Head of Services

This role will suit a child and adolescent mental health professional with experience of an education setting with management skills.

ABOUT US

ADO Therapy is a small specialist and evolving private company providing interventions and therapy pathways into education for children, young people and adults with animals, wildlife and nature. We are a sister company to ADO River Valley which is a small special independent school on the same site specialising in SEMH and this role will also support the school students with interventions appropriate to their EHCP if and when required. The young person referrals may have experienced trauma and/or abuse and be LAC. Presentations include anger, anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, LD, neurodiverse, behavioural issues.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Reporting to the Director of Services, we are seeking a Head of Services job share with responsibilities for the ADO Therapy Day services including ADO Fusion Alternative Provision and after school programmes.

ROLE KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (NOT LIMITED TO)

• Covering services for 2 days (Mon & Tuesday) per week as Head of Services providing a thorough handover to shared role (Wed am for 1 hour – ideally).
• Leading/oversee therapy modalities ensuring appropriately trained staff have a caseload suitable to their skillset which includes 1:1, group interventions for day services and after school clients.
• On the ground day to day management oversight and escalation for the ADO Therapy including ADO Fusion Day service and after school operations.
• Reviewing and managing ADO Fusion student/client EHCP next steps liaison with team and supervising psychotherapist and actions with the various staff team.
• Liaise with senior remote psychotherapist for workload shared across the companies.
• Time allocated to the RV school and ADO Therapy as required.
• Periodic: Leading group supervision monthly/half termly (dependent on caseload of staff involved in allocated therapy interventions) and ensuring outcome supervision is managed with the remote supervision therapist.
• Periodic: Leading Supervision for EAT/EAA/EAL facilitators.
• Daily monitoring ADO Fusion Education/Communication email inboxes and arranging replies/contact/meetings as appropriate to professionals and families.
• Oversight/escalation guidance for attendance and behaviour on ADO Fusion which is managed by the supervisor role.
• Mentoring the ADO Therapy DSL within hours of contract/operation and escalating for continuation with other seniors (Deputy Head of ADO RV supporting ADO Fusion under ADO Therapy/Kylanja or Director of Services as appropriate).
• Liaise with Deputy Head of ADO RV supporting ADO Fusion under ADO Therapy/Kylanja or Director of Services to arrange their direct support/attendance for SENCO meetings as needed to support the current ADO Therapy SENCO.
• Curriculum Lead – Ensure ADO Fusion are mirroring the curriculum in ADO RV with therapy embedded to ensure the yp are being challenged to overcome their fears and obtain qualifications or progress to FT pathway liaising with the Headteacher of ADO RV as required.
• Periodic Weekly: Timely and effective review of debrief/handovers on Monday AM from shared role share Head of Services to the ADO Fusion supervisor each Friday (part-time role requirement).
• Periodic Weekly: Timely and effective debrief/handovers to role share Head of Services (ideally for a Wed AM 1 hour – paid).
• Periodic Monthly: Lead onsite visit of ADO RV representative to ensure accountability of yp needs is being met for those on section I of ADO River Valley.
• Periodic: PDP's with staff in line with current 2025 format bulleted documentation for core teams on ADO Therapy/ADO Fusion.
• Periodic: Reviewing handbooks periodically (termly) for any required updates/learning gaps and liaising for upload and ensuring the RV school Head are informed as appropriate if any major updates/learning areas may need to be mirrored with the school.
• Ensuring handbooks are updated with version control and office are aware for circulation purposes and saved on drives appropriately.
• Periodic: Reviewing ADO Therapy policies and procedure periodically (annual unless learning gaps or legislation changes force changes) and liaison with the office to ensure the website holds current versions.
• The ADO Therapy policies mirror the ADO RV school and the Headteacher owns this task therefore this will be a secondary review and proof to ensure both companies are managing internal or DfE /Independent School updates in timely manner.

ESSENTIAL

• Management and team leadership skills.
• Knowledge & understanding of SENCO requirements.
• Knowledge & understanding of Therapy supervision – Written and Oral communication skills.
• Computer literacy.
• Full driving licence with use of own car for driving between our admin office for potential admin/planning periods and offsite meetings.

DESIRABLE

• Therapy qualifications – Level 5 / above qualification in education & learning for Curriculum & Education / Ofsted requirements.
• Experience and confidence in presenting as face of ADO Therapy at networking events.

SUPERVISION, TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

You will be provided opportunities or will be expected to engage in CPD to maintain knowledge and are expected to contribute service development.