Overview
Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist role – secondment opportunity at Lighthouse Child Development Centre, Southend-on-Sea. You will join our paediatric therapy team and have the opportunity to develop into a specialist paediatric therapist within a supportive multi‑agency environment. The post is based at the Lighthouse Centre and may require travel to schools or home settings.
We are looking for a Band 6 Occupational Therapist; full‑time and part‑time hours will be considered. A Band 5 to 6 development post may also be suitable for applicants.
Responsibilities
* Perform advanced occupational therapy assessments of children with diverse presentations and complex physical and developmental conditions; develop and deliver individualised treatment plans; maintain accurate patient records. As an autonomous practitioner, manage your own caseload and a defined area of the service.
* Supervise, educate and assess the performance of Band 5 Occupational Therapists, 4 Therapy Assistants and students; contribute to evidence‑based audit and research projects; make recommendations to the clinical lead/manager for changes to practice.
* Provide specialist OT assessment, treatment and advice for children within Child Development Centres, mainstream and special schools, nurseries, and through visits to other services such as the wheelchair clinic; work as part of a multidisciplinary team with health, education and social care professionals.
* Contribute to SEND tribunal cases as required, providing specialist and evidence‑based recommendations in collaboration with colleagues in physiotherapy and education.
* Provide workshops and training packages to parents, children and young people’s workforce to build confidence in self‑management strategies.
* Supervise, train and performance‑manage junior and student OTs in children’s services; participate in development, maintenance and evaluation of the Children’s OT Service.
* Engage in service development activities and contribute to annual appraisal objectives and identified development needs, including joint consultations and shadowing.
What we offer
* A supportive team of experienced clinicians and assistants with a varied skill mix; opportunity to develop expertise in areas such as coordination difficulties, neuro‑developmental problems and sensory processing.
* Opportunities to develop presentation skills and multi‑agency working with education colleagues; training for parents, education staff and other professionals.
* Introduction of a tiered service approach as recommended by RCOT; ongoing professional development, supervision and CPD; clinical effectiveness days.
* Regular OT team meetings and access to departmental in‑service development programs.
* Staff benefits including Season Ticket Loans, NHS discounts, Flexible Day One Employer status, and the option to participate in the staff bank.
Requirements
* Band 6 equivalent; full‑time or part‑time considered; development post available for Band 5/6.
* Based at the Lighthouse Child Development Centre; travel to schools/home settings as required.
* Ability to work within a multi‑agency team; commitment to evidence‑based practice and service development.
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