BHSCT Advanced Occupational Therapist Band 7

Job details

• Branch: Belfast HSCT
• Location: TBC – Within Belfast Trust
• Salary: Band 7 (£47,810 - £54,710)
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Opening Date: 14/07/26
• Closes: Tue, 28 July 2026 @ 4:30 PM
• Interview Dates: To be confirmed.

Notes

We accept online applications only. “A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026”. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week.” Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE

Advanced Occupational Therapist – For Looked After Children within the Trust’s Children’s Homes

BAND

DIRECTORATE

7

Children’s Community Services

LOCATION

Belfast Health & Social Care Trust

REPORTS TO

Head of Service for Residential and Edge of Care (Children’s Community Service - CCS)

ACCOUNTABLE TO

Director of Children’s Community Service

For Type of Contract: Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hrs per week

JOB SUMMARY/MAIN PURPOSE

The post holder will have a lead responsibility for the planning, design, delivery, development and evaluation of a specialist Occupational Therapist Therapy (OT) service for children and young people residing in residential care within the children’s homes, Belfast Health and social care Trust (BHSCT).

The Occupational Therapist will assess, provide interventions and support children/ young people referred to the Children’s Residential Homes Occupational Therapy service. Interventions will be focused on the promotion of independence in positive activities of daily living, education, leisure, health and social opportunities for clients who may present with learning or physically disability, mental health, social, emotional or behavioural difficulties.

The post holder will work as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team for Looked after Children (LAC) within the residential service within BHSCT. Children and Young people within residential care may exhibit the impacts of complex trauma histories such as attachment issues, emotional difficulties and challenging behaviours. Within residential care, the multidisciplinary team around the child provides team-based trauma, attachment and developmentally informed therapeutic planning and supports to residential childcare staff in line with the Northern Ireland Framework for Integrated Therapeutic Care. The post holder work in close collaboration with the Highly Specialist Psychologist to support residential staff and the wider network to ensure a whole system child centred approach.

The post holder will be operationally line managed by the Head of service for residential childcare. Professional and Clinical Supervision will be provided by the Occupational Therapy Clinical lead.

The post holder will work as part of the wider AHP and OT teams and in close liaison with Multidisciplinary Teams, statutory and voluntary agencies.

The post holder will be required to work flexibly this may involve weekends, evenings and weekends.

The post holder will contribute towards the on-going development of the Children’s Residential Homes AHP and Psychology resource and assist in the development of integrated multi-professional working within the framework of relevant competencies.

KEY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Main Responsibilities

To be responsible for providing an evidence-based service demonstrating the ability to use Occupational Therapy models as a framework to facilitate assessment, intervention planning, implementation and outcome measurement for Children looked After within residential care.

To provide a high level of clinical expertise in the screening, assessment, diagnosis and support of looked after children and young people within the residential childcare service with a broad range of OT needs in partnership with residential staff, Social work staff, Residential Psychology Lead, other relevant Health professionals / Educational providers and other external agencies as appropriate.

To manage a caseload of children/young people within the residential service associated co-morbidities and be able to employ discretion to adapt practices where required within the framework of evidence based practice.

To have a competent knowledge and skills base of specialist occupational therapy assessments and interventions.

In conjunction with the Head of service residential and Edge of care (CCS), Residential Psychology Clinical Lead and the Clinical Lead OT be responsible for the planning, design, implementation and evaluation of specialist advice, consultation and training for Trust staff, other agencies and carers as and when appropriate.

To liaise with other members of the multi-disciplinary team and other agencies to ensure an integrated trauma informed service in line with the Northern Ireland Framework for Integrated Therapeutic care (NIFITC).

To use expert clinical reasoning to assess how the client’s specific difficulties impact on their function in the occupational areas of self-care, productivity and leisure as well as their performance in the cognitive, inter/intra-personal, sensory and physical areas.

To plan, implement and evaluate occupational therapy interventions using a collaborative approach based on the child/ young person’s goals, aspirations, strengths and needs.

To undertake risk assessments including clinical presentation and behaviours and act in a specialist capacity when assessing the child/young person’s environment and its impact on functioning.

To promote self-management and empowerment to facilitate young people making positive occupational choices.

To liaise with other statutory and non-statutory services and outside agencies.

To provide appropriate training and/or advice, guidance and consultation to clients, carers, colleagues or other agencies as appropriate to the role.

To maintain appropriate written and electronic records, including up-to-date client records, care pathways (where utilised), written reports and care plans.

To attend relevant MDT meetings including referral, review, client update meetings, discharge planning and other clinical discussions.

To allocate clinical work to other Occupational Therapy staff commensurate with grade and monitor the professional standard of treatment provided.

To provide support, guidance, teaching and clinical supervision to junior qualified staff, Occupational Therapy Technicians and students where appropriate.

To provide education and support to the wider Children’s Residential Care Homes multidisciplinary team and child/ young people’s families to enhance therapeutic outcomes.

Clinical Responsibilities

To manage a caseload of children/young people within the residential Childcare service with a range of Occupational Therapy needs requiring specialist assessment and interventions to ensure interventions are of the highest and evidence based standards, with consideration given to all treatment options.

To undertake comprehensive standardised and non-standardised assessments of clients with a range of complex developmental, social and emotional needs. This will include advanced assessment of the client’s physical, cognitive, psychological, social and environmental levels of functioning and will require a sound knowledge of normal movement and occupational performance.

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own clinical and professional work, including management of children/young people in your care.

To prioritise and plan own workload to manage conflicting and competing priorities both clinically and professionally, to ensure client care and treatment is carried out in an efficient and timely manner in line with Trust priorities and procedures and statutory legislation.

To be responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management and delivery of the Occupational Therapy service.

To have an up-to-date working knowledge of all relevant legislation that applies to the delivery of occupational therapy services and children’s services.

To be competent in the appropriate use of a range of Occupational Therapy interventions and mediums, to include sensory based interventions.

To use a range of communication skills and modify written materials appropriate to the specific needs of the identified population.

To use advanced clinical reasoning, analytical and communication skills.

To use comprehensive assessment information to contribute towards Mental Capacity assessments and ‘Best Interest’ decision making as and where appropriate.

To provide comprehensive risk assessment. To appropriately assess and use advanced clinical reasoning to ensure consideration of: independence, risk, client choice and safety, eligibility for services and cost effectiveness.

Generic managerial responsibilities both within an operational and strategic

context.

To be actively involved in and to assist with implementation of service initiatives in collaboration with the residential service.

To continuously promote and participate in quality improvements through supervision, audit and other Continuing Professional Development activities, as appropriate to the needs of occupational therapy service and commensurate with Band 7 competencies in this role.

To maintain a Continuing Professional Development portfolio in accordance with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) requirements and monitor their own and those supervised, professional standards in accordance with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct, Professional Standards for Practice and the HCPC standards of Proficiency for Occupational Therapists.

.

To allocate and supervise the work of junior and support staff on a regular basis to improve practice and identify training needs.

To undertake the training of occupational therapy students whilst on fieldwork placement within the Trust.

To contribute to and participate in in-service training programmes, professional talks, lectures and working groups.

To be involved in and lead recruitment selection/retention for relevant staff.

To attend relevant occupational therapy, multi-disciplinary team and cross agency meetings and represent occupational therapy as required.

To undertake the collection of data for use in service audit research projects as required.

To have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self and those you supervise and to comply at all times with the requirements of health and safety regulations.

To adhere to the Trusts incident reporting policies and procedures at all times, co-operating with investigations undertaken in respect of this.

To comply with all Trust Policies and Procedures, including equal opportunities, safeguarding and manual handling.

To comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1994.

To attend mandatory induction and training courses as designated by the Trust.

To abide by regulatory body (HCPC) and professional body (RCOT) Standards of Proficiency, Conduct Performance & Practice at all times.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trust supports and promotes a culture of collective leadership where those who have responsibility for managing other staff:

Establish and promote a supportive, fair and open culture that encourages and enables all parts of the team to have clearly aligned goals and objectives, to meet the required performance standards and to achieve continuous improvement in the services they deliver.

Ensure access to skills and personal development through appropriate training and support.

Promote a culture of openness and honesty to enable shared learning.

Encourage and empower others in their team to achieve their goals and reach their full potential through regular supportive conversation and shared decision making.

Adhere to and promote Trust policy and procedure in all staffing matters, participating as appropriate in a way which underpins Trust values.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust’s Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The post holder will be required to

Assist the organisation in fulfilling its statutory duties under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to promote equality of opportunity and good relations and under the Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. Staff are also required to support the organisation in complying with its obligations under Human Rights Legislation.

Ensure the Organisation’s policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.

Co-operate fully with the implementation of The Organisation's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.

Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example

Smoke Free policy

IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct

Standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour

Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.

Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.

Take responsibility to minimise the Trust’s environmental impact wherever possible. This will include recycling, switching off lights, computers, monitors and equipment when not in use. Helping to reduce paper waste by minimising printing/copying and reducing water usage, reporting faults and heating/cooling concerns promptly and minimising travel.

All employees of the Organisation are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the [org name] policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.

Represent The Organisation’s commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within The Organisation's area, as needs of the service demand.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE AND BAND

Advanced Practitioner Occupational Therapist – Level 1- For Looked After Children, Children’s Residential Homes (Band 7)

DEPARTMENT / DIRECTORATE: Children’s Community Services

SALARY: Band 7

HOURS: Full Time – 37.5 hours per week

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Ideally no more than 6-8 criteria in this section

Method of Assessment

Qualifications

Registration

Hold a degree in Occupational Therapy or a Diploma of the College of Occupational Therapists from a World federation of Occupational Therapists recognised course

Hold or be eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (must be registered on appointment and prior to starting post).

Documented evidence of CPD activity including master’s level modules and / or recognized courses focusing on the assessment and treatment of children & young people experiencing the range of conditions related to the specialty e.g. Sensory Integration, Sensory Attachment, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Co-ordination Disorder

Shortlisting by Application Form

Experience

Minimum of 3 years post graduate experience as Band 6 Clinical Specialist working with children and young people in a multi-disciplinary setting.

Evidence of input into multi-disciplinary diagnostic process.

Shortlisting by Application Form

and

Interview

Other (e.g. Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Driving etc.)

Knowledge of Occupational Therapy assessment tools and intervention approaches.

Full UK driving license with access to a car on appointment. NB. This criteria will be waived in the case of an applicant whose disability prohibits driving but who is able to make suitable alternative.

Where disability prohibits driving, this criteria will be waived if the applicant is able to organise suitable alternative arrangements’

Shortlisting by Application Form

And

Interview

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities

Making high level clinical decisions dealing with complex scenarios requiring analysis, creativity and interpretation

Applied knowledge of specialist assessment and intervention for the client group within Children’s Residential Homes.

Interview

Knowledge

Highly developed specialist knowledge underpinned by theory and experience relating to children and adolescents with additional emotional and behavioural needs.

Knowledge of the Northern Ireland Framework for Integrated Therapeutic Care

Evidence of training and practice in sensory processing, sensory integration theory and sensory attachment theory.

Willingness to complete further post-graduate training relevant to post.

Interview

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

SECTION 3: these will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience

Extensive, relevant CPD

Interview

Qualifications

Sensory Integration Practitioner – post graduate certificate, diploma or MSc in Sensory Integration.

Interview

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for The Organisation to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

THE ORGANISATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants

May be required to attend for a Health Assessment

an expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.

Are able to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance