Clinical Lead - Occupational Therapist

Acorn Care and Education; England; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational organization in the UK is seeking a Lead Clinician – Occupational Therapist to manage the Clinical Team at Dibden Park School. The role involves delivering tailored assessments and interventions for students with complex needs while ensuring effective collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team. A valid HCPC registration, significant experience in child/education settings, and strong leadership abilities are essential. Benefits include life assurance, mental health support services, and a flexible work schedule.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Wide range of mental health support services

4-day work week option

Family Growth Support

Health and wellbeing benefits

Discount options

Cycle to Work Schemes

Electric Car Purchase Scheme

Critical illness cover

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years post qualification experience preferably in a child/education setting.
• Experience working with autistic individuals and/or those with complex needs.
• Experience of multi‑professional work with teams or services within the designated specialty preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage in‑house Clinical Team at Dibden Park School.
• Deliver bespoke assessment and intervention plans for students.
• Coordinate line management of the onsite clinical team and lead on service development.

Skills

HCPC registered Occupational Therapist

Ability to work independently

Clear and concise report writing

Experience of supervision and supporting a therapy team

Dynamic work approach

Education

Valid and up to date professional Registration & membership of professional body

Minimum 2 years post qualification experience

Tools

Access to own vehicle

Job description

Are you looking for an employer who can offer you opportunities for growth and development in your clinical career‑All whilst working within a friendly multidisciplinary team in a rewarding education setting? Do you want to have opportunities to participate in research projects, special interest groups and form part of a wider clinical network that meets regularly for training & development? Do you want to have flexibility and be able to work creatively to deliver specialist assessments and interventions fostering independence within an education setting? How about working for an employer who has been awarded a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the 5th year running? Does working 4 days a week with FULL pay sound like a dream?!* It doesn't have to be! Have a better work/life balance and come and work for Outcomes First Group!

Job Title

Lead Clinician

Location

Dibden Park School – Hampshire SO45 5TD

Salary

£50,000 – £60,000 FTE DOE

Hours

37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm

Contract

Permanent (Term time only, or flexibility around full‑time contract can be discussed based on your personal circumstances)

Essential (Transport)

Full valid UK driving licence and access to own transport

Role Overview

We are looking for a Lead Clinician – Occupational Therapist to manage our in‑house Clinical Team at Dibden Park School. The postholder will work collaboratively with both the school’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the Regional Clinical Lead. The role will be split between clinically leading the team and holding a therapy caseload. Working collaboratively with the team, the postholder will deliver bespoke assessment and intervention plans for our students who may present with complex profiles of need as a result of autism and other types of neurodivergence, developmental trauma and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. Meeting the needs of EHCP plans will be a primary focus in this role, target‑led, via the OFG ‘all’, ‘group’ and ‘individual’ clinical ways of working, embedded into our clinical practice. They will also be responsible for coordinating the line management of the members of the onsite clinical team and leading on the service development of the clinical school‑based service, alongside the school SLT and Regional Clinical Lead.

Our Clinical Teams help maintain a person‑centred, empowering approach always putting the pupils we support at the forefront of everything they do. All our settings maintain a strong safeguarding culture, and the pupils we support are heard, respected, and involved in decisions that affect them. We strive for excellence, which is why we are one of the leading service providers in the UK. With this in mind, we are looking for a Lead Clinician who shares our vision to use innovative approaches to enhance the quality of life and outcomes of the pupils we support.

Location: Dibden Park School – Hampshire – Dibden Park School forms part of our Acorn Education brand, and is an independent specialist day school, supporting children and young people aged 5 – 16

Dibden Park School – School Finder - Acorn. For further information regarding this vacancy please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification attached.

Essential Criteria

• HCPC registered Occupational Therapist
• Valid and up to date professional Registration & membership of professional body e.g. BPS
• Minimum 2 years post qualification experience preferably in a child/education setting, preferably management experience
• Experience within the specialist client group; working with autistic individuals and/or those with complex needs
• Clear and concise report writing relating to clinical and research activities
• Experience of providing supervision and supporting a therapy team
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to work dynamically and within a growing and developing clinical service
• Experience of multi‑professional work with teams or services within the designated specialty preferred
• Full UK valid driving licence and access to own vehicle

Benefits

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first‑class mental health support services and physical health checks
• ‘You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit’
• Family Growth Support – inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support
• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover