Specialist autonomous Occupational Therapy Lead

Job Overview

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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Hywel Dda University Health Board reserve the right to close vacancies after 24 hours if a large number of suitable applications are received. We encourage early applications to ensure consideration for a post.

As a specialist autonomous Occupational Therapy Lead, the post holder will be a part of a strong, collaborative multi-disciplinary team, offering diagnostic assessment of autism and time‑limited support to children, young people and their families.

The service currently offers diagnostic assessment of autism to children and young people up to the age of 17¾, but plans are in place to radically redesign the service model incorporating a needs‑led, whole‑system approach.

The role of the Occupational Therapy Lead will be to develop and lead on highly specialist occupational therapy interventions focusing on functional impairment and sensory differences that can prevent children and young people achieving their potential.

Working as a Lead Clinician within a specialist neurodevelopmental service, the post holder will provide skilled and comprehensive assessments for children and young people referred for ASD diagnostic assessment. This includes the expert use and integration of complex information from a range of sources, such as standardised measures, observations and semi‑structured interviews with children, young people and their families, undertaken across clinical, school and home settings as appropriate.

Drawing on an advanced occupational therapy framework and a strong evidence base, the role involves formulating and delivering highly specialist, time‑limited interventions that support children and their families, informed by in‑depth knowledge of child development and neurodiversity. The post holder will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, contributing specialist expertise, consulting with other professionals to ensure the most appropriate assessments are undertaken, participating in referral triage, and presenting assessment findings at multidisciplinary panels to support diagnostic decision‑making.

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 10/03/2026.

• 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

Hywel Dda University Health Board operates a bilingual policy. All applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, and any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.