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- Tasks: Lead and manage high-quality early years therapy services for children.
- Company: Join Berkshire Healthcare, a top-rated NHS trust committed to outstanding care.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Must be an allied health professional with leadership experience.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with strong support for diversity and wellbeing.
The predicted salary is between 43000 - 50000 £ per year.
Are you passionate about shaping and delivering high-quality services for children in their early years? We're looking for an experienced and motivated allied health professional to take a key leadership role within our Children and Young People's Integrated Therapies (CYPIT) service. As Operational Lead, you will be responsible for the day-to-day management of our Early Years Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Speech & Language Therapy services. This includes supporting the under-5 autism assessment pathway and developing the JAC clinic model to strengthen integrated working across teams.
Main duties of the job
- Provide operational leadership, ensuring services run smoothly and performance targets are achieved.
- Line manage and support a defined team of staff, promoting development and best practice.
- Work closely with the CYPIT leadership team and clinicians to plan, coordinate, deliver, and evaluate services.
- Lead service development in your area of responsibility, collaborating with senior managers and professional leads.
- Build and maintain effective partnerships with wider agencies to meet the needs of pre-school children.
- Support tribunal work and contribute to decision-making at SEN panels, working closely with local authority SEN and legal teams.
- Hold a small clinical caseload where required.
- Deputise for the CYPIT Early Years and School Age Leads when needed.
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
- Your wellbeing is important to us.
Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
Job responsibilities
The must have's for this role:
- An allied health professional with experience in service delivery and leadership.
- Skilled in partnership working, with excellent communication and organisational abilities.
- Confident in leading teams, driving service improvement, and ensuring high-quality outcomes for children and families.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification. We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Gemma West on 07789741450 or email: gemma.west@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
- HCPC Registered
- Completion of post graduate education relevant to clinical role of post
- Management and/or leadership training
- Continuous Professional Development
- QMIS training
- Care Aims - IBCDM and Getting to the Heart of the Matter
Previous Experience
- Evidence of experience in clinical work in children's services to a level of in depth knowledge and expertise
- Contribution to clinical supervisory or mentoring less experienced staff, students or assistants
- Evidence of leadership e.g. staff management, leading a project, change in practice
- Experience of developing and using performance management information to inform service planning and development
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- High level of knowledge of service provision within children's therapy services
- High level of clinical expertise in relevant profession with the ability to support and develop junior/less experienced staff as needed.
- Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments
- Good understanding of budget/finance and impact for service development and delivery
- Understanding of data in performance monitoring and delivery of services
- Efficient, effective diplomatic communication skills both written and verbal
- Awareness of community working partnerships and structures
- Working knowledge of arrangements for children's health services and early help including knowledge of legislation, SEND, statutory guidance, government policy, practice guidance and best practice.
- Ability to identify and use outcome measures to inform performance and productivity
- Ability to demonstrate and apply understanding of the unique contribution of each of the 3 primary therapy professions and how they can work together
Additional Requirements
- Car driver with access to own car and ability to travel to multiple sites
- Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£50,008 to £56,908 a year per annum (Incl of HCAS)
Operational Lead Early Years, EAST in Maidenhead employer: Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Contact Detail:
Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operational Lead Early Years, EAST in Maidenhead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the health and education sectors. Attend local events or workshops related to early years services. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation thoroughly. Understand their values, recent projects, and challenges they face in early years services. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Be ready to share examples of how you've successfully managed teams or improved services in your previous roles. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and make them impactful.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Berkshire Healthcare, where we value commitment and innovation in early years services.
We think you need these skills to ace Operational Lead Early Years, EAST in Maidenhead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Make sure to customise your supporting statement to match the job description. Highlight how your experience aligns with the key responsibilities and skills mentioned, especially in service delivery and leadership.
Showcase Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for working with children in their early years shine through. Share specific examples of how you've made a positive impact in similar roles or projects, as this will resonate with us at Berkshire Healthcare.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your qualifications and experiences at a glance. Remember, clarity is key!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website for the best chance of being considered. It’s straightforward and ensures your application goes directly to us, making the process smoother for everyone.
How to prepare for a job interview at Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest practices in early years therapy services. Familiarise yourself with the specific therapies you'll be overseeing, like Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Speech & Language Therapy. This will show your passion and expertise during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past. Think about times when you drove service improvements or supported staff development. Being able to articulate these experiences will demonstrate your capability as an Operational Lead.
✨Understand the Bigger Picture
Research Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and its values. Be ready to discuss how your personal values align with theirs, especially around caring for children and working collaboratively. This will help you connect with the interviewers on a deeper level.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions about the role and the team dynamics. Inquire about the challenges they face in the Early Years services or how they measure success. This shows your genuine interest and helps you assess if the role is the right fit for you.
