Lead Occupational Therapist in London

Due to maternity leave, Family Futures is actively seeking a Maternity Cover for Lead Occupational Therapist / Sensory Integration to do a fixed term post from April 2026 to end of July 2027. We are looking for a professional who aligns with our ethos and ambition to provide high quality assessments and therapeutic support for children who have experienced developmental trauma and have attachment difficulties.

Family Futures is a not for profit, independent adoption agency and therapy centre in London, rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in 2025 for the fifth consecutive time. 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 or have attachment difficulties. We also have our 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.

In order to apply for the role please request a recruitment pack and application form and return together with your CV. The deadline for applications is 1st March 2026 with interviews taking place on 10th March 2026.

• Manage a full caseload within the Complex Trauma Service, including taking on the key worker role as needed.
• Compile comprehensive assessment, treatment, and other required reports on children and parents.
• Provide supervision/consultation for the OT team including sessional OTs.
• Consult with the OT team, oversee key cases, ensure report and funding deadlines, and manage case finances.
• Provide some supervision/consultation for other clinical staff as appropriate for the Multi-Disciplinary Assessment Service, Complex Trauma Service, Wellbeing Hub, Permanency Service and Neurodiversity Service.
• Liaise with external professionals to support Family Futures-referred families and negotiate assessment and treatment contracts.
• Have an overview of the finances of the OT Service and the organisation as a whole under the direction of the other managers.
• Be aware of Safeguarding, Risk, Care and Control, Notification procedures, and health and safety, especially when deputising for managers.
• Work as an integrated clinical team member, providing support, assessments, and treatment to Family Futures referred children and families, including home visits and out-of-hours care.

• Recognised qualification as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist trained in Sensory Integration.
• Additional training in Autism.
• Experience of working with children and families in a therapeutic setting.
• Experience of supervising and consulting on complex cases.
• Minimum of two years as a senior practitioner.

• An understanding of contemporary adoption and fostering law and practice.
• An understanding of working therapeutically with families, children and adults.
• An understanding of the use of the creative arts in a therapeutic setting.
• An advanced understanding of theory and research in the field of trauma, attachment and therapeutic interventions with children and their parents as well as Neurodiversity and FASD.
• An understanding of safeguarding children's issues as well as an understanding of care and control, notification procedures and equal opportunities, data protection and general good practice.

• Excellent time management skills and an ability to meet deadlines and prioritise workload.
• Excellent financial skills in both negotiating contracts and managing budgets.
• An ability to work collaboratively as a team member as well as to be a team leader.
• Excellent clinical skills and report writing skills.
• Must be able to travel (when required).

Company culture: We believe that embracing different perspectives enriches our agency's culture and strengthens our ability to serve the children and families we work with. Therefore, we welcome applications from candidates from a wide range of lived experience and are actively recruiting people from the global majority. By ‘global majority’, we mean Black African, Black Caribbean, Asian and dual heritage communities. We are an equal opportunities employer and committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workforce. We encourage applications from suitably qualified applicants regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships. Family Futures is a menopause friendly and neuro affirming employer.

Family Futures is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. The organisation follows safer recruitment practices to protect children and adults at risk of harm and will require the successful applicant to undertake an enhanced DBS disclosure.