Specialist Occupational Therapist (Children’s)
Closing date: 06 May 2026
Overview
Support children and young people with sensory differences across South Tyneside and Sunderland. Develop and implement a sensory programme, provide direct assessments and interventions, support carers and educational staff, and monitor outcomes.
Responsibilities
* Receive specialist OT advice and support children with sensory differences and difficulties.
* Develop and implement resources and strategies for school and home settings.
* Deliver specialist training sessions to education staff and carers.
* Provide strategies and advice to enable CYP to engage more effectively in education and support environmental adjustments.
* Support regular monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of interventions using data and outcome measures.
* Work across South Tyneside and Sunderland in clinic, home, and education settings.
* Collaborate with Speech and Language Therapists and Physiotherapists within the Children’s Integrated Therapy service.
Skills
* Demonstrate skills in specialist assessment, diagnosis and development of care plans for clients with highly complex needs.
* Assess for and identify equipment needs.
* Communicate highly complex and sensitive condition-related information to clients, carers and multidisciplinary team members, even in situations of hostility.
* Good interpersonal and communication skills including observational, listening and empathy skills.
* Proven organisational and planning skills.
* Ability to influence, motivate and facilitate development in others.
* Time‑management and prioritisation skills; ability to work to deadlines such as the EHCP process.
* Evidence of leadership skills as well as the ability to be a successful team member.
* Skill in complex information processing, analysis, interpretation and comparison of options at a service and clinical level.
* Skillful contribution to clinical teams for client care development.
* Ability to introduce innovative practice impacting policy or service beyond own area of activity.
* Negotiation and problem‑solving skills within complex situations, and ability to facilitate these skills in others.
* Ability to assimilate, synthesise and present complex information requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of options at service and clinical levels.
Knowledge
* 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 and the ability to compare and 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 and research.
* Understanding of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership‑working with key stakeholders.
* Knowledge of standards of record keeping and ability to monitor and audit this within one’s own team.
* Knowledge of national and local policies and procedures relevant to health, social services, education and areas of responsibility.
Qualifications
* Degree in Occupational Therapy.
* Evidence of extensive CPD and up‑to‑date knowledge within paediatrics achieved through postgraduate, specialist, advanced short courses.
* Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
* Completion, or progress toward, RCOT‑accredited Sensory Integration Level 1 to 3 training.
* Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
* Attendance at management and leadership training, including short courses on various management and HR issues.
Experience
* Experience within paediatric occupational therapy incorporating a range of specialisms.
* Experience of completing sensory profiles with children and other informal sensory‑based assessments.
* Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.
* Experience of working with children and their families in a therapeutic environment.
* Awareness of the range of relevant standardised formal and informal assessments and therapy approaches for client groups within this specialist service area.
* Experience of supervising all levels of qualified occupational therapy staff, assistants and students.
* Experience in designing and delivering training and education programmes to other professionals, students and parents.
* Training and experience in staff and student supervision.
* Some management and leadership experience.
* Experience in the use and interpretation of the relevant standardised formal and informal assessments and therapy approaches for client groups within this specialist service areas.
* Some experience of policy and practice development in a specialist area.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Equal Opportunities
We welcome all applicants irrespective of race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage, civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, and particularly those from under‑represented groups.
Other Information
Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.
#J-18808-Ljbffr