Main area: Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist Health/ EHCP Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract 9 months (Fixed term contract for 9 months, to cover a maternity leave) Hours
* Full time
* Part time
37.5 hours per week Job ref 812-25-KWCYP41-B
Employer: Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site Peace Children's Centre (Watford) and Danestrete Health Centre (Stevenage) Town Watford Salary £47,810 - £54,710 per annum (pro rata) Salary period Yearly Closing 25/11/2025 23:59 Interview date 04/12/2025
Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist Health/ EHCP
NHS AfC: Band 7
Job overview
Due to maternity leave, Hertfordshire’s Children and Young People’s (CYP) Occupational Therapy Service is looking for a dynamic and motivated Occupational Therapist (OT) to fill a 9‑month fixed term post. Our service has dedicated specialist Band 7 posts to support CYP with health/occupational performance needs and we are seeking an experienced OT with relevant skills, training and experience in supporting CYP who have functional difficulties impacting their participation in daily life activities.
This 1 WTE post consists of community sessions in the Watford area and sessions within a special school in Stevenage, Lonsdale School.
You will be part of a friendly and supportive integrated therapies team (CYP Therapies), delivering a locally driven, needs led service; ensuring children and their families are at the heart of service delivery.
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust provides Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Services for families across the county. Our service is jointly commissioned by health and education, allowing us to provide a seamless pathway of care from early years through to schools, specialist provisions and further education settings.
Main duties of the job
You will:
* Be a qualified Occupational Therapist with HCPC registration
* Possess highly specialist knowledge & skills in working with CYP & their families/carers, who have a range of developmental, neurological and health conditions
* Deliver occupational therapy assessments and evidence‑based interventions to CYP in a variety of settings, e.g. mainstream and specialist provisions
* Provide clinical support to a team of health professionals
* Maintain strong links to professionals working in health, social care, Education and the Voluntary Sector
* Work collaboratively with members of the wider OT team in your locality area, and support more junior colleagues
We offer:
* A friendly team & a great place to work
* Regular managerial supervision and mentoring
* Professional supervision through Action Learning Sets
* Personal development planning & access to training to develop your CPD, leadership & management skills
* Structured induction period
Working for our organisation
We’re delighted that you’re exploring a career with HCT. As an organisation, we’re committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and rewarding work environment — one where you’ll feel valued and empowered to make a real difference.
At HCT, we put patients, their families, and carers at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is simple yet powerful: Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities. Our dedicated staff pride themselves on being Innovative, Caring, and Agile, working together to turn this vision into reality.
Working with us comes with a host of benefits designed to support your wellbeing and work‑life balance:
* Generous annual leave (27 days rising to 33 with long service)
* Flexible working arrangements to help balance personal and professional life, including up to 5 days of carers leave (pro rata)
* Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 confidential support for personal or work‑related issues
* Cycle to Work and Car Lease Schemes to make your commute healthier or easier
* Blue Light Card and NHS Discounts
* Health and wellbeing support, including free flu jabs, Physiotherapy referrals, eye care vouchers
* Enhanced sick pay above statutory entitlements
We celebrate diversity and actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds, ages, and communities to apply.
You’ve taken a fantastic first step by considering HCT. We’re excited about the possibility of welcoming you to our team and taking the next step in your journey with us.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached job description for more information about this role.
You will be joining a well‑established, supportive team of therapists and assistants. CYP Therapies at HCT pride themselves on the support we provide to staff. As a Highly Specialist OT you will have the opportunity to facilitate professional supervision groups and provide managerial supervision to less experienced colleagues.
The OT service is innovative and agile, and committed to delivering high quality care and transforming lives. The service is embedding health coaching and top‑down models into its care pathways, and is actively encouraging CPD to help develop these skills; as part of your role you will support the Clinical Quality Lead for OT in developing evidence‑based clinical pathways.
Successful candidates will be enthusiastic and motivated. Advanced communication, clinical reasoning and organisational skills are essential. You must be a team player but able to work autonomously and have the ability to champion the needs of children and young people.
If there’s high interest in this fixed‑term role, we may close applications earlier than the advertised deadline — so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Full valid driving licence and access to a car for business purposes are essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
In addition to the basic salary, this post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of basic salary subject to a minimum payment of £1,303 and a maximum payment of £2,198 per annum (pro rata where applicable and dependent on base location).
Applications for full time and part time work will be considered.
Word versions of documents are available if needed to allow for any adaptations to be made i.e. font, colour, background, convert to Read Aloud.
While it is not a legal requirement, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust encourages and supports all its staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID‑19.
HCT has been voted one of the top 100 NHS trusts to work for in the country. We are an Armed Forces‑friendly organisation and a menopause‑accredited employer.
If you have any questions about this role, please do not hesitate to contact Liesl Salters Brown, Clinical Quality Lead for Children’s OT on 07825 929688.
Interview date has been set for 04 December 2025.
Person specification
Qualifications and Training
* Highly specialist knowledge acquired through degree or equivalent qualifications, in sensory integration theory and assessment
* Continuing Professional Development evidenced by attendance at specialist postgraduate courses to maintain and develop own specialist knowledge and expertise.
* Recognised OT Qualification leading to registration with HCPC
* HCPC Licence to Practice
* Registered member of British Association of OT
* Supervision/Clinical Educators Course attendance
Experience and Knowledge
* Working knowledge of electronic patient record system
* Knowledge of current safeguarding procedures
* Evidence of involvement in service policy development in area of specialism
* Experience of working with different professional disciplines and agencies
* Experience of clinical supervision to a wide range of staff in area of specialism
* Knowledge of NHS, Education and social care policy and directives where these impact on area of specialism or service delivery
* Evidence of delivering training in area of specialism
* High level clinical skills including assessment and provision of equipment
* Experience of advising/providing second opinions
Skills and abilities
* Excellent communication skills both oral and written, including the ability to liaise and negotiate
* Knowledge of barriers to understanding & ability to explain complex issues simply
* Ability to establish positive relationships and mutual respect with people at all levels
* Able to analyse and interpret complex data
* Computer literate including use of Excel spreadsheets, databases and PowerPoint
* Ability to work for long periods whilst maintaining concentration
Other requirements
* Eligible to live and work in the UK
* Full, valid, UK driving licence and access to a car for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
* Experience and evidence of engagement around equality, diversity and inclusion issues in relation to policy, service development and service delivery in respect of both services to users and the management of staff
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band. All new appointments (excluding Medical & Dental roles) are subject to a 26‑week probation period.
We are proud to be an armed forces friendly employer and support the employment of the armed forces community, including veterans, spouses and partners.
Applications from qualified job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications, subject to you meeting minimum criteria of the role and salary threshold.
In submitting an application form, you authorise Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Electronic Staff Record Inter Authority Transfer process should you be appointed to the post.
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.
Name Liesl Salters Brown
Job title Clinical Quality Lead for Children’s OT
Email address liesl.saltersbrown@nhs.net
Telephone number 07825 929688
Additional information
Sophie Pullinger
West Operational Manager for CYP Therapies
07827883677
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