Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Job overview
Are you an experienced Occupational Therapist with a passion for supporting children and young people?
Would you love to develop your skills in a supportive & genuinely integrated multi-disciplinary community team?
We have exciting opportunities to join our Children and Young People’s Integrated Therapy (CYPIT) West team due to staff progression. We’re looking for qualified OTs at Band 5 or 6 to join us in Reading, Wokingham or Newbury. You’ll have paediatric experience - post-qualification or from a placement.
These roles could be developmental Band 5-6 roles. You’d be well supported and valued via this route, with guaranteed progression to a Band 6 role on completion of competencies.
Working in CYPIT you will:
- Manage a diverse caseload supporting children and young people in mainstream schools and specialist education settings
- Help shape the universal and targeted training offered to families and schools to enable effective self-management
- Have structured development and mentoring from experienced paediatric OTs
- Join a collaborative team, committed to impact-based clinical decision making
You’ll also benefit from our clinical excellence forums and Trust-wide OT networks, with tailored training to help you thrive.
Our Trust is rated "Outstanding" by the CQC, who praise our positive supportive culture. We prioritise wellbeing and promote a great work-life balance.
Our core hours are Mon-Fri, 9-5. We welcome full time, part time, year-round and term time only applications.
Main duties of the job- Hold and manage a varied caseload of children and young people aged 0–19 across mainstream, special school, and specialist resource settings
- Deliver assessments, plan and provide individualised interventions, and review progress using an impact-based approach
- Collaborate with families, education staff, and the wider MDT to ensure joined-up, effective care
- Provide direct therapy as well as advice, support, and training to others supporting the child
- Maintain accurate records, contribute to care planning, and share updates with families and professionals
- Participate in regular supervision, peer support groups, and service-wide CPD and training events
- Receive mentorship and development support if joining as a Band 5, with a clear pathway to Band 6
- Represent the service positively and work as part of a compassionate, forward-thinking team
Applications for this role will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as vacancies may close early.
Working for our organisation
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust site
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The “must haves” for this role:
- Qualified Occupational Therapist registered with HCPC
- Experience working with Children and Young People
- Driver with access to a vehicle (or equivalent ability to travel between multiple sites efficiently)
For further information about the roles available, please see attached example job description and person specification.
We encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award.Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to contact Catherine Moulds on [email protected] who will be delighted to help.
Please note, we are processing applications as they are submitted so may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date. Therefore, please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential criteria- Professional Qualification E.g. Professional knowledge acquired through degree/ diploma supplemented by post graduate diploma specialist training, experience, short courses plus further specialist Training
- Able to demonstrate an understanding of the diverse needs of children and young people.
- Clinical educators’ course
- Member of relevant clinical specialist interest group
- Completion of Sensory Integration level 1
- Able to demonstrate required clinical knowledge of up to date children’s Occupational Therapy interventions and service issues
Training
Essential criteria- Recognised CPD in area of clinical specialism
- Able to demonstrate understanding of a neurodevelopmental approach to the management of CYP
- Experience with the assessment and provision of a range of adaptive equipment to support children and young people with a diverse range of cognitive and physical difficulties
- Post graduate clinical experience and working knowledge in specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapy with evidence of experience and/or specific training with regard to Sensory Processing, Handwriting, ADL, etc.
- Experience of supervision and training of junior therapists/ Assistant staff and/or other professionals
- Willingness to undertake leadership and management training and development
Previous Experience
Essential criteria- Minimum 1 years post qualification experience in adults or paediatrics
- Experience of working with families from a wide variety of backgrounds including age and ethnicity
- Experience of working with CYP with sensory processing difficulties including ASD, and supporting CYP with physical and/or learning difficulties
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria- Evidence of a value system which puts the child at the heart of actions
- Evidence of an understanding of the diverse needs of children and young people
- Able to demonstrate a clinical knowledge and familiarisation with a range of standardised and non-standardised assessment tools relevant to occupational therapy interventions
- Able to use IT to support and innovate clinical development
- Evidence of recent relevant CPD to a specialist level
- Excellent, succinct written and verbal communication skills
- Knowledge of current professional and statutory issues
- Ability to work across professional boundaries to effect seamless family care
- Ability to self motivate
- Ability to act as a role model and leader to others, in adopting change
- Evidence of experience with the assessment and provision of a range of adaptive equipment to promote function and independence
- Evidence of an understanding and application of Care Planning approaches, and evidence of a belief in its value
- Experience in managing less senior staff
- Ability to work in a calm and confident manner in stressful situations
- Ability to work successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Additional Requirements
Essential criteria- Car Driver with access to a car and willingness to work across Berkshire, as required
- Good interpersonal skills
These are the values that we live by at Berkshire Healthcare:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.
Please find attached the behaviour framework that underpins these values for this job role.
At Berkshire Healthcare, we foster an inclusive workplace where everyone belongs.
Watch our careers video to learn more.
We welcome talent from all backgrounds and offer guaranteed interviews to disabled applicants and armed forces community members who meet the minimum criteria.
Please note we may close positions before the advertised date.
If you need help with your application, please contact us on [email protected]
Once you have applied, please check your email regularly for updates. All appointments are subject to NHS Employment Checks, and false information may result in withdrawal of offers. For information on how we store your information, please review our privacy statement.
No agencies, please.