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Join our Psychology and Therapy Hub (PATH) and make a meaningful difference in everyday life for adoptive, kinship and care-experienced families. We’re recruiting an Occupational Therapist with specialist expertise in sensory processing/sensory integration and attachment-informed practice to deliver practical, trauma-informed assessment and intervention that strengthens regulation, participation and connection.
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Make a difference that families feel every day: co-produce practical strategies that support calmer routines, better sleep, smoother transitions and greater participation at home, school and in the community.
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Bring specialist sensory expertise: assess sensory processing and regulation needs and translate findings into clear, realistic plans for parents/carers and partner professionals.
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Work at the sensory–attachment interface: use a trauma- and attachment-informed lens to understand behaviour and build felt safety and co-regulation alongside sensory strategies.
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Thrive in an MDT: contribute an OT perspective to formulation-led work within PATH, collaborating with psychology and therapy colleagues to create joined-up support.
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Flexible, UK-wide reach: deliver support primarily online with occasional travel for team days, training or commissioned work (as required and agreed).
You’ll need:
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HCPC registration as an Occupational Therapist.
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Strong experience supporting children/young people and their parents/carers (including complex presentations).
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Proven skills in sensory processing assessment and intervention, including regulation strategies, activity adaptation and environmental modification.
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Confidence working in an attachment- and trauma-informed way with adoptive/kinship/care-experienced families (or closely related work).
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Excellent communication and report-writing skills, able to translate specialist thinking into practical, non-judgemental guidance that families can use.
ROLE PROFILE
JOB TITLE:
Occupational Therapist
ACCOUNTABLE TO:
Clinical Lead
RESPONSIBLE TO:
Clinical Director
HOURS OF WORK:
Full time / Part time
LOCATION:
Remote working with travel flexibility
DURATION:
Permanent
SALARY / GRADE:
Grade 8 - £43.471
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
- Clinical Director and PATH Clinical Lead
- PATH team
- AUK staff
- Children and adults accessing our services
- Referrers and external agencies as appropriate
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Occupational Therapist (Sensory & Attachment) will deliver high-quality, trauma-informed occupational therapy assessment and intervention to families with a history of adoption, kinship care and long-term fostering. The postholder will bring advanced expertise in sensory processing/sensory integration and the impact of early adversity, attachment disruption and developmental trauma on regulation, participation and family life. The role will work as part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) within PATH, contributing to formulation-led support, practical strategies and therapeutic approaches that strengthen safety, connection, and everyday functioning at home, school and in the community.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
·Provide specialist assessment and intervention where sensory processing differences interact with attachment needs, developmental trauma, neurodiversity and emotional/behavioural presentations.
·Co-produce practical, strengths-based support plans with parents/carers and, where appropriate, the child/young person; provide clear strategies that are realistic for family life.
·Deliver evidence-informed interventions (1:1 and group-based as appropriate) including sensory-based regulation strategies, activity adaptation, routine design, environmental modification and caregiver coaching.
·Integrate attachment- and trauma-informed principles (e.g., PACE/connection-based approaches) into OT recommendations, ensuring strategies support safety, relational connection and felt security.
·Contribute to MDT formulation and case discussions, offering an occupational therapy perspective on function, participation, sensory-motor development and regulation
·Prepare high-quality written outputs including assessment summaries, recommendations, letters and reports suitable for families and professionals; contribute to documentation required for commissioning/regulated service evidence as needed.
·Support families to understand the sensory, neurodevelopmental and trauma/attachment factors that may underpin behaviour and distress, and to implement strategies safely.
·Maintain accurate, timely records in line with organisational policies, data protection and confidentiality requirements.
·Contribute to the development of resources (e.g., guides, webinars, workshops) that translate specialist OT knowledge into accessible tools for families and professionals.
·Contribute to delivery of training in your specialist area (sensory processing, regulation, sensory-attachment interface) internally and externally.
·Actively manage a caseload, prioritising risk and complexity, and working within agreed service pathways, timescales and outcome measures.
CRITERIA
Knowledge and Experience
• Significant experience working with children and young people and their parents/carers.
• Experience delivering assessment and intervention for sensory processing differences and regulation needs.
• Experience delivering remote/online OT interventions and caregiver coaching.
• Experience of group work (parents/carers and/or young people).
• Experience of working with adopted children, previously looked-after children, kinship or long-term foster families (or closely related settings).
• Strong understanding of attachment, developmental trauma and the impact of early adversity on regulation, behaviour and participation.
• Ability to integrate sensory strategies with relational/attachment-informed approaches.
• Training/experience in DDP, PACE, NVR, therapeutic parenting or other attachment-informed models.
• Expert knowledge of sensory processing and sensory-based regulation strategies.
• Ability to differentiate sensory needs from (and understand overlap with) trauma responses, anxiety, and neurodevelopmental differences.
• Sensory Integration training (e.g., postgraduate modules) and/or recognised competency frameworks.
• Knowledge of neurodevelopmental profiles (e.g., autism, ADHD, DLD, FASD) and how these can interact with trauma/attachment and sensory processing.
• Ability to provide accessible psychoeducation to families and partner professionals.
Qualifications and Education
•Degree/diploma in Occupational Therapy.
• Current HCPC registration as an Occupational Therapist. Postgraduate training/qualification relevant to sensory integration, sensory processing or advanced paediatric OT practice.
• Evidence of continuing professional development (Essential)
• Training in a range of therapeutic modalities e.g. DDP, Theraplay, BUSS model, Sensory Attachment Intervention (Essential)
Skills and Abilities
• Experience of working within an MDT and contributing an OT perspective to shared formulations and plans.
•Leadership and support skills
•Group work skills
•A reflective and empowering approach
•Strong application of theory
•Creativity and innovative approach to service delivery
•A commitment to the voice of children and families
Accountability
•Consultant Clinical Psychologist
•Responsible for maintaining own professional standards
•Responsible for delivering practice within the policies and standards of the charity
Behaviours
•Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of role at all times.
•Contributes to an open and honest culture
•Supports, encourages, and motivates colleagues.
•Encourages challenge, creativity and innovation.
•Leads by example.
•Values transparency and consistency.
•Understands the role of individual and collective accountability.
•Actively contributes to Adoption UK’s mission.
•Has a clear understanding of other colleagues’ roles and responsibilities
•Shares skills and knowledge.
•Promotes Cross Functional team working.
•Offers outstanding service to members.
•Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values in all interactions with external stakeholders.
•Identifies and uses the most appropriate form of communication.
•Communicates clearly, seeking clarity when unclear and valuing the opinion of others.
•Treats colleagues and other stakeholders with respect, honesty, fairness and courtesy
•Is responsive to colleagues, third party professionals and service users.
•Takes pride in own development.
•Enthusiastic and committed to achieving high standards and meeting agreed objectives.
•Takes an active interest in recognising professional and personal development needs and priorities within Adoption UK.
This role profile is a guide to the nature of the work required and may involve other such duties as deemed necessary by the Organisation. It is not wholly comprehensive or restrictive. The role profile will be reviewed with the post-holder at significant points for the Organisation.
Postholder is expected to abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice, and to work within a framework of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.
Adoption UK is the leading charity for adopted and care experienced people and adoptive families.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you an approachable, friendly, people person who feels at ease engaging with people facing homelessness?
Do you have the confidence to hop on the Justlife minibus and participate in outreach to temporary accommodation across Manchester, going out and meeting people where they are? Are you able to adapt to changing situations, think on your feet and problem solve?
Are you passionate about navigating through various systems to get the best outcomes for people who are homeless and living in temporary accommodation?
Are you open to supporting people using a trauma informed approach and reflecting on your practice with colleagues?
If you do want to work for an innovative, collaborative and solution focused organisation that supports homeless adults living in temporary accommodation then please apply! See below for details.
About Us
Why do we exist?
Justlife is in existence because we know thousands of people struggle to manage in poor and unsuitable temporary accommodation. Their stay isn’t temporary, they are likely to be suffering with deteriorating mental and physical health, becoming victims of crime, losing control of their life and even dying prematurely. We are working towards making their stays as short, safe and healthy as possible.
How do we operate?
Our values guide our work and are very important to us:
- Collaboration before competition
- People before programmes
- Innovation before institutions
What do we do?
Justlife delivers impactful services in Greater Manchester and Brighton & Hove, supporting and empowering people experiencing homelessness in temporary accommodation. We also drive positive system change across the national temporary accommodation sector, convening those with a common interest; people with lived experience, landlords, charities, local and national government, and carrying out research and gathering insights.
We aim to grow our impact and reach, supporting more people in temporary accommodation and to build a movement that brings about lasting positive change.
Why work for us?
Here at Justlife, we're committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to be an organisation that's representative of the communities we serve, which is why we strive for diversity of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity and perspective.
Perks of working at Justlife
- Great holiday package! Starting at 27 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays (increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and 30 days after 10 years’ service)
- Additional 5 days annual leave purchase scheme through salary sacrifice
- Enhanced pension contribution scheme, 5% Justlife contribution (correct at time of print)
- Cycle to work scheme
- 2 Volunteering days per year
- Access to regular clinical supervision
About the job
About this role:
The role of Specialist Support Worker involves supporting a caseload of clients who are experiencing homelessness and taking part in regular outreach visits to temporary accommodation (TA) across Greater Manchester. The role requires the use of specialist knowledge and relationship skills to support clients with varying degrees of mental and physical health, addiction and trauma related issues to engage with health services and to access suitable housing solutions. The Specialist Support Worker is also expected to develop good working relationships with TA Landlords and Managers ensuring that their residents experience of TA is as positive as possible.
This will include advocacy in registering them for medical services and accompanying them to appointments, assisting them in addressing all aspects of physical and mental health and substance addiction needs, as well as advocating for them to get access to suitable housing and social security benefits. The role is dependent on excellent communication and collaborative working with colleagues and a variety of partners, including the Probation Service, local council services and other third sector organisations.
The role requires a high degree of motivation in addition to creativity and flexibility to support people with multiple and compound needs. With a passion to work collaboratively with others for the good of our clients, and with experience of working in a related field in a voluntary or paid capacity.
Making decisions ‘in the moment’ to mitigate risk with clients can place high emotional demands on the job holder. A high degree of emotional intelligence is required to support clients, many of whom have complex emotional needs, with backgrounds of trauma, neglect, abuse and involvement in the criminal justice system. In a role of this nature, you will experience a range of emotions from joy to grief and as such it requires a high level of resilience and self-awareness to cope with the emotional demands of the role.
The role sits within a highly supportive team with all staff in receipt of regular line management and external clinical supervision; with reflective practice actively encouraged in team meetings.
Key terms and conditions
Job Title: Specialist Support Worker
Hours: 31 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Normal hrs to be worked: Monday/Wednesday 9am-5pm and Tuesday/Thursday 9am-5.30pm
Location: Justlife Centre, Manchester
Salary: £15.33 p/h (£29,894 per annum pro rata)
Application Process
To apply, please upload an up-to-date CV and a covering letter addressing how you meet the person specification. The person specification details key areas of knowledge, experience, skills and personal attributes required for the role. Please describe in this section, using examples from your experience, how you meet the person specification. Short listing will be based upon how well you demonstrate your ability to meet the person specification in your cover letter.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
We value authentic applications but recognise that Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn.
Deadline for applications is midnight 9th April, but we may close this early if enough suitable applicants are identified.
Provisional interview dates will be the week of 20th April.
Role description
Service Delivery:
Using frontline practical and procedural knowledge of working with people with multiple and compound needs to support them to engage with health care, wellbeing services, benefits and housing services during their housing vulnerability.
This could include, but is not limited to:
- Assisting people in addressing housing, financial, health and wellbeing needs through the support pathway.
- Connecting people with appropriate support services such as substance misuse services, GP, mental health services, advocating on behalf of the client and accompanying them to appointments.
- Supporting the delivery of outreach to TA’s across Greater Manchester on the Justlife minibus. This includes engaging with residents, managers and landlords of TA to build effective working relationships and establish support needs.
- Helping to increase the self-confidence of clients to improve their chances of moving on from their housing vulnerability through one to one key work sessions, group activities and outreach.
- Maintaining regular contact, a listening ear and emotional support during times of crisis.
- Liaising with Landlords and property Managers to identify residents who would like support and to help prevent evictions.
- Manage own calendar to deliver a caseload during periods of work-related pressure, including actively pursuing the project outcomes set for the project and individual clients.
- Use interpersonal and communication skills to provide support to clients and collaborate with others including colleagues, partner agencies, health care professionals and external agencies through joint working.
- Take duty of care seriously by assessing the client’s social and environmental conditions, identifying and passing on information to and from relevant professionals, ensuring client confidentiality is maintained.
- Use of excellent writing skills to prepare and submit referrals and housing applications along with a good working knowledge of housing legislation in order to advocate on behalf of people.
- Brief and liaise with other members of the team and external agencies regarding clients, enabling them to effectively carry out their roles.
- Ensure accurate and up to date client data and case notes are recorded within our Inform database within the standards set by the organisation.
- Carry out light physical tasks, such as travelling to visit people on outreach, shopping, organising deliveries or lifting office equipment.
Service Development:
- Collaborate with the entire Specialist Support team to ensure support requirements are in place for all registered clients.
- Contribute to initiatives that seek to influence service improvements, implement changes and develop new interventions and support for clients.
- Provide data, reports and impact studies when requested.
- To be part of and contribute to the Justlife staff team, attending meetings as appropriate and to be involved in staff development, training, supervision and reflective practice as well as continuing professional development and training events where appropriate and be committed to team events.
Research:
- Supporting the wider Justlife vision to feed into research and help develop the service including the involvement of clients in design and delivery of the service.
Responsible to: Service Manager
Responsible for: N/A
This job description is intended as an outline indicator of general areas of activity and will be amended in light of the changing needs of Justlife. It is expected that the post holder will be as positive and flexible as possible in using this document as a framework, and in performing other duties commensurate with these responsibilities, the band of the post and skills and qualification of the post-holder.
Person Specification
Experience:
- Experience of working with vulnerable adults (those experiencing homelessness or housing vulnerability, or a comparable client group).
- Experience of working with drug and alcohol dependent adults and those experiencing poor mental health.
- Experience of working with people in contact with the criminal justice system.
Skills:
- Care, empathy and skilled in dealing with emotionally vulnerable clients.
- Excellent ability to engage with clients in an empowering manner.
- Effective communication; written and oral skills.
- Effective administrative and IT skills.
- Excellent organisational skills.
- Driving licence holder and access to a vehicle (desirable).
Knowledge:
- Demonstrate knowledge of assessment, support planning and interventions that help clients experiencing homelessness or housing vulnerability to feel connected and healthier.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the challenges and solutions to working with a client group who may be experiencing one or more of the following: poor health (physical and mental), substance misuse, homelessness and contact with the criminal justice system.
- An understanding of health and safety and safeguarding policies and procedures that aim to keep staff and clients safe.
Personal Attributes:
- Commitment to equal opportunities in our service delivery.
- High level of self-awareness and the ability to maintain personal wellbeing through periods of pressure and stress.
- Ability to be self-motivated and work well in a team and as a lone worker.
Our vision is to make people’s experience of temporary accommodation as short, safe and healthy as possible.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Manager (Chief Executive) – Chorlton Good Neighbours
Location: Chorlton, Manchester
Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, full time
Could you be the steady, friendly, hands-on leader who helps more people in Chorlton feel connected, fulfilled and valued?
About Chorlton Good Neighbours
Chorlton Good Neighbours is a small, well-loved neighbourhood charity with roots back to the late 1960s, working to reduce loneliness and support older people across Chorlton and adjacent neighbourhoods. Our work is local, practical and volunteer-led: befriending, home visits, transport, weekly activities, monthly teas, intergenerational groups and occasional day trips are all delivered with warmth and care.
Our volunteer base is extraordinary - around 100 volunteers support drivers, befrienders, activity leads, admin roles and trustees - and in 2024–25 we supported 474 people in total. Funding is a mixed model of public grants, local donations and modest earned income and the charity holds healthy funds to deliver our work.
This is a practical, hands-on, delivery-focused leadership role: you will lead a neighbourhood organisation through planned transition, preserving the community culture that makes CGN trusted, while introducing proportionate systems and succession approaches that secure its future. You will also spend substantial time supporting and supervising volunteers and facilitating activities alongside strategic duties.
As our next Manager (Chief Executive), you will:
• Strategy & Impact: Lead the development and delivery of a clear long-term strategy that sustains CGN’s neighbourhood impact and reduces social isolation amongst older people.
• Governance & Finance: Strengthen proportionate financial controls, grant monitoring and reporting while working closely with trustees including the Treasurer.
• Operational Leadership: Manage day-to-day delivery of volunteer-led services and introduce accessible procedures and safeguarding arrangements.
• Income Generation: Support fundraising and bid activity to secure multi-year funding and diversify local income streams.
• Community & Partnerships: Act as CGN’s visible ambassador, maintaining and developing relationships with Manchester City Council, NHS partners and local organisations.
• Volunteer Development: Recruit, induct and support volunteers and facilitators, building a resilient volunteer pipeline and clear role pathways.
• Brand & Profile: Promote CGN’s offer across local channels to maintain footfall, attract new supporters and celebrate members’ stories.
• Premises & Risk: Work with trustees on lease and premises issues and maintain a robust risk register to protect continuity of service.
Who you are
• An experienced, hands-on manager with significant experience of running small, community-facing charities or local services and a hands-on approach to operational delivery.
• Demonstrable expertise in recruiting, supporting and retaining volunteers, with confidence in DBS/safeguarding practice and volunteer supervision.
• Highly organised with strong event/activity planning skills, practical problem solving and attention to detail.
• Financially literate - comfortable with budgeting, grant monitoring and basic financial controls and able to work with volunteer finance leads.
• An excellent communicator: approachable, diplomatic and skilled at building trust with older people, volunteers, trustees and statutory partners.
• Values driven, emotionally resilient and committed to inclusivity and dignity in later life.
• Desirable: experience of Age-Friendly programmes or befriending schemes and local credibility or knowledge of Manchester/South Manchester.
Why Chorlton Good Neighbours?
• Meaningful local impact - lead a well-regarded neighbourhood charity with deep community trust and a broad activities programme.
• Strong volunteer culture - join an organisation supported by around 100 committed volunteers and an engaged trustee board.
• Secure footing to build from - healthy funds and a clear focus on securing multi-year funding and premises.
• Hands-on role with strategic scope - keep delivery at the heart of the job while developing proportionate systems and succession planning.
• Supportive transition - trustees have planned a careful handover and you will be supported through induction and the subsequent recruitment of a part-time assistant.
For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via the apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 13th April 2026
As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.