Lead Occupational Therapist for Children with Disabilities

Salary range: £55,323 - £58,461 p.a. inc. London weighting (plus fantastic benefits!)

Contract: Permanent

Hours of work: 36 hours per week

Location: Civic centre and other location from time to time

Brent is a tremendously vibrant London borough where the iconic arch of Wembley Stadium dominates the skyline. Spanning both inner and outer London, it is a borough of huge contrasts in terms of its economic, environmental, ethnic and social make up. Brent’s diversity is evident to all who visit our borough and our long history of ethnic and cultural diversity has created a place that is truly unique and valued by those who live and work here. The council is pursuing a far-reaching transformation agenda that better meets the needs of our community so it is an exciting time to join us.

This is more than a leadership role — it’s a chance to shape how children with disabilities experience daily life. Brent Council is seeking a Lead Occupational Therapist to join our 0–25 Children and Young People with Disabilities Service, where occupational therapy is central to helping children live safely, independently and with dignity within their own homes and communities.

This is a senior, hands-on role combining professional leadership, complex casework and strategic oversight. You will lead the Social Care Occupational Therapy Service, providing day-to-day supervision and professional guidance to Occupational Therapists, while also holding a complex caseload and working directly with children and families. From complex assessments to life-changing adaptations, your decisions will have visible, lasting outcomes. You will assess needs, recommend specialist equipment and home adaptations, and lead work under Disability Facilities Grant legislation, ensuring children are supported to maximise independence, safety and wellbeing. Working closely with families, social care colleagues, housing, health professionals and partner agencies, you will deliver holistic, child-focused solutions for some of Brent’s most vulnerable residents.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

• A trusted professional lead within a multi-disciplinary, child-focused service.
• Leading and supervising the Social Care Occupational Therapy team, supporting high standards of practice and professional development.
• Managing a complex caseload, using advanced clinical knowledge to assess risk, needs and outcomes.
• Assessing for and recommending specialist equipment and minor or major home adaptations.
• Leading assessments and decision-making in line with Disability Facilities Grant legislation.
• Working collaboratively with families, social workers, housing colleagues and health professionals.
• Providing expert advice, coaching and guidance to staff, students and partner professionals.
• Promoting strengths-based, outcome-focused practice that maximises independence and delivers value for money.
• Ensuring safeguarding responsibilities are embedded across all practice.

What You’ll Bring

• Senior clinical expertise, matched with compassion and leadership confidence, along with:
• HCPC registration and a recognised Occupational Therapy qualification (DipCOT or BSc OT).
• Significant experience working with children with disabilities within social care or a closely related setting.
• Strong knowledge of paediatric OT assessments, interventions and disability legislation.
• Experience delivering equipment and home adaptations, including work linked to DFGs.
• Proven ability to supervise, mentor and support staff or students.
• Confidence working within multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environments.
• A compassionate, professional approach to engaging children, young people and families.
• A strong understanding of safeguarding, strengths-based practice and equality principles.

Join us. Be a voice for the vulnerable and make your impact!

Ready to Apply?

Click the “Apply Now” button below. Make sure to include:

• A supporting statement showing how you meet the Person Specification.
• A CV (CVs alone won’t be accepted).

Closing date: 8th February 2026 at 23:59

Why join us?

• Do work that matters — in a borough that values your expertise.
• Be part of a supportive, forward-thinking service with a strong commitment to children and families.
• Influence practice and help shape the future of paediatric social care OT services.
• Work in a role where your professional judgement and leadership are genuinely valued.
• Access career development, training and progression opportunities.
• Benefit from flexible and hybrid working arrangements (role-dependent).

If you are interested in applying for this job, please start by clicking the "Apply Now" button below. You must provide a supporting statement as part of your application that clearly shows how you meet the criteria on the Person Specification. We will accept a CV in support of your application, however, you should still provide a supporting statement.

Brent Council values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this and therefore encourage applications from all sections of the community. We positively encourage all applicants to self-identify their characteristics in the diversity survey section in the application.

We are committed to safer recruitment and safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that posts working with children, young people and vulnerable adults are subject to an Enhanced DBS check as well as other employment clearances.

Brent has a positive approach to flexible working. As a disability confident employer Brent welcomes applications from people with all disabilities, including “non-visible” disabilities and mental health conditions. We will interview any disabled applicant who meets the essential criteria. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made to any part of the recruitment process due to your disability, please contact us.