Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist – Autism: Sponsorship Available

  • Full Time
  • United Kingdom
  • 50,129 to 57,365 £ / Year

Hywel Dda University Health Board

Job summary

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Specialist Occupational Therapist to join our innovative and forward-thinking Children’s Neurodevelopmental Service.The successful candidate will play a key role in providing diagnostic assessment and time-limited support for autistic children and young people across Hywel Dda University Health Board.

Our Neurodevelopmental Service is a small, friendly, and supportive multidisciplinary team comprising dedicated professionals who share a common vision of improving outcomes for autistic children, young people, and their families.

The ideal candidate will:

– Demonstrate a strong interest in autism and neurodivergence.

– A genuine passion for supporting neurodivergent children and young people.

– Have experience of collaborative and multidisciplinary working.

– Be committed to improving outcomes for children, young people, and families.

– Possess excellent communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills.

– Thrive in a busy environment and be able to manage competing demands effectively.

– Show enthusiasm for developing specialist knowledge and skills within neurodevelopmental services.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a passionate team committed to innovation, collaboration, and delivering meaningful support to neurodivergent children and young people across West Wales.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work as an autonomous Practitioner within the Neurodevelopmental service undertaking skilled diagnostic assessments,time limited post diagnostic interventions and discharge management of children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. They willmanage a caseload that includes complex developmental, behavioural and communication disorders, mental health issues and transition fromchildren’s services.

The post holder will be responsible for planning, organising, and implementing highly specialist occupational therapy provision within the Children’s Neurodevelopmental Service, working closely with the Team Leader and Clinical Lead to ensure effective, evidence-based service delivery and evaluation using outcome measures. The post-holder will support the Health Board Lead for ASD in the implementation and monitoring of National and Local Policies, including NICE and other good practice documents and contribute to the development of training/educational material and delivery of specialist training or educational workshops relating to Autism and Neurodiversity. There will also be a requirement to work alongside other Occupational Therapy Departments within the organisation.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

Essential

  • Degree/ diploma in Occupational Therapy
  • HCPC Registration
  • Master’s level qualification in related field or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of continued professional development
  • In-depth knowledge of Autism and the needs of children, young people and their families
  • Well-established specialist knowledge and/or training of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to ASD
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to Mental Health, trauma, Autism, Learning Disabilities across health, social care and education
  • Knowledge of strategic direction and legislation in relation to Autism on a local and national level
  • Knowledge of NICE guidelines

Desirable

  • Evidence of formal training and experience in the use of DISCO, ADIR, ADOS or 3DI Autism assessment tools
  • Group work Certificate
  • Supervision Certificate/Experience
  • Teaching Qualification/Experience
  • Member of BAOT
  • Evidence of specialist post graduate training in Sensory Processing

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial experience within children’s services, working with individuals on the Autism Spectrum
  • Evidence of clinical experience in providing OT assessment and interventions for autistic children and young people
  • Experience of supervising staff
  • Experience of working across a range of agencies and experience of providing consultation advice and support to professionals and stakeholders

Desirable

  • Experience of delivering training
  • Experience in data collection and analysis
  • Experience of developing and implementing new systems, packages of care or service provision

Other

Essential

  • Ability to travel between sites in a timely manner
  • Flexible approach to service delivery

Desirable

  • Welsh Speaker (Level 1)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 2 November 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.