Overview
We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to join our dedicated, experienced and growing team of professionals as we embark on a journey of expansion.
You will deliver high-quality Occupational Therapy services to children and young people, supporting their daily occupational performance and functional skills. The role will focus on practical, evidence-based interventions including Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance (CO-OP), Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC), standardised body function assessments, and personalised strategies to enhance participation and independence in daily life.
This is a key leadership rolewithin our Childrens Occupational Therapy service. The postholder will:
* Deliver high-quality, evidence-based occupational therapy to children with physical needs, medical conditions or neurodevelopmental differences.
* Provide clinical leadership and supervision to members of the OT team, ensuring consistent, safe and effective service delivery.
* Carry a personal caseload, while overseeing assessment, therapy, and clinical decision-making across the team.
* Contribute to service development, evaluation and innovation within the OT pathway and across the wider charity.
Main duties of the job
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Pre-Assessment
* Lead the screening and triage of referrals, allocating cases across the OT team.
* Review pre-assessment clinical information to guide next steps.
* Respond to enquiries from caregivers, referrers and professionals about the OT service.
* Promote the scope and value of the OT service internally and externally.
2. Assessment and Evaluation
* Undertake specialist assessments (e.g. MABC, Beery VMI, Sensory Profile 2) to identify childrens strengths and barriers to occupational performance.
* Analyse assessment findings and determine onward referral needs (e.g. risk of Developmental Coordination Disorder).
* Supervise, oversee and quality assure assessments and reports completed by team members.
* Provide clear strategies and recommendations to support childrens daily occupations.
3. Intervention Planning and Delivery
* Deliver skilled, evidence-based interventions including:
* Occupational Performance Coaching (caregiver focussed).
* Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP).
* Functional skills training.
* Ensure therapy is occupation-centred (top-down) unless clear clinical reasoning supports alternative approaches.
* Provide clinical supervision and oversight of therapy delivered by team members.
About us
Caudwell Children aims to change peoples lives, change the way societyperceives and treats disabled and neurodivergent people, and change the waythat charities operate, through the provision of child-centred practical andemotional services, passionate campaigning, and demonstrating best practice. We believe in a world where disabled anddivergent children have the choice, opportunity, dignity, and understandingthey deserve.
Thanks to our generous donors, their ongoing support enables us tochange the lives of thousands of children every year. #jointhechange andhelp us in our mission!
We can offer:
* Flexible working patterns, with opportunities for virtual/home working
* Free on-site parking
* Holidays starting at 27 days plus bank holidays, increasing with lengthof service
* Employee Assistance Programme
* Charity worker discounts
* Eligible for Blue Light discount card
* Life assurance after 1 years service
* Pension via salary sacrifice
* Recommend a friend scheme
* Support with CPD, reflective practice, and extensive training anddevelopment
* Clinical and management supervision and support
* The chance to support and shape new services
* No out of hours, rota, or weekend work
* Award-winning purpose-built facilities in Keele, Staffordshire
Job responsibilities
Pre-Assessment
* Lead the screening and triage of referrals, allocating casesacross the OT team.
* Review pre-assessment clinical information to guide nextsteps.
* Respond to enquiries from caregivers, referrers andprofessionals about the OT service.
* Promote the scope and value of the OT service internally andexternally.
Assessment and Evaluation
* Undertake specialist assessments (e.g. MABC, Beery VMI,Sensory Profile 2) to identify childrens strengths and barriers tooccupational performance.
* Analyse assessment findings and determine onward referralneeds (e.g. risk of Developmental Coordination Disorder).
* Supervise, oversee and quality assure assessments andreports completed by team members.
* Provide clear strategies and recommendations to supportchildrens daily occupations.
Intervention Planning and Delivery
* Deliver skilled, evidence-based interventions including:
* Occupational Performance Coaching (caregiver focussed).
* Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance(CO-OP).
* Functional skills training.
* Ensure therapy is occupation-centred (top-down) unless clearclinical reasoning supports alternative approaches.
* Provide clinical supervision and oversight of therapydelivered by team members.
Collaboration and Communication
* Support, advise and coach parents, caregivers, teachers andprofessionals on childrens occupational performance needs.
* Communicate effectively across a wide range of media(reports, presentations, group sessions, video conferencing).
* Work collaboratively with MDT colleagues, service users andorganisational teams.
Documentation and Reporting
* Produce clear, well-reasoned clinical reports, includingrisk analysis relating to neurodevelopmental conditions.
* Provide quality assurance of team documentation and reports.
* Ensure accurate, timely recording of assessment,intervention and progress data.
* Support the development and refinement of the charitysclinical record system.
Professional Development
* Maintain up-to-date knowledge of research, policy and bestpractice in paediatric OT.
* Engage in supervision, CPD and reflective practice.
* Contribute to OT service evaluation, audit and researchprojects.
* Support training placements for student OTs.
Leadership
* Provide line management, clinical supervision and oversightof OT team members.
* Monitor and assure quality, safety and compliance with HCPC,RCOT and CQC standards.
* Lead on audits, outcome monitoring and service user feedbackprocesses.
* Develop team rotas, approve leave requests, and ensureservice cover.
* Support staff wellbeing, return-to-work processes, and CPDplanning.
* Lead and contribute to service developments andcross-charity projects.
Customer Care and Quality Assurance
* Involve children and families in service planning whereverpossible.
* Uphold dignity, respect, equality and diversity in allservice interactions.
* Promote opportunities for feedback and ensure complaints areaddressed appropriately.
* Maintain confidentiality and compliance with GDPR and dataprotection regulations.
Health & Safety
* Ensure compliance with organisational and statutory Health& Safety requirements.
* Conduct and oversee risk assessments, reporting andmitigating safety issues.
* Support safeguarding procedures and reporting in line withpolicy.
* Maintain professional appearance and safe use of equipment.
Resource Management
* Support recruitment, induction and retention of OT teammembers.
* Ensure effective use and security of physical, financial andinformation resources.
* Monitor equipment stock levels and schedule use of therapyspaces.
* Oversee working from home arrangements to ensureappropriate service cover.
General
* Adhere to professional standards (HCPC, RCOT) and maintainregistration.
* Demonstrate commitment to Caudwell Childrens mission,vision and values.
* Maintain professional portfolios and participate inappraisal processes.
* Uphold equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice.
* Work flexibly as required to support service delivery.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Occupational Therapy degree or equivalent.
* Current HCPC registration.
* Substantial experience working with children and families in a clinical OT capacity.
* Strong understanding of neurodevelopmental conditions and medical needs.
* Excellent clinical reasoning, assessment and intervention skills.
* Knowledge of safeguarding, Childrens Act 2004, and relevant legislation.
* Excellent teamworking, supervision and communication skills.
* Strong organisational, leadership and time management abilities.
* Flexibility, resilience and a positive, solution-focused approach.
* Commitment to equality, diversity, and the rights of children and families.
* Willingness and ability to travel as required.
* Membership of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
* Postgraduate training or CPD in childhood disability.
* Experience of delivering formal training to professionals and families.
* Knowledge of NHS and Social Care structures and services.
* Proven experience in clinical supervision and quality assurance.
* Understanding of audit, service evaluation and evidence-based practice.
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr