Trac proudly powers the recruitment for
Whittington Health NHS Trust
About
Whittington Health NHS Trust aims to help local people live longer and healthier lives by providing safe, personal, coordinated care for the community we serve.
We provide hospital and community care services to 500,000 people living in Islington and Haringey as well as other London boroughs including Barnet, Enfield, Camden and Hackney. As one organisation providing both hospital and community services, we are known as an ‘integrated care organisation’.
We have an income of £350 million and over 4,400 staff delivering care across north London.
Our priority is to provide the right care, at the right time and in the right place for our patients. We provide a large range of services from the hospital, including accident and emergency (A&E), maternity, diagnostic, therapy and elderly care. We also run services from 30 community locations in Islington and Haringey. Over the past year we have reviewed and developed services to make them stronger and better support the needs of patients.
As an integrated care organisation we bring high quality services closer to home and speed up communication between community and hospital services, improving our patients’ experience. Key to our approach is partnering with patients, carers, GPs, social care, mental health and other healthcare providers.
Our organisation has a highly-regarded educational role. We teach undergraduate medical students (as part of UCL Medical School) and nurses and therapists throughout the year, alongside providing a range of educational packages for postgraduate doctors and other healthcare professional.
Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist
Accepting applications until: 14-Oct-2026 23:59
Vacancy status: Open
Accepting applications until: 14-Oct-2026 23:59
Key details
Location
- Site
- The Bridge Schools (Inclusion Bases)
- Town
- Islington
- Postcode
- N7 9LD
- Major / Minor Region
- London
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 22.5 hours per week
Salary
- Salary
- £58,133 - £65,261 Per Annum (Per Rata) Including HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (NHS AfC: Band 7)
Specialty
- Main area
- Occupational Therapy
Please note in order to progress your application, your data will be processed by our 3rd party recruitment providers – North London Partners Shared Service, who conduct recruitment activities on behalf of Whittington Health NHS Trust.
For our current apprenticeship vacancies, please go to https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship and use Keyword ‘Whittington’
By applying for this role, you accept in the event you are successful that your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which is aimed at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of technology that can perform various tasks that typically required human intelligence. Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role.
We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it’s important that examples and responses genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.
Further guidance can be found in the NLPSS Applicant Toolkit https://royalfree.pagetiger.com/cuuomnr/1.
Whittington Health NHS Trust is committed to ensuring that its recruitment processes are carried out with integrity, transparency, and fairness for all applicants. To help maintain these standards, we ask candidates to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the recruitment process.
If incorrect or misleading information is identified, this may affect the progression of an application, any employment offer, or continued employment. As part of our due diligence, the company may verify the information provided by applicants and take appropriate action where necessary.
We do not charge applicants any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including applications, interviews, sponsorship arrangements, pre-employment checks, or employment offers. All vacancies are advertised through TRAC/NHS Jobs and candidates are assessed solely on their skills, qualifications, experience, and suitability for the role. If you are asked to make a payment in connection with an NHS job opportunity, please treat this as suspicious and contact the organisation directly using the details published on our official career's website.
Applicants can refer to the Fraud Act 2006 for further information: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/35/contents
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen to make a positive impact within The Inclusion Bases within the London Borough of Islington. This newly created post will support a caseload of Primary Aged Children with complex learning needs, the majority of whom have a diagnosis of Autism.
Islington Additional Needs and Disability Service (IANDS) provides a multi-agency team approach to working with babies, children and young people who present with a wide range of needs. The postholder will work within a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment, including other Allied Health Professionals, specialist teachers, social workers, psychologists, therapy assistants, nurses and Paediatricians.
The post holder will deliver a highly specialist Occupational Therapy service to children and young people with Education Health and Care Plans within the Islington Additional Needs and Disability Service who have autism, learning disabilities and/or other complex developmental needs affecting participation, learning and engagement. The role will adapt specialist occupational therapy approaches across a tiered service model. This post holder will be based within the Special Schools Team, working primarily at Inclusion Bases within the Islington borough, and may also be involved in supporting the development and delivery of Occupational Therapy interventions to support children & young people with complex needs in other settings.
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The post holder will manage a specialist caseload, providing assessment, intervention, review and coordinated multidisciplinary working to support children to achieve meaningful occupational outcomes across school, home and community environments. Working closely with children, families, educational staff and partner agencies, they will contribute to target setting, annual reviews, Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) processes, and the development of Individual Support Plans. They will also deliver Occupational Therapy provision stipulated within EHCPs.
A key aspect of the role will be working closely with education staff within the Inclusion Bases to support the implementation of Occupational Therapy strategies and interventions within daily classroom routines and activities. The post holder will model practical approaches, provide advice and training, and work collaboratively with staff to develop their knowledge and confidence in meeting the needs of children with complex needs within the settings.
In addition to delivering clinical interventions, the post holder will coordinate Occupational Therapy provision across the two inclusion-base settings, working collaboratively with school leaders, school improvement partners and multidisciplinary colleagues to identify emerging needs, promote consistency of practice, monitor outcomes and evaluate the impact of the service.
Working for our organisation
We have an excellent reputation for being innovative, responsive and flexible to the changing clinical needs of the local population. We are treating more patients than ever before and are dedicated to improving services to deliver the best for our patients.
Our mission
Helping local people live longer, healthier lives.
Our vision
Provide safe, personal, co-ordinated care for the community we serve.
Our goals
We have developed six key strategic goals to make sure we continue to support people to live longer, healthier lives.
- To secure the best possible health and wellbeing for all our community
- To integrate and coordinate care in person-centred teams
- To deliver consistent, high quality, safe services
- To support our patients and users in being active partners in their care
- To be recognised as a leader in the fields of medical and multi-professional education, and population-based clinical research
- To innovate and continuously improve the quality of our services to deliver the best outcomes for our local population
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To demonstrate highly specialist knowledge and skills in supporting children and young people with complex developmental needs, including autism, learning disabilities, sensory processing differences, social, emotional and mental health needs, and behaviours that may impact participation and engagement.
To maintain high standards of evidence-based occupational therapy practice, using appropriate assessment tools, outcome measures and clinical reasoning to inform intervention planning and evaluation.
To undertake specialist occupational therapy assessment, using standardised and non-standardised approaches to identify strengths, needs and barriers to participation across home, school and community environments.
To establish child-centred and functional goals in partnership with children, families, educational staff and other professionals.
To develop, implement and review individualised Occupational Therapy intervention plans that promote participation, independence, wellbeing and access to learning.
To select and deliver appropriate Occupational Therapy interventions, balancing clinical need, risk, safety, child and family preferences, and available resources.
To deliver individual and group interventions using meaningful, graded and occupation-focused activities to achieve identified outcomes.
To ensure informed consent is obtained and that children, young people and families have a clear understanding of assessment findings, recommendations and proposed interventions.
To utilise advanced clinical reasoning to analyse complex presentations, prioritise needs and determine appropriate intervention pathways.
To formulate and deliver specialist intervention programmes which may include environmental adaptations, sensory-based approaches, equipment provision, functional skill development, home programmes and recommendations for school-based support.
To work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues to coordinate assessment, intervention and review processes for children with complex needs.
To adapt Occupational Therapy practice to meet the individual circumstances, strengths and needs of each child and young person.
To maintain knowledge of current educational policy, SEND legislation and inclusive practice, incorporating these into clinical decision-making.
To apply specialist knowledge of medical, developmental and neurodevelopmental conditions when assessing needs and recommending adaptations to physical, social and learning environments.
To provide specialist advice, guidance and training to parents, carers, educational staff and other professionals to support implementation of occupational therapy recommendations.
To work closely with Inclusion Base and school staff to model therapeutic approaches, support implementation of strategies and develop staff confidence in meeting the needs of children with complex needs.
To liaise with educational colleagues regarding joint target setting, annual reviews, EHCP processes and staff development activities.
To utilise knowledge of health, education, social care and voluntary sector services to ensure timely referrals and coordinated support.
To contribute to Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments, Education, Health and Care Plans and annual review processes as required.
To assess for and recommend specialist equipment, environmental adaptations and assistive resources where appropriate.
To assess, manage and document clinical risk, ensuring compliance with Trust policies, safeguarding procedures, moving and handling requirements and lone-working guidance.
To work autonomously across community and educational settings, exercising professional judgement in complex situations.
To communicate effectively and sensitively with children, families, colleagues and partner agencies regarding clinical care, service delivery and support planning.
To communicate complex and sensitive information in a clear and accessible manner, taking account of communication differences and individual needs.
To establish and maintain effective relationships with children, families and professionals, including those experiencing distress, uncertainty or challenging circumstances.
To motivate and support children, families and educational staff to engage in therapeutic programmes and agreed intervention plans.
To demonstrate excellent negotiation, influencing and conflict-resolution skills across a range of professional situations.
To practise in accordance with Occupational Therapy Service policies, Trust procedures, HCPC standards, RCOT professional standards and relevant legislation.
To maintain knowledge of safeguarding, SEND legislation, Equality Act 2010 requirements and other relevant statutory frameworks.
To manage workload effectively, prioritising competing demands and using sound professional judgement in day-to-day decision-making.
To maintain accurate, timely and legally compliant clinical records and reports.
To provide specialist advice and support to less experienced colleagues, therapy assistants, students and partner professionals involved in the management of complex cases.
To delegate work appropriately and provide supervision to Occupational Therapy Assistants, students and less experienced staff.
To contribute to the promotion and representation of the Paediatric Occupational Therapy Service.
To participate in service development, quality improvement, clinical governance and implementation of service policies and procedures.
To support the Team Lead and Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist in the delivery and development of the service as required.
Applicant requirements
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy and current HCPC Registration
Desirable criteria
- Member of Royal College of Occupational Therapists and specialist section Children, Young People and Families
- Evidence of CPD and attendance at relevant post graduate courses/training.
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Able to independently prioritise work, caseloads, and competing demands and support others in co-ordinating daily, termly and annual priorities
- Specialist knowledge of a broad range of clinical conditions impacting children e.g., Autism, learning disabilities, genetic conditions, DCD, etc.
- Demonstrates excellent clinical reasoning through assessment, intervention, treatment planning and review
- Specialist clinical skills in early intervention, child development, sensory based strategies, etc.
- pecialist skills in managing children’ and young people’s behaviour that challenges, or with high levels of distress
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience working at a specialist level supporting children with complex autism and learning disabilities
- Experience of leading or making contribution to service development, pathway redesign, quality improvement or innovation within children’s services.
- Experience writing assessment reports/advice
- Experience providing supervision and support to less experienced therapists, assistants, and students.
Desirable criteria
- Experience working within resource bases, inclusions bases or special schools
- Experience writing statutory assessment/ EHCP advice
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Excellent written communication skills
- Excellent verbal communication skills
- Able to build rapport with clients with communication difficulties
- Treat people with respect, irrespective of age, gender, culture, religion & sexuality
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Kirsty Hammond
- Job title
- Team Lead, The Bridge Health and Therapy Team
- Email address
- [email protected]
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
- WHT
- Telephone
- If you have any queries, please contact NLPSS Recruitment Helpdesk tel. 020 3758 2060
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