This post leads the Experts at Hand model within Bromley Healthcare's Children's Occupational Therapy Service, bringing specialist occupational therapy into mainstream schools and early years settings. The lead coaches staff, models OT strategies in context and delivers targeted interventions, while holding a small specialist caseload of children with complex needs. It is a 37.5-hour role managing a team of occupational therapists, including recruitment, appraisal and absence management. HCPC registration and significant post-registration paediatric experience are essential.
What the job involves
- Lead delivery of the Experts at Hand model as locality lead, driving early identification, inclusive practice and workforce capability
- Coach and model OT strategies in context, shaping whole-school approaches and embedding evidence-based practice in schools and early years settings
- Deliver targeted interventions and support staff training, responding flexibly to emerging locality needs
- Maintain a small targeted-plus and specialist caseload, providing assessment, intervention and collaborative problem-solving for children with complex needs
- Manage a team of occupational therapists and support them in building capacity and delivering the offer to schools and early years settings
- Ensure children who need specialist care receive timely assessments
- Provide leadership and line management, including recruitment and retention, appraisal, and performance and absence management
- Offer specialist support and education to healthcare colleagues and other agencies involved in children's care
- Work autonomously across homes, clinics, schools, nurseries and specialist educational settings
- Work within a multidisciplinary team in a tiered service model
Qualifications
- Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent training or study
- Field Work Educator course or equivalent training or experience
- Post-registration training or qualifications in relevant specialist areas, e.g. sensory integration levels 1 and 2, CO-OP approach, neurodevelopment and complex needs
Registration & licences
- HCPC registration
Experience
- Significant post-registration experience within paediatrics
- Experience of working in a community setting
- Experience of complex caseload management
- Interventions for children with a range of difficulties, including moving and handling and specialist equipment use
- Assessment and provision of EHC reports, with knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice, legislation and safeguarding
- Leadership and management, including appraisal and performance and absence management
Skills & knowledge
- Current, evidence-informed, occupation-based clinical skills, with excellent knowledge of child development, conditions and OT implications
- Ability to assess and recommend specialist equipment
- Ability to assess and analyse functional abilities using standardised and non-standardised methods
- Proven leadership skills, empowering others, with sound understanding of accountability, delegation and escalation
- Excellent written communication, including detailed reports, contemporaneous notes and timely records
Other
- Solid IT skills, including experience of electronic clinical systems, equipment ordering, diaries and rosters
Nice to have
- Training specific to the EHC process, including report writing and giving evidence at tribunals or hearings
- Experience of attending EHC panels
- Experience of providing specialist OT school provision
- Experience of leading policy and/or service development
- Experience of using EMIS
- Experience of using eRoster
What’s offered
- Pension schemes
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Discounts including gym memberships, high street retailers, home furnishings and electronics
- Blue Light Card eligibility
- Low-interest personal loans
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Contact Details:
The Methodist Church in Britain Recruitment Team
