Senior Occupational Therapist

eTeach UK Limited; Birmingham; Remote; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Compass Community Schools is seeking an experienced Occupational Therapist to assume the organisational clinical lead role for OT. You will shape OT provision across our schools, establish clinical pathways and standards, and use outcomes to drive continual improvement.

You will supervise therapists, lead workforce development, and champion services that promote participation, independence and wellbeing for learners.

Qualifications

• HCPC registration and RCOT membership.
• Experience supervising and managing Occupational Therapists.
• Experience of clinical leadership and service development.
• Strong understanding of trauma, attachment, neurodiversity, sensory processing and emotional regulation.
• Commitment to occupation-centred and participation-focused practice.
• Experience developing others through supervision, training, coaching and consultation.
• Clinical supervision qualification or equivalent experience is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of clinical standards, systems and approaches across Compass Community Schools.
• Provide clinical supervision and professional leadership to Occupational Therapists.
• Lead recruitment, induction, and performance development for the OT team.
• Coordinate national OT training and workforce development resources.
• Develop the Occupational Therapy Champion programme and promote whole-school sensory regulation and participation.
• Support schools to embed therapeutic approaches into everyday education.

Skills

HCPC registration

RCOT membership

OT supervision

Clinical leadership

Trauma-informed

Neurodiversity

Sensory processing

Participation-focused

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the development of a growing Occupational Therapy service, ensuring that children and young people receive high-quality, evidence-informed and trauma-responsive support wherever they are in our organisation.

Working closely with the National Lead SENDCo, you'll lead the development of consistent clinical standards, systems and approaches across our schools, while ensuring that Occupational Therapy remains focused on what matters most: participation, independence, wellbeing and positive outcomes for every learner.

A role with national influence

As our organisational clinical lead for Occupational Therapy, you'll have the opportunity to influence how OT is delivered across Compass Community Schools.

You will lead the strategic development of our OT provision, establish clinical pathways and standards, and use quality assurance, service evaluation and outcomes to continually improve our practice.

You will also provide specialist advice on complex sensory, functional, participation and regulation needs, supporting our Occupational Therapists and wider school teams to develop confident, effective practice.

A key part of your role will be developing our Occupational Therapy Champion programme, helping schools build sustainable OT knowledge and creating a whole-school culture where sensory regulation, occupational participation and independence are everyone's responsibility.

Leading and developing our people

You will provide clinical supervision and professional leadership to our Occupational Therapists, supporting their development, wellbeing and professional practice.

You will play an important role in recruitment, induction, appraisal and performance development, while creating opportunities for our therapists to share expertise, learn from one another and continually develop their practice.

You will also lead national OT training and workforce development, creating resources and guidance that help our schools embed therapeutic approaches into everyday education.

About you

We're looking for an experienced Occupational Therapist who is ready to combine strong clinical expertise with strategic leadership.

You will bring:

• - HCPC registration and RCOT membership.
• - Significant experience within specialist education and/or therapeutic services.
• - Experience supervising and managing Occupational Therapists.
• - Experience of clinical leadership and service development.
• - A strong understanding of trauma, attachment, neurodiversity, sensory processing and emotional regulation.
• - A commitment to occupation-centred and participation-focused practice.
• - Experience of developing others through supervision, training, coaching and consultation.
• - A passion for improving services and creating sustainable, evidence-informed practice.

A clinical supervision qualification or equivalent experience is essential.

Experience within specialist education, residential care, multidisciplinary teams or regional/multi-site services would be advantageous, as would additional training in areas such as Sensory Integration, Autism, Attachment, Trauma, Emotional Regulation or Assistive Technology.

Our values

Our values of Courage, Integrity and Care are at the heart of how we work.

Courage – We advocate confidently for children and young people, challenge barriers and have the courage to develop new and innovative approaches.

Integrity – We uphold high clinical and ethical standards, take responsibility for our decisions and provide honest, respectful and constructive leadership.

Care – We build trusting relationships, create emotionally safe and supportive environments, and remain focused on the wellbeing, belonging, independence and positive outcomes of every learner.

This is an opportunity to help shape something with national reach and lasting impact.

You’ll be joining an education team where Occupational Therapy is valued as an integral part of supporting children and young people to thrive. You’ll have the autonomy to develop services, the opportunity to influence organisational strategy and the platform to support a team of therapists to deliver outstanding practice.

This is a remote role, with travel across Compass Community Schools an expected requirement of this position.