Children’s Occupational Therapist
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
The closing date is 07 July 2026
Band 6 Occupational Therapist needed to join our dynamic team delivering paediatric occupational therapy across County Durham and Darlington. The role involves assessments, interventions, and coordination with families and multidisciplinary teams.
The post will be based within the South Durham area – currently at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.
Main duties of the job
Within this role, the successful candidate will be expected to:
- Provide high‑quality occupational therapy assessments and intervention programmes for children and young people.
- Assess for and recommend major and minor home adaptations as part of the social care remit.
- Work collaboratively with children, parents, caregivers and professionals across health, education and social care sectors.
- Practice autonomously, managing a varied and complex caseload with support from the local OT team.
- Contribute to training packages for parents, carers and colleagues and engage in continuous professional development, appraisal and supervision.
- Lead service development and quality improvement initiatives.
- Maintain accurate clinical documentation, case records and professional reports.
- Supervise student occupational therapists and therapy assistants.
About us
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest integrated care providers in England, serving a population of around 600,000. We provide hospital services from two acute sites and a range of community settings across the region. Our paediatric occupational therapy service offers excellent clinical support and opportunities for continued professional development.
Job responsibilities
Clinical requirements and responsibilities include:
- Be professionally and legally accountable for children in your care.
- Carry out skilled assessment of children with diverse or complex needs.
- Develop and deliver outcome‑focused, individualized therapy programmes based on evidence‑based practice.
- Manage children with particular conditions under delegated responsibility from Team‑Lead OTs.
- Formulate accurate prognoses and recommend optimal interventions.
- Communicate effectively, adapting to children with communication or cognitive barriers.
- Evaluate and adjust treatment programmes as progress is reviewed.
- Priorise children’s health and wellbeing and raise safeguarding concerns through proper channels.
- Supervise assistants and students in line with professional and service standards.
- Represent the OT service in multi‑agency meetings and integrate therapy into the multidisciplinary programme.
- Maintain competency through CPD and keep a portfolio of development.
- Participate in staff appraisal schemes, research projects, audits and outcome measurement as directed by senior therapists.
- Act as deputy for OT staff, managing caseloads and organising duties in their absence.
- Ensure safe use of equipment, appliances and aids and that assistants are competent.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Diploma, BSc or MSc in Occupational Therapy
- Specialist postgraduate clinical experience in Occupational Therapy practice related to a field such as Neurology, Paediatrics, Learning Disabilities or Social Care
Special Requirements
- Ability to travel independently across the County.
- Valid full UK driving licence for driving posts.
Special Skills and Knowledge
- Proven ability to communicate effectively about a client’s health and social care needs, including written and verbal reports.
- Excellent presentation skills.
- Ability to prioritise workload and meet timescales.
- Specialist skills in postural management, fine and gross motor skills, handwriting development, and provision of aids and adaptations.
- Knowledge of sensory development and related difficulties in children and young people.
Experience
- 2 years post‑registration clinical experience as a Band 5 or Band 6 OT in a health or community setting.
- Experience in social care OT interventions such as specialist aids and environmental advice/adaptations.
- Clinical experience with children and young people with additional or complex needs.
Statutory Registration
- Qualified Occupational Therapist registered with H.C.P.C.
- Member of relevant specialist sections of RCOT or participation in Special Interest Groups in a related field.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post requires a Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 per annum, pro‑rata.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and BAME candidates.
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