Independent Occupational Therapist

Independent Occupational Therapist for our Centre for Fostering and Adoption Support Service.

Location: North West England

Closing date: 9:00am on Monday 2 nd November 2026?

Interview date: TBC

Pay and Work Allocation: The rate of pay is £75 per hour. Plus, milage at 45p/mile (for the first 10,000 miles driven in the tax year). The person would need to be located in or around Warrington (the North West of England) as regular travel across the region is required, with a mix of home-based and in-person working with families.

We are looking foran

Occupational Therapist who has the ability to work with children, young people and adults, including people with disabilities,
on a self-employed basis.

About us

Adoption Matters is a children’s charity and one of the largest voluntary adoption agencies in the UK. Werecruit, train and support individuals, couples and families looking to adopt and offer ongoing support and training. Wealso offer a support service for adopted adults and birth families, and aspecialisedtherapyservice.

In 2024, we launched ournot-for-profitfostering agency, Foster Care Matters .As anon‑profitprovider,the serviceis committed to reinvesting resources to deliver high-quality support and ongoing training for foster parents.

More recently in2026, weacquired1 st Affinity Fostering Service in Wrexham,securing a not-for-profit future for the agency in Wales.

The Centre for Fostering and Adoption Support (CFAS) service offers a wide range of support and training services for fostering, adoption and permanency. The successful self-employed applicant will carry out work as required in assisting the Centre for Fostering and Adoption Support (CFAS) in its delivery of multi professional fostering and adoption support services.

Make a differenceandplay a pivotal role in ensuring the charity delivers meaningful outcomes.

What we’re looking for:

Experience and qualifications

• Experience of therapeutic work with children and parents/carers
• Qualified Occupational Therapist Registration with a professional body i.e. HCPC Registration is essential. Training in specific assessment and therapeutic methods such as Ayres Sensory Integration, Theraplay, DDP, EMDR, ASI, Story Stem Assessment, BUSS and SAI qualifications is desirable.

Knowledge

• Professional knowledge of child and adolescent development, trauma and loss Knowledge of Adoption & Children Act 2002 Associated Guidance and Regulations Adoption Support Regulations 2005 Knowledge of Attachment Theory and its lifelong impact.
• Awareness of current adoption and childcare research and experience of applying it in practice.
• Knowledge of Adoption Matters or an interest in finding out about the agency and how it operates.

Ability

• To effectively manage a complex and diverse caseload with support and advice from a contact manager, using evidence-based / child-centred principles: including prioritisation assessment.
• To contribute to the training and education of staff, to ensure a quality service is delivered.
• To contribute to a high-quality service, by working within national, local and professional standards and to act as a source of expertise and advice for other professionals.
• To support the services expanding its philosophy and its commitment in the field of Fostering, adoption and permanency and to share in the agency’s development plans.
• To comply with the agency’s statutory obligations, including fostering, adoption and safeguarding of children and adults.

Equality,Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At Adoption Matters, we are committed to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered. Our ambition is to create a culture that embraces diversity, promotes equality,…