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Highly Specialist Chronic Pain Occupational Therapist
NHS AfC: Band 7
Main area Occupational Therapist Chronic Pain Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours Part time – 25.5 hours per week Job ref 349-CSS-8261241-RL4
Site Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Town Manchester Salary £49,387 – £56,515 Per anum Salary period Yearly Closing 29/09/2026 23:59
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and experienced Band 7 Occupational Therapist to join the Chronic Pain and Rheumatology Team at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
This role supports children and young people with persistent pain and rheumatological conditions to improve their daily function, participation in education and quality of life. The postholder will manage a complex clinical caseload, including children and young people with chronic musculoskeletal pain, pain amplification syndromes, activity avoidance, co‑existing conditions and complex family circumstances.
Working as a core member of the MDT with psychologists, physiotherapists and consultants, contributing to the delivery of a high‑quality, evidence‑informed service that meets relevant national standards. The role is primarily outpatient based, with inpatient input as required . The team also deliver intensive rehabilitation programmes where appropriate .
We welcome expressions of interest from Occupational Therapists currently working in a specialist chronic pain or rheumatology role, as well as experienced Occupational Therapists from adult pain services who can demonstrate transferable skills relevant to paediatric practice. Applicants should demonstrate leadership capability appropriate to Band 7 and, ideally, have completed postgraduate study or continuing professional development relevant to the speciality .
The post is permanent and 25.5 hours per week
Main duties of the job
· Manage a highly specialist caseload of children and young people with chronic pain, pain amplification syndromes and rheumatological conditions.
Undertake specialist occupational therapy assessment, treatment planning, intervention and outcome evaluation to maximise function, participation, school attendance and quality of life.
Deliver a range of evidence‑based interventions, including individual and group. programmes, functional rehabilitation and pain management approaches.
Work collaboratively with children, families and the multidisciplinary team to develop and achieve person‑centred goals.
Provide professional support, supervision and leadership to colleagues, contributing to service delivery and workforce development.
Lead or support training and education initiatives for staff, students and rotational therapists.
Contribute to service evaluation, quality improvement and the ongoing development of the Rheumatology and Chronic Pain Service.
Demonstrate effective clinical leadership, advanced clinical reasoning and multidisciplinary working at Band 7 level.
Apply specialist knowledge and skills to support children and young people with complex presentations, including neurodiversity, mental health needs and challenging psychosocial circumstances.
Working for our organisation
Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward‑thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement.
Whether you’re beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working – empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.You’ll be part of a collaborative, multi‑disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.
At MFT, you’ll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions.Your journey at MFT is more than a job – it’s an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We’ll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Documents to download’ heading.
Explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place
To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place. This welcoming one‑stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.
We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.
Diversity MattersMFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application
Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other.As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.
Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.
What is a DBS Check?
A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:
Standard DBS : Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.
Enhanced DBS : Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role.
Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the children’s and/or adults’ barred lists.
Who Needs a DBS Check
Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.
The Costs for a DBS
At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.
Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.
Person specification
Qualifications and registration
- Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy and HCPC registration
Knowledge and Experience
- Substantial work experience in a senior position either in a paediatric setting or in a relevant specialist clinical area in an acute adult setting with paediatric input
- Highly specialist level of theoretical knowledge in Chronic pain and recent clinical experience
- Undertaken regular formal and informal postgraduate education & training in Chronic pain
- In‑depth knowledge of children’s health, social care and education legislation
- Active member of Specialist Interest Group
- Knowledge & experience of community provision of equipment & adaptations
Professional Characteristics
- Highly developed communication skills – oral/written
- Experience of managing highly complex caseload independently
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Name Jennifer Nisbet Job title Interim Clinical lead Occupational Therapist Email address Jennifer.Nisbet@mft.nhs.uk
Additional information
Morgan Tarlton
Morgan.Tarlton@mft.nhs.uk
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