Job summary
Southend City Council is establishing a new SEND TherapiesService for schools and settings across the council.
The service will deliver universal and targeted support to childrenand young people (CYP) with a range of physical and sensory needs and providesupport to Southend schools and settings in developing exceptional learningopportunities and inclusive learning environments.
We are seeking an experienced and highly specialist occupationaltherapist to join our team. This role will involve supporting schools todevelop appropriate school-based provision for physical and sensory needsincluding sensory audits, development of sensory spaces, fine and gross motorsupport, and leading and managing a team of occupational therapy assistants,measuring the impact of the service by reducing pressure on statutory andspecialist services and early identification and support for CYP with physicaland sensory needs.
This new, innovative service will give a therapist theopportunity to be a part of a project transforming the outcomes for CYP inSouthend.
Please note that although this role will involve some hybridworking you will be required to be present in schools and settings in Southendmost of the working week. Workingpatterns and locations will be predominately led by the needs of the settings.
To discuss the role further please contact
Main duties of the job
To deliver high quality support and guidance to Southend mainstream schools and settings to develop their universal and targeted provision for children and young people with physical and sensory needs.
Tosupervise a team of occupational therapy assistants delivering targetedservices to schools
Tomonitor and develop universal and targeted support for schools including datacapture and reporting.
Tocontribute to service and policy development.
About us
Our values and behaviours are at the heart of everything we do and are key to the delivery of our ambition for Southend. They help us to create a working environment in which staff can work together to deliver outstanding services. We want people who will share our values and display the right behaviours to ensure that we are working collaboratively, flexibly and responsibly to achieve our goals.
Our Values
Our values drive the way we influence others, how we talk to each other, how we work together to achieve outcomes and how we behave:
1. Inclusive We put people at the heart of what we do
2. Collaborative We work together
3. Proud We are proud to make lives better
4. Honest We are honest, fair and accountable
Our Behaviours
Our behaviours are about how we conduct ourselves. They demonstrate how we expect people to treat others, how we expect to be treated and the way we should react to others and our environment:
5. Driving positive change
6. Trust and respect
7. Demonstrating strong leadership
8. Acting with integrity and behaving responsibly
9. Building relationships to work well together
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
To deliver high quality support and guidance to Southend mainstream schools and settings to develop their universal and targeted provision for children and young people with physical and sensory needs
To lead on pilots and projects across Southend related to occupational therapy
To supervise a team of occupational therapy assistants delivering targeted services to schools
To monitor and develop universal and targeted support for schools including data capture and reporting.
To contribute to service and policy development.
PrincipalAccountabilities and Responsibilities
This will involve:
Provideregular supervision and line management to the occupational therapy assistantteam to ensure effective practice, encourage reflection, and support careerdevelopment.
Participatingin training programmes and associated work experiences to facilitateprogression opportunities.
Coordinatecaseloads and allocate resources effectively to ensure timely and high-qualityservice delivery.
Foster apositive and supportive team culture, promoting collaboration, innovation andcontinuous improvement.
Use a range of evidenceand performance data to refine and improve future service design.
Support the creation of innovative projects aimed atimproving outcomes and support for children and young people.
Maintain accurateand up to date records of intervention and outcome measures.
Deliver trainingsessions and workshops to school staff, parents and care givers on strategiesto support physical and sensory development in children.
Provide guidanceand support to teaching staff and teaching assistants in implementing occupationaltherapy techniques within the classroom setting.
Work with schools and settings to promote betterunderstanding and improvements to support systems, learning environments, curriculumadjustments and approaches aimed at improvingoutcomes and the educational experience for children and young people. Provide universaland targeted support to schools and settings, children and young people, andtheir families.
To work closely with Specialist Teaching Service and other learningservice areas to monitor and evaluate the impact of outreach provision toensure it meets individual and local needs.
Maintain current knowledge and expertise in government legislation andguidelines pertaining to schools, children, and young people with SEND, as wellas their families, and effectively communicate this information as necessary.
Collaborateclosely with schools, children, young people, and their families to addresseducational challenges, ensuring accurate identification of servicerequirements, valuing their perspectives, and actively engaging them inenhancing future service design.
To implement and understand the services complaints procedure, todeescalate and manage initial complaints from families, carers, and otherprofessionals.
Work within Southend City Councils safeguarding policy and framework. Monitorand manage potential risk within area of responsibility. Employees should beaware of and are required to act in such a way that promotes the health andwell-being of children and young people with SEND and vulnerable learners.
This Job Description is a guide to the level and range ofresponsibilities the post holder will be expected to undertake. It is neitherexhaustive nor inclusive and may be subject to changes to meet legislativerequirements in relation to the SEND Code of Practise, changing circumstancesand business demands of the service.
You are expected to operate flexibly to support delivery of servicesand from time to time will be required to undertake responsibilities outsidethe normal remit of your role description as required by the line manager,which are broadly commensurate with the job level and scope of competence.
These duties will be subject to regular appraisal and any amendmentswill be made in consultation and agreement with the post holder.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
10. Working with children and young people in educational settings
11. Clear, advanced clinical reasoning based on evidenced-based practice within paediatrics.
12. Specialised knowledge of physical and sensory needs in mainstream schools
13. A high level of specific professional expertise in Occupational Therapy, including knowledge of conditions, treatment and best practice for children and young people
14. Experience of training school staff and assistants and skills in presentation to deliver both formal and informal training.
15. Working collaboratively with parents/carers and other professionals
16. Knowledge and experience of assessment (including standardised) and treatment techniques in paediatrics.
17. Experience of service development
18. Experience of offering clinical supervision
19. Evidence of team/leadership responsibilities
20. Experience of carrying out risk assessments
21. Experience of running pilots and projects
22. Experience of undertaking appraisal and planning CPD for less experienced staff
23. Specialised knowledge of assessment tools, treatment techniques and therapeutic interventions
24. Demonstrate clear clinical reasoning based on evidence-based practice.
25. Understanding of safeguarding
26. Awareness of the principles of clinical governance/audit
27. Understanding and application of standards of record keeping and reporting.
28. Working knowledge of the roles of other professionals in Health, Education and Social Care involved with CYP.
29. Demonstrates well developed ability to analyse and reflect upon complex information.
30. Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
31. Evidence of excellent organisational skills
32. Prioritisation skills
33. Able to work independently as an autonomous practitioner.
34. Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume leadership responsibilities.
35. Negotiation, problem solving concentration, analytical and reflection skills.
36. Demonstrate advanced skills in prioritisation, communication, and time management.
37. Good interpersonal skills which reflect the Values and Behaviours of Southend City Council.
38. Able to maintain confidentiality and sensitivity in all circumstances.
39. Evidence of commitment to equality and diversity.
40. Ability to travel to meet the needs of the post.
41. Advanced computer skills.
Qualifications
Essential
42. Registration with Health Professions Council as an Occupational Therapist.
43. Recognised Occupational Therapy degree qualification or equivalent.
44. Registered member of RCOT.