Job overview
Do you enjoy therapeutic play? Ever built an obstacle course across a desert… in a school hall? Or served tea to a pirate on a secret island? Imagination is a powerful tool – and in children’s occupational therapy, it can change lives. If you’re passionate about enabling children and young people to develop independence in self-care, education, and play, this could be the creative and rewarding role you’ve been looking for.
We have an exciting opportunity for two enthusiastic and motivated Band 5 Occupational Therapist's to join our innovative, community-based Children’s Occupational Therapy team. You’ll work with children and young people school aged-leaving age across Buckinghamshire, in settings schools and occasionally at home.
Our service is varied and dynamic – you’ll have the chance to develop specialist skills in areas such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Sensory processing difference, equipment provision, and more. We work closely with social care occupational therapists, collaborating on joint assessments and home adaptations.
Main duties of the job
1. Assess and deliver occupational therapy to children in a variety of settings, including mainstream schools, with a focus on those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
2. Support children with a range of needs, including Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), ASD, and perceptual difficulties.
3. Plan and implement creative, purposeful activities to support development and independence.
4. Work as part of a large, supportive team of paediatric occupational therapists.
5. Supervise therapy support workers and students.
6. HCPC registered Occupational Therapist.
7. Experience in paediatrics (as a student or post-qualification) is desirable but not essential.
8. Knowledge of assessing and supporting children with physical, sensory, and developmental needs.
9. Ability to adapt to different environments and manage a varied caseload.
10. A commitment to team working, continuous learning, and family-centred care.
11. Regular supervision and strong peer support.
12. Excellent opportunities for continuing professional development, including internal and external training.
13. A varied caseload with opportunities to specialise.
14. A collaborative, friendly working environment where creativity is encouraged.
Working for our organisation
What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes.
We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.
Why work for us?
Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
Our CARE values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.
Person specification
EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Essential criteria
15. Registered member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT)
16. Recognised Occupational Therapy degree qualification or equivalent
17. Health Professions Council Licence to Practice
EXPERIENCE
Essential criteria
18. Evidence of good presentation skills
19. Demonstrates awareness of the roles of other professionals
20. Demonstrates awareness of standards of record keeping
21. Evidence of carrying out OT interventions
22. Experience of working with children and young people e.g. student placement, voluntary work, other work experience
Desirable criteria
23. Evidence of knowledge in safe guarding procedures
SKILLS, ABILITIES & KNOWLEDGE
Essential criteria
24. Knowledge of how lack of functional impacts on participation
25. Motivated to learn and evidence of innovative ideas
26. Ability to prioritise and manage own time
27. Ability to work without direct supervision
28. To have a clear understanding of the importance of confidentiality.
29. Approachable nature with good interpersonal and communication skills
30. Knowledge of legislation and key issues related to Children and Young people
31. Competent IT skills
32. Developed communication skills, written and verbal, to ensure effective liaison with multi-disciplinary team, children, young people and their families
33. Evidence of CPD and competence in using evidence base to inform clinical practice
34. Insight into local, regional and government initiatives relating to occupational therapy
35. Able to demonstrate empathy, motivate and persuade children with impaired cognitive or physical disabilities
36. Ability to write concise reports / referrals to ensure interpretation by other members of the multi -disciplinary team or Local Authority so that the child or young person can access the appropriate care and support
37. The ability to prioritise & organise own work and monitor delegated work in a skill mix team
38. Enthusiastic approach to professional and staff development
39. Ability to respond flexibly and professionally to unforeseen clinical and non -clinical situations
40. Ability to motivate, negotiate and reassure others
41. Able to listen to views and issues raised by families and work collaboratively to resolve these where possible
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Essential criteria
42. Access to own transport to enable access to a wide variety of community settings
PPE requirements: Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust requires all colleagues to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with our infection prevention and control procedures.
COVID-19 and Flu vaccinations remain the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the viruses when working in our healthcare settings. We encourage our staff to be vaccinated when recommended.
Application deadline: This post will close on the closing date stated at midnight, however if we receive a large number of applications or there is a change in circumstance, we may be required to close a job before the advertised date.
Application information: If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records (ESR) system.
Shortlisting: The monitoring and safeguarding sections are not made visible to the shortlisting panel. The safeguarding section may be made visible to the interview panel, dependent on the role being recruited into.
Travel expenses: It is Trust policy that travel expenses for interviews will not be reimbursed.
Smoking: All Trust sites are NO SMOKING. Smoking in all areas of the buildings and premises is prohibited.
Employer certification / accreditation badges