Job summary
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.
Interviews will take place in 2 parts. Virtual stakeholder panel on 9th October and formal interview 16th October 2026.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide a 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.
Working as a key member of the system partnership the post holder will be 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.
To carry a specialist caseload providing an excellent standard of occupational therapy service to children, young people and their families.
The post holder will be responsible for the development and delivery of a high quality, efficient and effective programme focusing on improving functional outcomes for children.
Ensuring structures are in place to support the team, measuring and reporting on objectives and key performance indicators with the wider system. They will work with leads within health and education to ensureintegration of clinical expertise, patient values, and the best research evidence into the planning and execution of the programme.
Trialling and testing the impact of early identification and support innovations for children with functional and sensory needs across neighbourhood partnerships.
About us
Rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.
There's one reason why our services are outstanding - and that's our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.
If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.
Please be aware that East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust will never ask applicants to pay fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including job applications, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. All recruitment communications and job applications should only be made through our official careers website and published contact details.
If you receive a suspicious job offer or recruitment-related communication, do not make any payments, share personal information, or provide identity documents. We encourage you to report the matter to your local police or relevant law enforcement agency. Any concerns relating to potential recruitment fraud should also be reported to our Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) as soon as possible.
Details
Date posted
09 September 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8a
Salary
£57,528 to £64,750 a year
per annum, pro-rata
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
2 years
Working pattern
Full-time,
Flexible working,
Home or remote working
Reference number
448-BCHS-8279950
Job locations
Woburn Court,
2 Railton Road, Woburn Road Ind. Estate
Kempston Bedfordshire
MK42 7PN
United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Leadership and Operational responsibility for the development, delivery and management of the Expert at Hand programme and Community Occupational Therapy team. This includes development of programmes and policies.
2. Work in collaboration with the Heads of service in health and education to develop the programme plan and evaluation with the focus on identification of functional needs within neighbourhood clusters in Luton and Bedfordshire.
3. The post holder will act as an expert within the wider system, making judgements involving complex facts or situations that require the analysis, interpretation, and comparison of a range of options.
4. Leading on recruitment of the workforce that will make up the Expert at Hand team.
5. Developing the support practitioner and apprenticeship roles including a training programme to deliver training and interventions, ensuring governance.
6. Provide Line management for the Advanced Paediatric Occupational Therapists.
7. Developing structured universal, targeted and targeted plus care pathways within the Expert At Hand programme with the Heads of Service in Health and Education to ensure most effective use of resources.
8. Develop and implement new ways of working, building on existing services and initiatives in Occupational Therapy.
9. Ensure coproduction is integral to the development of pathways and evaluations, engaging with parent carer forums and other stakeholders as appropriate.
1. Responsibility for delivering and arranging meetings with relevant stakeholders, providing programme status reports on a regular basis.
1. Responsibility for programme evaluation: ensuring outcome measures are developed and implemented to measure the impact of the Expert at Hand programme.
1. Use well developed change management, communication and resilience skills to effect change within the parameters of the programme, understanding the complexities of change whilst also being able to deliver change.
1. Supporting CYP with sensory and functional needs through delivering universal, targeted and targeted plus support offers.
1. Responsible for developing and maintaining momentum within the department with clear action plans relating to the development and delivery of the Expert at Hand programme.
1. Leading on the independent evaluation and reporting on KPIs throughout the of the project. Working closely with the Trust QI and data services team.
1. Developing and overseeing processes between the Expert at Hand and Specialist Occupational Therapy Service delivery models. Identifying opportunities for shared learning and resources.
1. As a system expert, leading workshops / shared learning events with other Expert at Hand Leads where needed, including the collation of consensus around an approach to delivery and resources.
1. The post holder will also have highly developed specialist clinical skills in sensory and functional Occupational Therapy. They may be responsible for the independent management of a small, highly complex clinical caseload of children, within their specialism and provide second opinions to other members of the team.
1. Develop clear clinical governance structures within the department including competency review, clinical supervision, clinical audit, SOPs and research.
2. To develop and maintain oversight of the departments Service Plan, in line with Trust processes.
2. To attend Trust meetings and feed into the Trusts clinical governance structure as a highly specialist clinical expert.
2. To be responsible for the development and implementation of service policies and procedures for the Experts at Hand Programme.
Job responsibilities
1. Leadership and Operational responsibility for the development, delivery and management of the Expert at Hand programme and Community Occupational Therapy team. This includes development of programmes and policies.
2. Work in collaboration with the Heads of service in health and education to develop the programme plan and evaluation with the focus on identification of functional needs within neighbourhood clusters in Luton and Bedfordshire.
3. The post holder will act as an expert within the wider system, making judgements involving complex facts or situations that require the analysis, interpretation, and comparison of a range of options.
4. Leading on recruitment of the workforce that will make up the Expert at Hand team.
5. Developing the support practitioner and apprenticeship roles including a training programme to deliver training and interventions, ensuring governance.
6. Provide Line management for the Advanced Paediatric Occupational Therapists.
7. Developing structured universal, targeted and targeted plus care pathways within the Expert At Hand programme with the Heads of Service in Health and Education to ensure most effective use of resources.
8. Develop and implement new ways of working, building on existing services and initiatives in Occupational Therapy.
9. Ensure coproduction is integral to the development of pathways and evaluations, engaging with parent carer forums and other stakeholders as appropriate.
1. Responsibility for delivering and arranging meetings with relevant stakeholders, providing programme status reports on a regular basis.
1. Responsibility for programme evaluation: ensuring outcome measures are developed and implemented to measure the impact of the Expert at Hand programme.
1. Use well developed change management, communication and resilience skills to effect change within the parameters of the programme, understanding the complexities of change whilst also being able to deliver change.
1. Supporting CYP with sensory and functional needs through delivering universal, targeted and targeted plus support offers.
1. Responsible for developing and maintaining momentum within the department with clear action plans relating to the development and delivery of the Expert at Hand programme.
1. Leading on the independent evaluation and reporting on KPIs throughout the of the project. Working closely with the Trust QI and data services team.
1. Developing and overseeing processes between the Expert at Hand and Specialist Occupational Therapy Service delivery models. Identifying opportunities for shared learning and resources.
1. As a system expert, leading workshops / shared learning events with other Expert at Hand Leads where needed, including the collation of consensus around an approach to delivery and resources.
1. The post holder will also have highly developed specialist clinical skills in sensory and functional Occupational Therapy. They may be responsible for the independent management of a small, highly complex clinical caseload of children, within their specialism and provide second opinions to other members of the team.
1. Develop clear clinical governance structures within the department including competency review, clinical supervision, clinical audit, SOPs and research.
What you will do
The post holder will provide a 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.
Working as a key member of the system partnership the post holder will be 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.
To carry a specialist caseload providing an excellent standard of occupational therapy service to children, young people and their families.
The post holder will be responsible for the development and delivery of a high quality, efficient and effective programme focusing on improving functional outcomes for children.
Ensuring structures are in place to support the team, measuring and reporting on objectives and key performance indicators with the wider system. They will work with leads within health and education to ensureintegration of clinical expertise, patient values, and the best research evidence into the planning and execution of the programme.
Trialling and testing the impact of early identification and support innovations for children with functional and sensory needs across neighbourhood partnerships.
1. Leadership and Operational responsibility for the development, delivery and management of the Expert at Hand programme and Community Occupational Therapy team. This includes development of programmes and policies.
2. Work in collaboration with the Heads of service in health and education to develop the programme plan and evaluation with the focus on identification of functional needs within neighbourhood clusters in Luton and Bedfordshire.
3. The post holder will act as an expert within the wider system, making judgements involving complex facts or situations that require the analysis, interpretation, and comparison of a range of options.
4. Leading on recruitment of the workforce that will make up the Expert at Hand team.
5. Developing the support practitioner and apprenticeship roles including a training programme to deliver training and interventions, ensuring governance.
6. Provide Line management for the Advanced Paediatric Occupational Therapists.
7. Developing structured universal, targeted and targeted plus care pathways within the Expert At Hand programme with the Heads of Service in Health and Education to ensure most effective use of resources.
8. Develop and implement new ways of working, building on existing services and initiatives in Occupational Therapy.
9. Ensure coproduction is integral to the development of pathways and evaluations, engaging with parent carer forums and other stakeholders as appropriate.
1. Responsibility for delivering and arranging meetings with relevant stakeholders, providing programme status reports on a regular basis.
1. Responsibility for programme evaluation: ensuring outcome measures are developed and implemented to measure the impact of the Expert at Hand programme.
1. Use well developed change management, communication and resilience skills to effect change within the parameters of the programme, understanding the complexities of change whilst also being able to deliver change.
1. Supporting CYP with sensory and functional needs through delivering universal, targeted and targeted plus support offers.
1. Responsible for developing and maintaining momentum within the department with clear action plans relating to the development and delivery of the Expert at Hand programme.
1. Leading on the independent evaluation and reporting on KPIs throughout the of the project. Working closely with the Trust QI and data services team.
1. Developing and overseeing processes between the Expert at Hand and Specialist Occupational Therapy Service delivery models. Identifying opportunities for shared learning and resources.
1. As a system expert, leading workshops / shared learning events with other Expert at Hand Leads where needed, including the collation of consensus around an approach to delivery and resources.
1. The post holder will also have highly developed specialist clinical skills in sensory and functional Occupational Therapy. They may be responsible for the independent management of a small, highly complex clinical caseload of children, within their specialism and provide second opinions to other members of the team.
1. Develop clear clinical governance structures within the department including competency review, clinical supervision, clinical audit, SOPs and research.
2. To develop and maintain oversight of the departments Service Plan, in line with Trust processes.
2. To attend Trust meetings and feed into the Trusts clinical governance structure as a highly specialist clinical expert.
2. To be responsible for the development and implementation of service policies and procedures for the Experts at Hand Programme.
1. Leadership and Operational responsibility for the development, delivery and management of the Expert at Hand programme and Community Occupational Therapy team. This includes development of programmes and policies.
2. Work in collaboration with the Heads of service in health and education to develop the programme plan and evaluation with the focus on identification of functional needs within neighbourhood clusters in Luton and Bedfordshire.
3. The post holder will act as an expert within the wider system, making judgements involving complex facts or situations that require the analysis, interpretation, and comparison of a range of options.
4. Leading on recruitment of the workforce that will make up the Expert at Hand team.
5. Developing the support practitioner and apprenticeship roles including a training programme to deliver training and interventions, ensuring governance.
6. Provide Line management for the Advanced Paediatric Occupational Therapists.
7. Developing structured universal, targeted and targeted plus care pathways within the Expert At Hand programme with the Heads of Service in Health and Education to ensure most effective use of resources.
8. Develop and implement new ways of working, building on existing services and initiatives in Occupational Therapy.
9. Ensure coproduction is integral to the development of pathways and evaluations, engaging with parent carer forums and other stakeholders as appropriate.
1. Responsibility for delivering and arranging meetings with relevant stakeholders, providing programme status reports on a regular basis.
1. Responsibility for programme evaluation: ensuring outcome measures are developed and implemented to measure the impact of the Expert at Hand programme.
1. Use well developed change management, communication and resilience skills to effect change within the parameters of the programme, understanding the complexities of change whilst also being able to deliver change.
1. Supporting CYP with sensory and functional needs through delivering universal, targeted and targeted plus support offers.
1. Responsible for developing and maintaining momentum within the department with clear action plans relating to the development and delivery of the Expert at Hand programme.
1. Leading on the independent evaluation and reporting on KPIs throughout the of the project. Working closely with the Trust QI and data services team.
1. Developing and overseeing processes between the Expert at Hand and Specialist Occupational Therapy Service delivery models. Identifying opportunities for shared learning and resources.
1. As a system expert, leading workshops / shared learning events with other Expert at Hand Leads where needed, including the collation of consensus around an approach to delivery and resources.
1. The post holder will also have highly developed specialist clinical skills in sensory and functional Occupational Therapy. They may be responsible for the independent management of a small, highly complex clinical caseload of children, within their specialism and provide second opinions to other members of the team.
1. Develop clear clinical governance structures within the department including competency review, clinical supervision, clinical audit, SOPs and research.
