Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist - Experts at Hand

Job overview

We are excited to recruit to our new Experts at Hand team, supporting the local delivery of national SEND reforms.

The Department for Education's Experts at Hand initiative brings speech and language therapists and occupational therapists into mainstream schools and colleges to provide early SEND support.

We are seeking a Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist to help develop the service, building on learning from national pathfinder and local projects. The role focuses on supporting children and young people with occupational needs to improve participation, independence and wellbeing within mainstream education settings.

As a leader within the Experts at Hand team, you will be responsible for delivering Occupational Therapy services in line with programme guidance. Working with education settings, you will support universal, targeted and targeted-plus interventions through whole-setting approaches, consultation, workforce development, group work and early intervention.

There will also be opportunities to work within the core Occupational Therapy service to maintain and develop wider clinical skills.

You will join a supportive multidisciplinary team committed to delivering high-quality care. We offer supervision, peer support and access to in-house and external CPD opportunities to support your clinical and career development.

Main duties of the job

Your leadership expertise will be essential in guiding the local system response in the continued shift toward preventative support.

Your experience of evidence based inclusive approaches that build staff confidence and capability through to targeted support for children and young people with emerging needs to help prevent escalation, will influence system decision making and impact the accessibility of appropriate support.

Your skills in research and innovation will ensure continuous improvement in delivering services.

You will join a team of occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists who work collaboratively and are committed to delivering NHS values and providing compassionate support to children and young people, parents, and one another.

• To be part of the OT leadership team; implementing, developing, and evaluating the programme in line with the agreed service specifications.
• To provide clinical leadership for the programme for children with Universal and Targeted Needs.
• To work in close partnership with other professionals and organisations to deliver a public health model of care, making a significant contribution to improving health, social and education outcomes, and reducing inequalities in access to services.
• To be responsible for issues relating to clinical and best practice in early years and schools, together with the OT leadership

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the full Job Description and Person Specification for details

Please note this vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications is received, we advise you submit your application early to avoid disappointment.

Applicant requirements

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.