Job summary
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking an experienced and innovative Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist (Band 7) to join the Experts at Hand programme within the Children and Young People's Integrated Therapy Service.

This exciting role sits at the forefront of SEND reform, supporting mainstream education settings across Buckinghamshire to develop inclusive environments that enable children and young people to thrive. Working collaboratively across education, health and care, the post holder will provide highly specialist occupational therapy consultation, coaching, training and targeted support to schools, early years settings, further education colleges, special schools and alternative provision.

The role focuses on early intervention, prevention and capacity building, helping education settings identify and overcome barriers to participation, learning and independence through the graduated approach. Rather than delivering statutory therapy, the successful candidate will empower education staff to implement evidence-based occupational therapy strategies and reasonable adjustments within everyday learning environments.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated occupational therapist with expertise in SEND, inclusion and occupational performance, who is passionate about influencing practice at a systems level and improving outcomes for children and young people across Buckinghamshire.

Main duties of the job
As a Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist within the Experts at Hand programme, you will provide expert consultation, coaching and training to education settings across Buckinghamshire, supporting the development of inclusive environments. Working collaboratively with schools, colleges and early years providers, you will identify and reduce barriers to participation, independence and learning through whole-setting observations, environmental assessments and evidence-based occupational therapy recommendations.

Using your specialist knowledge, you will support education staff to implement effective strategies for children and young people with a range of needs, including sensory processing differences, motor coordination difficulties, functional independence difficulties and participation restrictions. You will coach and empower staff to make reasonable adjustments and embed inclusive practice through the graduated approach.

The role includes designing and delivering training programmes, workshops and resources that build workforce confidence and capability across education settings; working closely with colleagues across health, education, social care and the voluntary sector, strengthening local SEND provision and supporting positive outcomes for children and young people.

You will provide supervision and support to occupational therapy colleagues and therapy assistants, while contributing to service development, quality improvement, audit and innovation initiatives.

About us
Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! - Apply through our website

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?

• As part of our BHT family, you'll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
• We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes.
• We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

Why work for us?

• We're committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
• As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued, and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
• Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.

What do we stand for?

• Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
• Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
• Our CARE values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.

Job responsibilities
For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.

If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on bht.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number.

Person Specification
Values
Essential

• Communicates openly, honestly and professionally and actively promotes team working and building strong working relationships
• Patients are always first. Drives service improvements. Strong self-awareness with a desire to grow
• Treats all with compassion and kindness. Ensures everyone feels valued
• Consults others and listens to their views/opinions. Enables others to take the initiative

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Essential

• Recognised Occupational Therapy degree qualification or equivalent
• Current Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration / Licence to Practise
• Evidence of continuing professional development, including post registration training relevant to children and young people
• Post-registration specialist training relevant to occupational therapy needs (including sensory, motor, self-regulation and functional participation needs)
• Evidence of training in supervision, coaching, teaching or workforce development

Desirable

• Registered member of the relevant professional body (RCOT)

EXPERIENCE
Essential

• Substantial post-registration experience working with children and young people (0-19) with a complex range of needs
• Highly specialist experience of assessing and managing occupational therapy needs (including sensory, motor, self regulation and functional participation needs) in children and young people
• Experience of working within, or in close partnership with, education and early years settings
• Experience of delivering consultation, coaching and modelling to non-therapy staff
• Experience of designing and delivering training to professionals and the wider workforce
• Experience of supervising, mentoring or line managing staff and/or assistants

Desirable

• Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary and multi-agency team
• Experience of service evaluation, audit or quality improvement
• Experience of contributing to the graduated approach and SEND processes

SKILLS, ABILITIES & KNOWLEDGE
Essential

• Highly specialist knowledge and clinical reasoning relating to occupational therapy needs (including sensory, motor, self regulation and functional participation needs)
• Advanced knowledge of current SEND legislation, the SEND Code of Practice, the graduated approach and SEND reform, spanning education and health
• Knowledge of relevant OT assessment tools and evidence-based interventions for this population
• Knowledge of relevant OT assessment tools and evidence-based interventions for this population
• Highly developed communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to a range of audiences
• Ability to negotiate, influence and manage differences of professional opinion constructively
• Ability to prioritise and organise a complex, autonomous caseload across multiple settings
• Ability to develop resources and deliver engaging training and coaching
• Knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities and their application in practice
• Competent IT and record keeping skills, including electronic record systems and remote / virtual delivery, clinical and non-clinical

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Essential

• Ability to travel independently across Buckinghamshire to multiple community and education settings
• Ability to transport resources and equipment required for service delivery

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).