Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist
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Job Summary
Are you looking for an chance to work as a Highly Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist in an MDT team based in an Ofsted Outstanding Special School?
We are looking for an exceptional band 7 Occupational Therapist to join our team, working at Paddock Special School (Secondary site). Paddock School is an outstanding special school supporting pupils aged 4-19 years old with severe learning difficulties, complex communication needs and/or ASD. Your role will be focused on delivering integrated therapy within classrooms and working closely with the education team to support and review children in accessing their learning and participating in school occupations.
As a member of the St George's children's therapies team, you will be part of a supportive and dynamic multi-disciplinary team, with regular opportunities for supervision and continuing professional development.
More information is detailed in supporting documents.
Main duties of the job
To work as a dynamic senior occupational therapist providing leadership as part of the multi-disciplinary team within the paediatric therapy service based at Paddock Secondary School. To provide a high standard of occupational therapy assessment, treatment and advice to children, young people and their families accessing the school. The Occupational Therapist will support children who attend the school and their families as outlined in their Education, Health and Care plan. The occupational therapy team at Paddock School implement an integrated therapy model, working closely with speech and language therapists and teaching colleagues onsite, and also collaborating with psychologists, psychotherapists, medical professionals and social workers from the Local Authority and NHS.
About Us
St George's Hospital is a major acute hospital that offers very specialist care for complex injuries and illnesses, including trauma, neurology, cardiac care, renal transplantation, cancer care and stroke. It has a helipad which opened in spring 2014 and the work of its emergency department has been seen on Channel 4's \'24 Hours in A&E\' programme. The hospital also provides all the usual care you would expect from a local NHS district general hospital. We also provide services at Queen Mary's Hospital in Roehampton, including outpatient rapid diagnostic and treatment facilities, a minor injuries unit, limb fitting services and 70 elderly, intermediate care and rehabilitation beds. We also provide a wide variety of specialist, maternity and community services to children, adults, older people and people with learning disabilities. These services are provided from St John's Therapy Centre, 11 health centres and clinics, schools, nursing homes and people's own homes. The trust also manages the healthcare service at HMP Wandsworth.
Details
Date posted: 22 September 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £56,276 to £63,176 a year p.a. pro rata inclusive of HCAS (Inner)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 200-NN-7433753-AHP-Z
Job locations: Paddock Special School, Paddock Secondary School, Tooting, SW17 0DZ
Job Description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the supporting documents, ensuring that any application supports the person specification.
Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications and training
* Diploma/Bsc/graduate diploma/Msc in OT
* Registration with Health Care Professions Council
* Evidence of ongoing learning / CPD related to Paediatrics, learning disabilities and/or Autism
Desirable
* Recognised post-graduate qualification in a relevant area
* Member of RCOT
* Member of specialist section of RCOT, such as children, young people and families
* Attended sensory integration training
Experience
Essential
* Extensive post-registration experience in working with children with additional needs
* Relevant post graduate experience in assessment and intervention of pupils within a school setting
* Experience of using a wide range of assessments, clinical observations and intervention strategies demonstrated by advanced clinical reasoning
* Experience of working with autistic children and young people
* Experience of working with pupils with complex and/or severe learning difficulties
Desirable
* Experience of working in special schools
* Knowledge of communication strategies used with this population
* Student supervision
* Experience managing self-care and eating and drinking difficulties in children with Autism
Skills
Essential
* Ability to independently manage a complex caseload & to reflect on clinical practice & experience
* Ability to solve complex problems & take appropriate decisions
* Able to adapt to different demands & situations and the ability to work under pressure and the ability to prioritise & organise workload & time, and delegate appropriately
* Ability to write concise, legible notes & highly specialist reports
* Excellent presentation skills
Knowledge
Essential
* In depth knowledge of national health, education and children's services agendas in the UK and policies and procedures relevant to the client group, for example NICE Guidelines
* In depth knowledge of a range of standardised and functional assessment tools relevant to the client group
* In depth understanding of the range of physical & developmental disabilities which can occur with children and the role of the OT in this area
* In depth understanding of sensory processing difficulties and the impact this has on function for school age children
* In depth knowledge of the SEND reform and the therapist role in contributing to education, health and care plans
* Knowledge of integrated therapy models and universal/targeted/individual model
Desirable
* Knowledge in TEACCH approach
* Knowledge of and contribution to the evidence base for the relevant population
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: St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Paddock Special School, Paddock Secondary School, Tooting, SW17 0DZ
Employer's website: https://www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/
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