Children’s Occupational Therapist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working, Term time hours
- Posted
- 20/08/2026
- Closes
- 03/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This role involves joining the new Experts at Hand Team to provide occupational therapy support to children and young people in early years and mainstream schools. The focus is on supporting participation in daily activities, independence, and wellbeing, aligning with national SEND reforms. You will deliver Occupational Therapy in line with Experts at Hand guidance, working collaboratively with other therapists. The position aims to shift from individual caseloads to preventative support and capacity-building within educational settings.
Key responsibilities
- Deliver Occupational Therapy in line with the Experts at Hand guidance.
- Support mainstream education settings to deliver effective universal, targeted and targeted + interventions for CYP with Occupational Therapy needs.
- Provide whole-setting support, consultative advice, workforce development, and group interventions.
- Support the continued shift away from purely individual caseload models toward preventative support and capacity-building.
- Work collaboratively with a team of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Speech and Language Therapists.
Essential criteria
- Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy.
- Current registration with the Health Professions Council.
- Evidence of ongoing professional development.
- Experience of planning and providing clinical care to adults or children and young people with occupational therapy needs.
- Experience of working in a variety of settings.
- Neurology and rehabilitation experience.
- Some post-qualifying experience.
- Experience of undertaking clinical audit.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ongoing awareness of recent developments in practice and research including NSFs/NICE guidelines.
- Engaging and empowering approach that seeks to work with others and deliver outcomes in a successful and well informed manner.
- Good knowledge of occupational therapy core skills and processes.
- Demonstration of knowledge of child development.
- Previous experience of delivering programmes of care.
- Knowledge of safeguarding children and young people.
- Understanding of Clinical governance and risk management and their implications for the service.
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £39,959 – £48,117 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 10d ago · Closes in 5d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Job summary
We are excited to announce the launch of recruitment to support the development of our new Experts at Hand Team, supporting the local delivery of the national Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms.
The Experts at Hand initiative, from the Department for Education, brings Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) and Occupational Therapists (OTs) directly into mainstream schools and colleges to provide early SEND support.
We are inviting applicants who are interested in joining our team to work with children and young people in early years and mainstream schools with occupational needs, focusing on supporting participation in essential daily activities, independence and wellbeing.
As part of a team you will be responsible for the delivery of Occupational Therapy in line with the Experts at Hand guidance.
You will join a team of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Speech and Language Therapists who work collaboratively and are committed to delivering NHS values and providing compassionate support to children and young people, parents, and one another.
It is important to us that you enjoy coming to work and are proud of the difference you are making. Please tell us the reasons you would like to work for Shropshire Community Health Trust in your supporting statement.
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