Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist – Autism
Band 7
Main area Occupational Therapy Grade Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours
- Full time
- Part time
37.5 hours per week (Full-Time although Part-Time hours will be considered) Job ref 100-AHP095-1026
Employer Hywel Dda University Health Board Employer type NHS Site Ty Gwili Town Carmarthen Salary £50,129 – £57,365 per annum (pro rata if part time) Salary period Yearly Closing 02/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 16/11/2026
Our Hywel Dda values reflect who we are and how we behave. We continuously work together to be the best we can be as we strive to develop and deliver excellent services, putting people at the heart of everything we do. Throughout our recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you would demonstrate these values in the way that you work with us.
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Job overview
We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Specialist Occupational Therapist to join our innovative and forward-thinking Children’s Neurodevelopmental Service.The successful candidate will play a key role in providing diagnostic assessment and time-limited support for autistic children and young people across Hywel Dda University Health Board.
Our Neurodevelopmental Service is a small, friendly, and supportive multidisciplinary team comprising dedicated professionals who share a common vision of improving outcomes for autistic children, young people, and their families.
The ideal candidate will:
– Demonstrate a strong interest in autism and neurodivergence.
– Have experience of collaborative and multidisciplinary working.
– Be committed to improving outcomes for children, young people, and families.
– Possess excellent communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills.
– Thrive in a busy environment and be able to manage competing demands effectively.
– Show enthusiasm for developing specialist knowledge and skills within neurodevelopmental services.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a passionate team committed to innovation, collaboration, and delivering meaningful support to neurodivergent children and young people across West Wales.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work as an autonomous Practitioner within the Neurodevelopmental service undertaking skilled diagnostic assessments,time limited post diagnostic interventions and discharge management of children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. They willmanage a caseload that includes complex developmental, behavioural and communication disorders, mental health issues and transition fromchildren’s services.
The post holder will be responsible for planning, organising, and implementing highly specialist occupational therapy provision within the Children’s Neurodevelopmental Service, working closely with the Team Leader and Clinical Lead to ensure effective, evidence-based service delivery and evaluation using outcome measures. The post-holder will support the Health Board Lead for ASD in the implementation and monitoring of National and Local Policies, including NICE and other good practice documents and contribute to the development of training/educational material and delivery of specialist training or educational workshops relating to Autism and Neurodiversity. There will also be a requirement to work alongside other Occupational Therapy Departments within the organisation.
Working for our organisation
Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.
We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.
We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.
Our services are provided in:
- Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
- Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
- Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
- 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
- Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 16/11/2026.
Person specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
- Degree/ diploma in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC Registration
- Master’s level qualification in related field or equivalent experience
- Evidence of continued professional development
- In-depth knowledge of Autism and the needs of children, young people and their families
- Well-established specialist knowledge and/or training of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to ASD
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to Mental Health, trauma, Autism, Learning Disabilities across health, social care and education
- Knowledge of strategic direction and legislation in relation to Autism on a local and national level
- Knowledge of NICE guidelines
- Evidence of formal training and experience in the use of DISCO, ADIR, ADOS or 3DI Autism assessment tools
- Supervision Certificate/Experience
- Teaching Qualification/Experience
- Member of BAOT
- Evidence of specialist post graduate training in Sensory Processing
Experience
- Substantial experience within children’s services, working with individuals on the Autism Spectrum
- Evidence of clinical experience in providing OT assessment and interventions for autistic children and young people
- Experience of supervising staff
- Experience of working across a range of agencies and experience of providing consultation advice and support to professionals and stakeholders
- Experience of delivering training
- Experience in data collection and analysis
- Experience of developing and implementing new systems, packages of care or service provision
Other
- Ability to travel between sites in a timely manner
- Flexible approach to service delivery
- Welsh Speaker (Level 1)
Hywel Dda University Health Board operates a bilingual policy. All applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS: Applications for our roles are carefully reviewed and shortlisted based on specific criteria, which varies from job to job. Using a generic application to apply for multiple roles or relying on automated AI application services, such as Lazy Apply or AI Apply, may not provide the necessary information, leading to your application being overlooked. To ensure your application is given full consideration, we recommend submitting a tailored application that directly addresses the criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the advert.
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If you are successfully appointed, by completing the application form you authorise the UHB to obtain any previous NHS service details including all electronically held sickness information, via the Inter Authority Transfer process on the national Electronic Staff Record (ESR).
To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa , unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK . If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.
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 Ruth Holstead Job title Team Lead Children’s Neurodevelopmental Service Email address ruth.holstead@wales.nhs.uk Telephone number 01267 283077
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