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.
- 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 ensure integration 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.
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.
For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Harriet Snowdon Job title: Head of Allied Health Professional Services Email address: harriet.snowdon2@nhs.net
#J-18808-Ljbffr…