The post holder will be working in a highly specialised clinical role, working with both children and young people (ages range from about 4-18 years) and their parents. The children and young people present with multiple sensory, attachment, mental health, emotional, physical and learning disabilities, many of whom have developmental trauma and exhibit complex and challenging behaviours.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (including half an hour unpaid lunch break) In addition to this there may be some out of hours, evening and weekend requirements.

Salary scale: Salary: 32 – 40K for Qualified Occupational, £38 – 44k for Senior Occupational Therapist.

Reports to: Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist.

•  Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention with an emphasis on a Sensory Integration frame of reference to children seen by the Therapy Team, the i-Adopt and We-foster team, and the Wellbeing Hub, as well as some sensory intervention with parents about their own sensory function.
• OT intervention to several family teams (usually in the early stages of treatment) working with a variety of therapists (Psychotherapists, Psychologists, Social Workers).
• Assessment of prospective adoptive parents and of the prospective adoptive child through the i-Adopt service.
• Assessment as part of the team carrying out MDT Assessments.

Experience:

• Experience of undertaking OT assessment of children is essential.
• Experience of working with children and families in a therapeutic setting for mental health, physical disability and/or learning disability is essential.
• Experience of working with children and families in the field of fostering and adoption is not essential.
• Experience of working with a high degree of complexity is ideal but not essential.
• Experience of co-ordinating and writing reports that include formulations of children with recommendations for treatments is essential.

Knowledge:

• An understanding of the principles of sensory integration theory, sensory integration assessment and the impact of developmental trauma on sensory and motor development is essential.
• An understanding of contemporary adoption and fostering law and practice is essential.
• An understanding of working therapeutically with families, children and adults is essential.
• An understanding of theory and research in the field of developmental trauma, sensory integration, attachment and therapeutic interventions with children and their parents is not essential.
• An understanding of safeguarding children issues as well as an understanding of equal opportunities, data protection and general good practice is essential.
• An understanding and competence in using computers and office technology is essential.

Skills:

• To have an empathetic understanding of the complexities of contemporary adoption
• To be able to engage with children and adults in a sympathetic and empathic way.
• An ability to work collaboratively as a member of an integrated MDT
• Ability to engage with children and young people with additional and com-plex needs
• Ability to recognise impact of trauma on self and engage in self-care, to support and maintain own regulation.
• Ability to assess and manage risk and respond appropriately to safeguard-ing issues.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Must be able to travel (when required)
• A good communicator with exceptional organisational skills
• Ability to communicate well in writing and to be able to type at a reasonable speed, with an ability to use computers and Microsoft office

Family Futures is a Voluntary Adoption Agency specialising in providing multi-disciplinary assessments and treatment to traumatised children. We were awarded an outstanding rating for our last four consecutive inspections by OFSTED including our most recent inspection in December 2022.

We have a reputation for innovation and offer a high-quality service – an integrated multi-disciplinary, assessment, treatment and family-finding service for children who are traumatised and have attachment difficulties. In March 2023, we launched our new Wellbeing Hub which offers evidence-based, one-to-one therapy for children, young people, and families to improve their mental health, relationships, physical health, and engagement at school.

As an OT, you would be involved in our new standalone Sensory Integration assessments. Join our team and contribute to the development and delivery of this service, making a positive impact on the wellbeing of our community.

We are looking to recruit an Occupational Therapist with postgraduate training in Sensory Integration, who is experienced working with neurodiversity to join our Occupational Therapy team. The position will support both the Complex Trauma Service as well as the Wellbeing Hub.

We are interested in both experienced candidates as well as sensory integration trainees.

For an application pack please email Ingrid Resnitschek, Office Manager, on hr@familyfutures.co.uk or call 020 7354 4161.

Closing date for applications is midnight Wednesday 16th July 2025 with interviews scheduled to take place on Wednesday 23rd July 2025.

Please visit www.familyfutures.co.uk for more information about Family Futures.