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Job overview
An exciting opportunity for a newly qualified or existing Band 5 Occupational Therapist with a genuine interest in working with children. Initially clinic-based, with opportunities to develop a community caseload as competencies grow. The role includes assessing coordination, daily living skills, child development, postural needs, and prescribing specialist equipment. You will support children with physical disabilities, developmental coordination disorder, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, and genetic conditions, alongside autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. Opportunities for rotational development across local paediatric OT services within the Trust are anticipated.
Main duties of the job
- Provide high-quality paediatric occupational therapy assessment, treatment and intervention for children and young people across a range of settings.
- Manage a caseload independently with clinical supervision, develop and implement care plans, assess and recommend specialist equipment, support functional participation, and work collaboratively with families, schools and multidisciplinary teams.
- Contribute to service development, training, EHCP assessments, safeguarding, governance and evidence-based practice while ensuring safe, effective and child-centred care.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Assess children’s functional, motor and coordination needs; deliver occupational therapy programmes; prescribe specialist equipment; develop care plans and monitor outcomes.
- Work in clinics, schools, homes and community settings.
- Train and support parents, school staff, therapy assistants and students.
- Complete EHCP reports and statutory documentation, maintain accurate records, communicate with partner agencies, and manage workload effectively.
- Participate in audits, research, service improvement, supervision and professional development.
- Ensure compliance with HCPC standards, safeguarding, confidentiality, health and safety, infection control and Trust policies.
Applicant requirements
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.
Person specification
Other
Essential
- The post holder will need to be passed fit to perform full duties of the post through occupational health with any reasonable aids and adaptations as necessary as the nature of children's practice will require the post holder to bend, stretch, lifts children's limbs, crawl, kneel, work in confined spaces and at times work from the floor employing light physical effort on day to day basis
- Satisfactory Disclosure of Barring Service
- Must hold full and valid driving licence and have access to a vehicle with insurance
- Able to communicate effectively in written and verbal English Language
Experience
Essential
- Experience working in multi-disciplinary or multi agency teams as a registered Occupational Therapist or whilst on a clinical placement
- Knowledge of child development and children's occupational therapy principles
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Strong organisational, time-management skills and caseload management
- Ability to travel independently for clinical visits across Norfolk
Desirable
- Experience of working in the community (registered or undergraduate)
- Experience leading/participating in workshops/lecturing
Communication
Essential
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work collaboratively with families, other professionals
- Ability to effectively communicate assessment findings and coach others to implement plans
Emotional Awareness
Essential
- Aware of the range of emotions in self and others
- Demonstrates empathy for the concerns of others
- Listens to and understands directly and indirectly expressed feelings
- Encourages others to express themselves openly
- Manages strong emotions and responds constructively to the source of problems
- Shows respect for others' feelings, views and circumstances
- In highly stressful situations keeps own feelings in check, takes constructive action and calms others down
- Has a range of mechanisms for dealings with stress, can recognise when to use them and does so
- Listens to personal comments without becoming defensive
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy (or equivalent)
- Registration with HCPC (or pending)
Desirable
- Experience working with children and young people in educational community, or healthcare settings
- RCOT membership
Personal and People Development
Essential
- Accept responsibility and accountability for own work and can define the responsibilities of others
- Recognises the limits of own authority within role
- Seeks and uses professional support appropriately
- Understands the principle of confidentiality
- Demonstrates professional curiosity
- Has a realistic knowledge of personal strengths and areas for development
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
Essential
- Broad range of core clinical experience at undergraduate or post graduate level, with the ability to transfer OT core skills to the OT process with children & young people
- Demonstrates an ability to problem solve in a clinical setting
- Basic ability to integrate theory and practise and demonstrate creative problem-solving
- Basic ability to critically reflect on and use evidence to develop best practice
Personal Attributes / Behaviours
Essential
- Demonstrates understanding of safeguarding issues
- Appreciates the significance of safeguarding and interprets this accurately for all individual children and young people/vulnerable adults whatever their life circumstances
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Children's Occupational Therapist with East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust in Norwich Community Hospital. It is listed as a Occupational Therapist role. The advertised salary is £32073.00 to £39043.00. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 22 Sep 2026.
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