Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Job summary
Band 7 Children’s Occupational Therapist, Russet House Special Needs School
Hrs: Part time ,15hrs/week.
Contract: Permanent
Job Overview
We are a dynamic, friendly OT team who report high levels of job satisfaction. We offer a professionally led service with direct support from an OT Clinical Lead Specialist, monthly in-service team training, effective supervision, and External Training opportunities through the Trust.
An exciting opportunity has risen for a highly motivated Occupational Therapist who wishes to develop specialist skills in Paediatrics within a supportive team. We are looking for a creative, friendly, and enthusiastic OT to join our established Children’s Team. We are located within easy commuter links from central London/Hertfordshire.
This is an OT post based at Russet House Special School. Russet House is a primary school for autistic children aged 3 to 11 with Special Educational Needs.
The role will include staff/parent training and class-based provision as well as specialist individual work. You will also be providing OT support to Russet House School families in the school holidays.
Please see job description for further details.
Main duties of the job
To work within the Russet House school OT team to develop and provide Occupational Therapy services for Pupils who attend Russet House School (a maintained special school for Autistic Pupils, 3-11 years) both at home and school.
To provide high quality child centred, occupationally focused assessment and intervention to Russet House Pupils school pupils and their families.
To work with the OT team and school Leadership to plan and develop the OT service into Russet House school working at a Universal, Targeted and Specialist level.
To contribute to and lead on aspects of planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating the Children’s Occupational Therapy Service. To contribute to and lead on specified service improvements in relation to the post and quality initiatives within the team.
To work as an autonomous practitioner with access to supervision.
To supervise, appraise and train Pupils and junior staff as required.
To work effectively and flexibly within an interdisciplinary framework in a multidisciplinary and multi-agency environment, including working with teachers, community providers, social workers, SLT, psychologists, dieticians, paediatricians, physiotherapists, and other professionals
To be flexible to the demands of the service in regard to location of work and area of clinical specialism.
Person Specification
Values
Essential
- oDemonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values
Education & professional Qualifications
Essential
- oDip. COT or BSc OT or international equivalent
- oHCPC registered Occupational Therapist
- oEvidence of Continued Professional Development
Desirable
- oMember of BAOT
- oManual Handling
- oC.P.R.
- oFieldwork Education Certificate
- oRelevant courses and/or experience equivalent to Master’s level
Experience
Essential
- oExtensive postgraduate clinical experience of Occupational Therapy
- oExtensive relative experience and practise in Children’s Occupational Therapy including experience of working with Children and Young People (CYP) with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- oStrong desire to work with students with Autistic Spectrum Disorder
- oGood knowledge of current best practice in Occupational Therapy
- oA good understanding of the importance of evidence base practice and how it applies to clinical practice oSound knowledge of child development and childhood occupations oExperience of child centred practice and goal setting with families and school staff
- oGood knowledge of current best practice in Occupational Therapy
- oA good understanding of the importance of evidence base practice and how it applies to clinical practice
- oSound knowledge of child development and childhood occupations
- oExperience of child centred practice and goal setting with families and school staff oExperience of working closely with the Education sector including school staff within a special school setting.
- oExperience in completing Education Health Care assessments and writing good quality EHCP reports.
- oSpecialist knowledge & application of OT Assessments (Standardised and Non-Standardised) & Interventions relevant to client group.
- oKnowledge of evidence-based treatment approaches relevant to clinical area (e.g. Co-Op, Parent Coaching)
- oUnderstanding and practical experience of using outcome measures
- oExtensive experience of working within a Multi-Agency Team
- oExperience of service development.
- oAbility to incorporate principles of Clinical Governance into day to day workload.
- oExperience in supervising & teaching junior staff & Students
- oUnderstanding of risks involved in work in the community and clinical settings
- oWell established knowledge of national policies, procedures and legislation relevant to Children’s Occupational therapy (including Safeguarding).
- oAn excellent awareness of current issues and developments within the NHS and Education and how this relates to and impacts on service delivery.
- oGood understanding of The SEND Code of Practice, Education Health Care Plans and the legislation that supports them.
Desirable
- oExtensive postgraduate clinical experience of Occupational Therapy
- oExtensive relative experience and practise in Children’s Occupational Therapy including experience of working with Children and Young People (CYP) with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- oStrong desire to work with students with Autistic Spectrum Disorder
- oGood knowledge of current best practice in Occupational Therapy oA good understanding of the importance of evidence base practice and how it applies to clinical practice
- oSound knowledge of child development and childhood occupations
- oExperience of child centred practice and goal setting with families and school staff
- oExperience of working closely with the Education sector including school staff within a special school setting.
- oExperience in completing Education Health Care assessments and writing good quality EHCP reports. oSpecialist knowledge & application of OT Assessments (Standardised and Non-Standardised) & Interventions relevant to client group.
- oKnowledge of evidence-based treatment approaches relevant to clinical area (e.g. Co-Op, Parent Coaching) oUnderstanding and practical experience of using outcome measures oExtensive experience of working within a Multi-Agency Team oExperience of service development. oAbility to incorporate principles of Clinical Governance into day to day workload.
- oExperience in supervising & teaching junior staff & Students oUnderstanding of risks involved in work in the community and clinical settings
- oWell established knowledge of national policies, procedures and legislation relevant to Children’s Occupational therapy (including Safeguarding). oAn excellent awareness of current issues and developments within the NHS and Education and how this relates to and impacts on service delivery. oGood understanding of The SEND Code of Practice, Education Health Care Plans and the legislation that supports them.
Skills and aptitudes
Essential
- oExcellent communication skills both oral and written, including the ability to liaise and negotiate
- oDemonstrate ability to work as an effective team member
- oAbility to organise & respond effectively to complex information.
- o Excellent analytical and critical appraisal skills.
- o OT expertise in the management of service users with highly complex/special needs, utilizing advanced assessment and clinical reasoning skills to plan treatment o Ability to laterally think and problem solve
- o Ability to effectively promote self and the OT profession.
- o Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner
- o Clinical leadership and supervision skills
- o Ability to organise and prioritise own and others workloads within a busy and pressured environment
- o Ability to cope with working in a stressful environment and with potentially emotional or aggressive clients/carers
- o Good computer literacy skills o Ability to keep accurate documentation
Desirable
- oExcellent presentation & training skills.
- oAppraisal skills
- oTeam leadership skills
Personal Qualities & attributes
Essential
- oAbility to meet the demands of the post including possible out of borough travel
- oAbility to work sensitively with a multicultural and diverse population with a commitment to non-discriminatory practice
- oThorough understanding of own personal development and learning needs
- oEvidence of being a pro-active and supportive team member
- oDemonstrate a strong commitment to family centred care and co-production.
other
Desirable
- oAbility to meet the demands of the post including possible out of borough travel
- oAbility to work sensitively with a multicultural and diverse population with a commitment to non-discriminatory practice oDemonstrate a strong commitment to family centred care and co-production.
- oThorough understanding of own personal development and learning needs
- oEvidence of being a pro-active and supportive team member
Closing Date: 23 August 2026
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