Job requirements
Requirements from the employer’s person specification. These describe the role, not your personal match.
Essential
16 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Experience
Experience of working with children and their families/carers in a family and child centred approach
- Experience
Experience of having taught peers / assistants / students
- Experience
Experience working in community settings, including a local authority in the UK
- Experience
Extensive experience of working with Early Years
- Experience
Has supervised junior staff / assistances / students
- Skills and Abilities
Ability to communicate effectively with children, parents and staff, incl. children with significant communication difficulties
- Skills and Abilities
Excellent report writing skills, including record keeping
- Skills and Abilities
Good organisational and time management skills
- Skills and Abilities
Ability to facilitate others to deliver OT treatment programmes
- Education and Qualification
OT Degree/Diploma
- Education and Qualification
HCPC registration
- Education and Qualification
Post-qualification paediatric training
- Education and Qualification
Evidence of self-directed learning and CPD
- Knowledge and Understanding
Demonstrate a clear understanding of OT skills in relation to children with disabilities
- Knowledge and Understanding
Excellent clinical knowledge and well established OT assessment and treatment skills
- Knowledge and Understanding
Commitment to service development
Desirable
13 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Experience
Postural management and equipment skills and experience
- Experience
Experience of working with children with Autism and ADHD
- Skills and Abilities
Experience of delivery coaching and co-op approaches to interventions.
- Skills and Abilities
Experience of delivery parent groups in relation to sensory and functional needs.
- Skills and Abilities
Experience participating in or leading on audits.
- Education and Qualification
Bobath/Neurodevelopmental training
- Education and Qualification
Postural management training
- Education and Qualification
Equipment and adaptations training
- Education and Qualification
Sensory training
- Knowledge and Understanding
Knowledge of children’s normal developmental milestones and experience of working with developmental checklists
- Knowledge and Understanding
Knowledge of specialist equipment and adaptations
- Knowledge and Understanding
Knowledge of Sensory strategies and interventions
- Knowledge and Understanding
Knowledge of Neurodevelopment input
Job overview
Specialist Children’s Occupational Therapist – Early Years Lead
An exciting opportunity has arisen in our team for an Occupational Therapist (OT) with children’s OT experience. We are looking for a children's OT to lead on the development of a high quality OT service for Early years.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and experienced OT to join our innovative Children’s OT service We are based in a modern Children’s Development Centre promoting multi-disciplinary team (MDT) working. Along with clinical work the post holder will also supervise junior members of the team and OT students also assisting with and lead on service developments. The post holder will also receive supervision and support by senior members of the team. ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: - A Diploma / Degree in Occupational Therapy - State registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) - Experience working with early years children with disabilities in a community OT setting
Main duties of the job
The post holder will act as a source of clinical expertise and advice on Occupational Therapy input for Early years children within the Children’s Occupational Therapy team and for other health professionals and colleagues working within external agencies.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
***Please see the attached supporting document which contains more information about the role in the job description and person specification***
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.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Specialist Children’s Occupational Therapist – Early Years lead with Croydon Health Services NHS Trust in Croydon, England. It is listed as a Band 7 Occupational Therapist role. The advertised salary is £55,524 - £62,652 p.a incl of HCAS. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 28 Sep 2026.
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