About the Role

East of England Community Health and Care Trust is establishing Experts at Hand, a major national SEND reform project recognising the importance of Occupational Therapy within early years, mainstream schools and further education. The programme aims to improve early identification and strengthen workforce capability across education settings.

The postholder will provide senior clinical and operational leadership for the development and delivery of the Occupational Therapy element of Experts at Hand across Luton and Bedfordshire. As a credible specialist OT, they will work with partners in educational psychology, speech and language therapy, CAMHS, local authorities and education to co-produce an integrated offer.

Working closely with the Head of Service, the Clinical Lead will establish effective team structures, support safe and high-quality delivery, and monitor and report objectives and key performance indicators. They will ensure that clinical expertise, the voices of children, young people and families, and best available evidence inform programme planning and delivery.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop senior strategic and operational leadership skills while helping to shape a new multidisciplinary service supporting children and young people with functional and sensory needs across neighbourhood partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership role, taking operational responsibility for the delivery of the Expert at Hand SEND reform processes and Occupational Therapy Services in Luton and Bedfordshire.
• Work as a key member of the system partnership, being a credible, specialist Occupational Therapy expert, whole service highly-specialist advisor, as well as a significant resource to the wider health, education, social care and other related agencies.
• Carry a specialist caseload providing an excellent standard of occupational therapy service to children, young people and their families.
• Responsible for the development and delivery of a high quality, efficient and effective programme focusing on improving functional outcomes for children.
• Ensure structures are in place to support the team, measuring and reporting on objectives and key performance indicators with the wider system.
• Work with leads within health and education to ensure integration of clinical expertise, patient values, and the best research evidence into the planning and execution of the programme.
• Trial and test the impact of early identification and support innovations for children with functional and sensory needs across neighbourhood partnerships.