Highly Specialist Acute Paediatric Occupational Therapist

A Vacancy at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Band 7 Occupational Therapist to join our dynamic Acute Paediatric Occupational Therapy team within St George's Hospital, one of London's four major trauma centres.

This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate paediatric OT to work across a diverse acute caseload, providing specialist assessment and intervention to children and young people across all paediatric wards and the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The post holder will manage a varied and complex caseload, working alongside multidisciplinary teams within specialist areas including neurology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, long term ventilation and major trauma.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting children and families through acute illness, injury and recovery, promoting participation, independence and safe discharge planning. They will contribute to complex discharge pathways, rehabilitation, functional assessments and specialist occupational therapy interventions within a fast-paced and rewarding environment.

We are looking for an OT who is passionate about paediatrics, committed to delivering high-quality, family-centred care, and motivated to develop services and support the ongoing growth of acute paediatric occupational therapy.

The successful candidate will have supervision responsibilities and opportunities to develop leadership skills. 

As part of the Acute Paediatric Occupational Therapy team you will provide highly specialist acute occupational therapy assessment and intervention to children and young people admitted to the acute paediatric wards.

Alongside the Clinical Team Lead you will contribute to the ongoing growth and development of the service shaping the care of children and young people admitted to St George's Hospital. 

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking, dynamic team that is committed toinnovation, collaboration, and making a lasting difference in the lives of children and families admitted to hospital.

St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George’s Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC). 

 After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.

At gesh we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.

1. Job purpose

As a Band 7 Occupational Therapist working in paediatric inpatients the post holder will be

responsible for performing highly specialist assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex medical, physical and psychological conditions, to develop and deliver an

individualised management/treatment programme, relevant to specialism.  Following

assessment, the post holder will be responsible for making therapeutic diagnoses and treating their own caseload of specialised and complex patients/clients and maintaining associated records.  

The post holder will be responsible for providing a highly specialist standard of care to patients.

The post holder will supervise the work of other more junior staff and support workers. The

post holder will be required to work across Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Paediatric Step Down Unit, the three general medical wards and occasional outpatient clinics when required. Together with other senior staff, you will act as a resource of specialist advice to the rest of the therapy service and other professions.

This post will provide input to long-stay patients, complex neurological conditions and

complex discharges.

2. Key stakeholders

·        Patients, families and carers

·        Acute Therapies Team (Speech and Language Therapists, Physiotherapists, Dietitians)

·        Medical and Nursing staff within and external to GESH (St Georg’s, Epsom and St Helier hospitals)

·        Other Allied Health Professionals in the acute and community settings

·        Other External agencies e.g. Social Services

·        Administration and Clerical staff

·        QI team

·         

3. Key areas of responsibility

1. Clinical Practice

1.1 To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including

management of patients in your care and undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an

autonomous practitioner. 

1.2 To provide comprehensive and specialist therapy assessment and diagnosis for patients

with a range of highly complex presentations, by utilising advanced clinical reasoning,

evidence-based knowledge, investigative and analytical skills and specialist assessment

techniques. 

1.3 To work both independently and within a team structure, demonstrating leadership to

manage own and team caseload.  To efficiently manage a caseload and organise this

effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.   

1.4 To formulate and deliver an individualised and specialist care plan / therapy

management programme based on advanced knowledge of evidence-based practice,

advanced clinical reasoning skills and a wide range of specialist treatment options. As a

specialist clinician to provide a second opinion where required.

1.5 To provide clarity and communicate complex clinical findings to the patient/carers to gain

valid informed consent, prior to any intervention. To work within a legal framework for

those patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.

Please view attached job description for further details on main responsibilities. 

This advert closes on Monday 2 Nov 2026