Employer Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Talbot Special School Town Sheffield Salary £38,682 - £46,580 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 07/07/2025 23:59 Interview date 15/07/2025
Specialist Occupational Therapist
NHS AfC: Band 6
Job overview
Fixed Term: 12 months | Full-time | Proposed interview date Tuesday 15th July 2025
We are looking for a dedicated, compassionate, and experienced Occupational Therapist to join our Special Schools team in Sheffield. In this rewarding role, you'll provide high-quality occupational therapy care to children and young people with a variety of conditions, working across school and community settings. You'll play an important part in both therapy sessions and daily school life, making a lasting difference to the lives of children and their families.
What you'll bring:
HCPC registered Occupational Therapist
Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
Demonstrated post-graduate experience, ideally with children
Strong communication skills and a collaborative approach
A reflective practitioner with a passion for inclusive, child-centred care
Main duties of the job
Reporting into the Special Schools Team Leader, your responsibilities will include:
Deliver high-quality OT assessment and intervention in schools, homes, and the Child Development Centre
Work as part of a multi-professional team including OT, physiotherapy, and education staff
Develop individualised treatment programmes and provide accurate diagnoses related to OT needs
Manage a delegated caseload of children and young people within the special schools team under supervision
Contribute to school life, supporting integration and participation of pupils
Join us and help shape brighter futures!
Working for our organisation
At Sheffield Children’s, our purpose is clear: to provide healthier futures for children and young people. Our three strategic aims are Outstanding Patient Care, Brilliant Place to Work, and Leaders in Children’s Health.
We work with partners across local, regional, and national levels to deliver physical and mental healthcare in both acute and community settings. Many of our clinicians are nationally and internationally recognised for their expertise.
We’re proud that 73% of colleagues would recommend Sheffield Children’s as a place to work, placing us among the top five NHS trusts in England — and the top-ranked trust in the North East and Yorkshire — in the latest NHS Staff Survey.
Our nearly 4,000 colleagues bring our CARE values — Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence — to life every day, creating a kind, welcoming environment where patients and families feel safe and supported.
As we approach our 150th anniversary in 2026, we’re excited to keep building our leadership in children's health, improve experiences for patients and staff, and focus on our communities and population health.
We also offer excellent benefits to support your wellbeing, with generous annual leave and pension schemes, health and wellbeing programmes, and exclusive discounts — helping you thrive at work and beyond.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.
Please note that Sheffield Children's uplift pay to meet the Real Living Wage, which is £12.60 per hour.
Diversity Statement
At Sheffield Children’s, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyone’s success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members.
Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at scn-tr.recruitment.team@nhs.net. Together, we’re building a workplace where everyone belongs.
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Person specification
Qualifications and Training
* HCPC registration
* Diploma / Degree in Occupational Therapy
* Portfolio evidence of reflective practice
* An under-graduate case study, essay or dissertation on a paediatric topic
* Good overall clinical record / profile
* Membership of the RCOT
Experience
* Experience of team working
* Experience of working with children, either professionally or socially
* Experience of providing supervision and/or appraisal (e.g. students, un-registered staff, junior colleagues)
* Evidence of extra responsibilities taken at undergraduate level
* Involvement in audit, research or service evaluation.
* Experience of working in the community / lone working
* Experience of working in paediatrics as a registered OT or during undergraduate study
Knowledge
* Understanding of the legal responsibilities of the profession
* Knowledge of clinical governance and it’s implications for services
* Awareness of own limitations
* Understanding of family / team dynamics and how to develop working relationships with all involved in the child’s care
* Understanding of data protection, confidentiality and health and safety requirements in meeting the needs of the child and family
* Understanding of the impact of disability on children and their families
* Knowledge of consent issues specific to paediatrics.
* Simple research methodology.
* Knowledge of current NHS issues
* Background knowledge of paediatric neuro disability
Skills and Attributes
* Demonstrate assessment, analytical and reflective skills
* Basic Information Technology skills
* Planning and organisation skills
* To demonstrate the ability to carry out assessment and interventions, including manual therapy and therapeutic handling
* Ability to present information, written and verbal in a clear and logical manner
* Ability to keep accurate and legible clinical records
* Ability to cope working in a stressful environment and within emotional or challenging situations. Problem solving approach
* Ability to communicate effectively and work well within a multi-professional team
* Evidence of having undertaken some research or audit project
Attributes
* A flexible approach to work
* Demonstrate a passion to work with children with disabilities
* Demonstrate enthusiasm and a willingness to learn
* Demonstrate resilience and empathy
* Access to a vehicle that can be used for work purposes
* Understanding of the importance of patient and public involvement in service planning and delivery High level of interpersonal skills.
* Reliable, punctual, flexible
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 Jo Aplin-ward Job title Clinical Team Leader Special Schools Team Email address jo.aplin-ward@nhs.net Telephone number 0114 2769543
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