedures relevant to health, social services & education and areas of responsibility.
• Attendance at management and leadership training, including short Courses on a range of management and HR issues.

Physical Skills
Essential

• Able to meet the travel requirements of the Post.
• Able to exert moderate physical effort e.g.: Paediatric handling, moving, lifting and fitting equipment.
• Able to sit at workstations as necessary to carry out administrative tasks and other relevant duties.
• Able to record information electronically with speed and accuracy, e.g. keyboard skills.

Desirable

• Hold a valid, UK driving licence.

Qualifications
Essential

• BSc / MSc in Occupational Therapy.
• HCPC registration.
• Evidence of RCOT-accredited Sensory Integration Level 1-3 training.

Desirable

• Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
• Evidence of CPD across a range of childhood conditions.

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).

Employer details
Employer name: South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Address: STSFT, Sunderland Children's Centre, Sunderland, SR3 4AG, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Gina Sinclair, georgina.sinclairjames@nhs.net, 01915656256