Employer: Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Site: Soho Health Centre, Town: Birmingham
Salary: £31,049 - £37,796 per annum (pro rata), Closing date: 12/01/2026 23:59
Band 5 Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Band 5
Job overview
Please note that this post will close once sufficient applicants have been received, so may be closed before the advertised closing date. Please submit your application as soon as possible.
Are you a newly qualified OT? Or an experienced Band 5 looking for a new challenge? Are you passionate about collaborative working with children in community settings? Then this may be the post for you.
Candidates should be enthusiastic and have excellent communication skills. They should be motivated to develop their skills for the benefit of children and families.
Main duties of the job
To provide Occupational Therapy, functioning in partnership with other agencies and disciplines to support the early identification of need.
To work as part of multidisciplinary and multi‑agency teams, to deliver specialist interventions according to the agreed service packages of care and pathways providing early intervention for children and young people.
To contribute towards ensuring children and young people with additional needs gain access to a broad, balanced and relevant education, whilst also having their exceptional needs met in an inclusive a way as possible.
To participate in providing support and reassurance to parents and families; develop and maintain effective parent partnership working and delivering the provision of a professional development framework for the wider workforce.
To be responsible for the assessment and on‑going therapeutic management of children in designated community and educational settings.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. Work as part of multidisciplinary and multi‑agency teams, providing early intervention for children and young people.
2. Enable and empower staff, parents/caregivers to identify children’s needs and provide strategies to help at the earliest opportunity.
3. Provide training and bespoke coaching to children and young people, early years/school staff and parents/caregivers.
4. Consult and work collaboratively with children and young people, parents, caregivers and school staff to problem‑solve functional difficulties.
5. Participate in meetings with staff from the wider SEND locality teams, as required, to support early identification of need, ensuring specialist help through locality forums.
6. Use specialist knowledge to inform clinical judgments and decision making.
7. Undertake differential diagnosis of cases and contribute to overall decision‑making for complex cases supported by colleagues.
8. Advise other professionals and parents/carers on the appropriate type and level of support needed to develop skills in the home / school environment.
9. Assess, provide and monitor the use of therapeutic equipment as required, liaising with other agencies and teaching parents or carers about health and safety issues surrounding the equipment to enable its safe use.
10. Using developed communication skills, explain complex and sensitive information from clinical assessment and therapy outcomes to clients, carers and multidisciplinary team members.
11. To assess and reassess the needs of the child, analysing and interpreting the information gathered to provide a diagnosis or contribute to the diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan, supported by colleagues.
See JD and person specification for more information.
Person specification
Qualifications
* Diploma / degree in Occupational Therapy
* Registered Occupational Therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council
* Full Membership of the professional body
Experience
* Relevant experience in an occupational therapy setting.
* Evidence of application of the OT process during practice placement in paediatrics and/or neurology and/or community.
* Evidence of CPD activities.
Skills & Knowledge
* Ability to communicate verbally in a manner appropriate to a variety of parties.
* Ability to generate written communication, which is relevant, concise, accurate and legible.
* Demonstrates awareness of and sensitivity to the needs of individuals from minority groups.
* Knowledge of different conceptual models of practice in occupational therapy.
* Awareness of recent clinical developments and professional issues.
* Understanding of the relevance of the principles of clinical effectiveness.
* Knowledge of normal development and its application in assessment and treatment.
Personal Qualities
* Demonstrate an ability to be flexible and participate in a changing NHS environment.
* Ability to demonstrate a commitment to multidisciplinary team working.
* Self‑motivation and initiative when working independently and in a variety of situations.
Other Job Requirements
* Ability to independently travel across the city, carrying all necessary equipment safely.
In accordance with UK Home Office requirements, Band 2 clinical and non‑clinical roles and Band 3 Non‑Clinical roles are not eligible for sponsorship.
The Trust will accept applications from candidates who can evidence their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes.
Disability Confident Employer and Guaranteed Interview Scheme
BCHC offers a guaranteed interview to any candidate who is Disabled, Neurodiverse, has a hidden or long‑term health condition as recognised under the Equality Act 2010, providing they meet the essential criteria of the job role.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
As part of our ongoing commitment to being a Great Place to Work, we actively foster and support a workplace culture that is inclusive and equitable for all staff, patients and service users.
Promoting Workforce Equality
In response to data held by BCHC which demonstrates that individuals from particular protected characteristics are under‑represented, BCHC are striving to redress these imbalances. In order to do this, the Trust is committed to the employment and career development of individuals with these protected characteristics.
Flexible Working
BCHC supports a variety of flexible working practices and, where possible, will actively consider requests made and support these where practicable.
Artificial Intelligence
BCHC acknowledges AI or Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini etc; are powerful tools that can help you in various stages of your job application and how they can be used in certain circumstances during your application process with BCHC. You can read more about acceptable use on our internet pages here.
Benefits of working for us
* Full NHS terms and conditions including extensive holidays, Agenda for Change pay with enhancements
* Attractive relocation payment if you relocate to the local area.
* Discounts for local and national retailers
* Dedicated well‑being services for all employees
* Flexible working where possible
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
**This job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can if interested**
Application contact
Name: Emma Gray
Job title: Service Clinical Manager for Occupational Therapy
Email: emma-jayne.gray@nhs.net
Telephone: 07935 701 146
Name: Lorraine Griffiths
Job title: Team Leader for Occupational Therapy
Telephone: 07753 316426
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