Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist Complex under 6s | Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust


Company:	Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Salary:	£49,387 - £56,515 per annum, pro rata + High Cost Area Living Allowance
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Watford, WD17 3EW
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	2 Nov 2026
Closing date:	2 Dec 2026

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Summary

Hertfordshire’s Children and Young People’s (CYP) Occupational Therapy Service at HCT (Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust) has dedicated specialist Band 7 posts to support children with complex needs and their families from birth to 6 years.

We are looking to recruit an experienced Occupational Therapist (OT), who has the relevant skills, training and experience in supporting children who have physical disabilities which impact on their participation of activities of daily life. This1 WTEpost will involve travel across West Hertfordshire, supporting families and children who live in Watford and Hemel Hempstead. Office bases are Peace Children's Centre in Watford and Marlowes Health and Wellbeing Centre in Hemel.

You will be joining an innovative and agile CYPT Service, that is committed to delivering high quality intervention, and to supporting the development and delivery of the new Experts at Hand model across Hertfordshire.

*Proposed interview date : 19th November 2026*

You will:

• Be a qualified Occupational Therapist with HCPC registration.

• Have specialist knowledge & skills in working with CYP & their families/carers, who have a range of developmental, neurological and health conditions.

• Deliver occupational therapy assessments and evidence-based interventions to children in a variety of settings, e.g. mainstream and specialist provisions.

• Provide clinical support to a team of health professionals.

• Have knowledge of relevant legislation.

• Maintain strong links to professionals working in health, social care, Education and the Voluntary Sector.

• Work collaboratively with members of the wider OT team in your locality area, and support more junior colleagues.

We offer:

• A friendly team & a great place to work

• Regular managerial supervision and mentoring

• A well-established Appraisal system

• Professional supervision through Action Learning Sets

• Personal development planning & access to training to develop your CPD, leadership & management skills

• A structured induction period

We’re delighted that you're exploring a career with HCT. As an organisation, we’re committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and rewarding work environment — one where you’ll feel valued and empowered to make a real difference.

At HCT, we put patients, their families, and carers at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is simple yet powerful:Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities. Our dedicated staff take pride in beingPioneering, Caring, and Inclusive, working together to turn this vision into reality.

Working with us comes with a host of benefits designed to support your wellbeing and work-life balance:

• Generous annual leave (27 days rising to 33 with long service)

• Flexible working arrangementsto help balance personal/ professional life,including up to 5 days of carers leave (pro rata)

• Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 confidential support for personal or work-related issues

• Cycle to Work and Car Lease Schemes

• Blue Light Card and NHS Discounts

• Health and wellbeing support, including free flu jabs, Physiotherapy referrals, eye care vouchers, etc

• Occupational Pension Scheme with competitive benefits

• Enhanced sick pay above statutory entitlements

We celebrate diversity and actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds, ages, and communities to apply.

You’ve taken a fantastic first step by considering HCT. We’re excited about the possibility of welcoming you to our team and taking the next step in your journey with us.

Please see attached job description for more information about this role.

HCT provides integrated Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Services for families across the county. Our CYPT integrated service provides opportunities for collaborative working, joint training and shared learning amongst each profession. Our service is jointly commissioned by health, social care and education, allowing us to provide a seamless pathway of care from early years through to schools, specialist provisions and further education settings, and at home.

The OT service is embedding health coaching and top-down models in to it’s care pathways, and is actively encouraging CPD to help develop these skills. Within your role, youwill provide support to the Clinical Quality Lead for OT in developing evidence-based clinical pathways.

You will be joining a well-established, supportive team of therapists and assistants. CYP Therapies at HCT pride ourselves on the support we provide to staff. As a Highly Specialist OT you will have the opportunity to facilitate professional supervision groups and provide managerial supervision to less experienced colleagues.

Successful candidates will be enthusiastic and motivated. Advanced communication, clinical reasoning and organisational skills are essential. You must be a team player but be able to work autonomously and have the ability to champion the needs of children and young people.

You will need a full valid driving licence, and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

If there’s high interest in this role, we may close applications earlier than the advertised deadline — so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

In addition to the basic salary, this post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of basic salary subject to a minimum payment of £1,604 and a maximum payment of £2,270 per annum (pro rata where applicable and dependent on base location).

Whilst it is not a legal requirement, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust encourages and supports all its’ staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID-19.

If you have any questions about this role, please do not hesitate to contact Liesl Salters Brown, Clinical Quality Lead for Children’s OT on 07825 929688.

Interview date has been set for: 16th November 2026

For further details / informal visits contact:

Name

Liesl Salters Brown

Job title

Clinical Quality Lead for Children’s OT

Email address

liesl.saltersbrown@nhs.net

Telephone number

07825 929688

Additional contact information

Sophie Pullinger

West Operational Manager for CYP Therapies

07827883677

HCT will prioritise recruitment of workers living in England under the new immigration rules for care workers effective from 9 April 2025. Employers must first prove that they have attempted to recruit a worker from within England who needs new sponsorship. This ensures that those who came to the UK to pursue a career in adult social care can do so.

This advert closes on Tuesday 10 Nov 2026

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