Occupational Therapy Lead
At a glance
- Band
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Part-time
- Hours / week
- 30
- Posted
- 01/09/2026
- Closes
- 15/09/2026
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 is for an Occupational Therapy Lead within the Children's Therapies Team, focusing on neurodiversity across Kent. The successful applicant will lead service policy and clinical care pathways, manage staff, and handle a complex clinical caseload for school-aged children. The position is part-time, 30 hours a week, based in East Kent covering Canterbury and Thanet areas.
Essential criteria
- Registered health care professional (HCPC registration);
- Health related degree and evidence of relevant post graduate development at Level 6;
- Evidence of Post Graduate Specialist qualifications relevant to specialist area of practice (Neurodiversity);
- Management or supervisory qualification / programme of study
Desirable criteria
- PTLLS/DTLLS, PGCE or Certificate in Education;
- Working towards Master level study
- Demonstratable experience in area of practice;
- Experience of leading and managing teams;
- Experience of developing policy and service development plans with practical experience of change management;
- Supporting others (mentor / educator / supervisor ) experience
- Practical experience in managing health related projects/complex caseloads;
- Experience with the use of Microsoft Office and a variety of IT packages (E-Pay / E-roster/ AT-P/ CIS)
- Special Knowledge and Expertise
- Understanding of National Service Frameworks and NICE guidance to relevant to care setting and its application across health care services;
- Evidence of continued relevant professional development and implementation in practice within the last 12 months;
- Proven ability to develop effective partnerships to achieve practical outcomes across organisational boundaries including statutory organisations, external agencies, community and voluntary organisations
- Skills and Abilities
- Ability to manage time effectively, priorities and work under pressure to meet deadlines;
- Ability to work effectively with a variety of people at all organisational levels across different sectors including areas of social deprivation;
- Ability to communicate complex, sensitive information to individuals and groups;
- Strong influencing and negotiating skills;
- Highly developed facilitation skills
- Personal Attributes
- Ability to motivate and organise others to ensure best practice;
- Ability to manage and lead change
- Ability to Manage
- Able to support the implementation of local and national agenda's for health under the guidance of the senior Practitioner;
- Ability to prioritise care delivery in a professional manner, taking into account Trust policies and procedures;
- Ability to manage own time effectively.
- Registered health care professional (HCPC registration);
- Health related degree and evidence of relevant post graduate development at Level 6;
- Evidence of Post Graduate Specialist qualifications relevant to specialist area of practice (Neurodiversity);
- Management or supervisory qualification / programme of study
- PTLLS/DTLLS, PGCE or Certificate in Education;
- Working towards Master level study
- Demonstratable experience in area of practice;
- Experience of leading and managing teams;
- Experience of developing policy and service development plans with practical experience of change management;
- Supporting others (mentor / educator / supervisor ) experience
- Practical experience in managing health related projects/complex caseloads;
- Experience with the use of Microsoft Office and a variety of IT packages (E-Pay / E-roster/ AT-P/ CIS)
- Special Knowledge and Expertise
- Understanding of National Service Frameworks and NICE guidance to relevant to care setting and its application across health care services;
- Evidence of continued relevant professional development and implementation in practice within the last 12 months;
- Proven ability to develop effective partnerships to achieve practical outcomes across organisational boundaries including statutory organisations, external agencies, community and voluntary organisations
- Skills and Abilities
- Ability to manage time effectively, priorities and work under pressure to meet deadlines;
- Ability to work effectively with a variety of people at all organisational levels across different sectors including areas of social deprivation;
- Ability to communicate complex, sensitive information to individuals and groups;
- Strong influencing and negotiating skills;
- Highly developed facilitation skills
- Personal Attributes
- Ability to motivate and organise others to ensure best practice;
- Ability to manage and lead change
- Ability to Manage
- Able to support the implementation of local and national agenda's for health under the guidance of the senior Practitioner;
- Ability to prioritise care delivery in a pro
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 7 at £46,148 – £52,809 a year, across England.
This advert: £49,387 – £56,515 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 6d ago · Closes in 9d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Occupational Therapy Lead
The closing date is 15 September 2026
Job summary
The Children's Therapies Team is an integrated therapies team providing Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speechand Language Therapy, Specialist Nurse Advisors and Care Co-ordinators to children 0 - 19 years within KCHFT.
This vacancy is within the East Kent Team based covering the Canterbury and Thanet areas. The successful applicant will join other Clinical Leads and Team Leads in East Kent and will join the network of Clinical Leads working in the Children'sTherapies Service across Kent.
We work closely with colleagues from other health, education and social care teams to provide an integrated team around the child approach.The post will cover is primarily a School Years caseload for 30 hours a week.
Please note, this vacancy does not meet the criteria for skilled worker sponsorship and therefore, we are unable to accept applications from candidates that cannot provide documentary evidence of right to work in the United Kingdom. If you feel you qualify for sponsorship via a discounted salary threshold, please contact us via [email removed] quoting the vacancy reference number and how you feel you qualify for a discounted salary threshold.
Main duties of the job
To co-ordinate and lead the neurodiversity specialism across Kent
To lea
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