Early Child Development Children's Senior Occupational Therapist

Early Child Development Children's Senior Occupational Therapist

Closing date: 28 January 2026

Ready to take the next step in your OT career? Join Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) as a Senior Occupational Therapist! Whether you are a Band 5 OT ready to progress to Band 6, or a Band 6 OT seeking a fresh challenge, this role offers the chance to grow your skills in a supportive, innovative service transforming children's community care across Devon.

As part of our Early Child Development Pathway, you will collaborate with Speech & Language Therapists, Psychologists, Early Years Practitioners, and two experienced Band 7 OTs to help children and families thrive by maximising occupational performance at home, school, and in the community.

• Support to progress from Band 5 to Band 6
• Mentorship and support from experienced senior clinicians
• Opportunities to specialise in early years, sensory development, and neurodevelopmental needs
• A collaborative, multidisciplinary team that values learning and innovation

• Hold responsibility for the assessment and treatment of a designated caseload within your competence and capability.
• Use a strengths‑based approach to deliver:
  • Evidence‑based interventions
  • Goal‑focused collaborative practice
  • Routine Outcome Measures
• Provide specialist OT advice and interventions within multidisciplinary teams linked to Child Development Centres across Devon.
• Deliver interventions including:
  • Direct therapy, coaching, and workshops
  • Recommend adaptive equipment and home/school adaptations
  • Guidance for home or school adaptations
• Offer early help and interventions to children with differences in occupational performance.
• Supervise and support Band 4 and 5 colleagues, and contribute to student placements.
• Promote participation of service users across the service.
• Work flexibly across geographical areas to support colleagues according to need and demand.

CFHD is a dynamic team delivering occupational therapy in the Early Child Development pathway. We collaborate within a multidisciplinary team to provide high‑quality care to children with developmental and sensory needs. We value compassion, inclusion, flexibility, continuous learning, and recognition. Our inclusive, forward‑looking culture celebrates diversity and fosters professional growth.

As a Senior Occupational Therapist within the Early Child Development Pathway, you will support children and families to achieve their full potential in everyday life.

Key responsibilities include:

• Comprehensive assessment & intervention: undertake holistic assessments, plan and deliver tailored interventions across home, school, and community.
• Evidence‑based practice: apply advanced clinical reasoning, use outcome measures, and ensure interventions are strengths‑based, goal‑oriented, aligned with best practice.
• Collaborative working: work with Speech & Language Therapists, Psychologists, Early Years Practitioners, and others; contribute to joint planning and shared problem‑solving.
• Early help & specialist support: provide proactive interventions for common challenges; offer practical strategies and advice to families and professionals; guide on adaptive equipment and environmental modifications.
• Professional development & supervision: support and mentor Early Years Practitioners, Band 4/5 OTs, and students; engage in reflective practice and contribute to service development.
• Flexibility & service contribution: work across geographical areas; promote participation and inclusion for children and families throughout all aspects of care.

• Degree in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Diploma level specialist training or experience

• Post‑graduate certified courses specific to children's needs (e.g. Sensory training; ADOS, 3di etc)

• Knowledge of national and local standards, and ability to monitor own quality and safety of practice.
• Extensive knowledge of OT models of practice and specialist approaches.
• Experience of OT therapeutic interventions for children and young people: manual handling, specialist…