Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist - Experts at Hand
At a glance
- Band
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
- Posted
- 27/08/2026
- Closes
- 10/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This role is for a Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist to join the new Experts at Hand team, supporting national SEND reforms by providing early SEND support in mainstream schools and colleges. The post holder will develop the service, focusing on improving participation, independence, and wellbeing for children and young people with occupational needs in education settings. Responsibilities include delivering OT services, supporting universal and targeted interventions, and contributing to workforce development. The role offers opportunities to work within the core Occupational Therapy service and join a supportive multidisciplinary team.
Key responsibilities
- To be part of the OT leadership team; implementing, developing, and evaluating the programme in line with the agreed service specifications.
- To provide clinical leadership for the programme for children with Universal and Targeted Needs.
- To work in close partnership with other professionals and organisations to deliver a public health model of care, making a significant contribution to improving health, social and education outcomes, and reducing inequalities in access to services.
- To be responsible for issues relating to clinical and best practice in early years and schools, together with the OT leadership.
Essential criteria
- Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy
- Must have current registration with the Health Professions Council
- Must be able to demonstrate recent training in the specified area of clinical leadership
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
- Able to meet the travel requirements of the job.
- Significant post graduate experience in Community Paediatric Occupational Therapy
- Experience of working in a multi disciplinary/multi agency health care environment.
- Successful track record as an effective leader in a health, social care or related environment
- Experience of planning and providing clinical care to children and young people with occupational therapy needs
- Good knowledge and understanding integrated care pathways, clinical guidelines, governance and risk management acquired through training and proven experience
- Some broad understanding/insight of NHS legislation, employment and health and safety legislation and national standards
- Good working knowledge of safeguarding children and young people
- Knowledge of benchmarking and audit requirements to continuously develop services and improve standards of care, with an ability to evaluate clinical practice
- Transfer acquired leadership skills - ability to adapt and adjust style to meet the needs of a situation
- Demonstrate political intelligence, influencing, engaging and collaboration skills used within a clinical setting and with external teams, organisations and partners
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 7 at £46,148 – £52,809 a year, across England.
This advert: £49,387 – £56,515 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 11d ago · Closes in 4d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust
Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist - Experts at Hand
The closing date is 10 September 2026
Job summary
We are excited to recruit to our new Experts at Hand team, supporting the local delivery of national SEND reforms.
The Department for Education's Experts at Hand initiative brings speech and language therapists and occupational therapists into mainstream schools and colleges to provide early SEND support.
We are seeking a Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist to help develop the service, building on learning from national pathfinder and local projects. The role focuses on supporting children and young people with occupational needs to improve participation, independence and wellbeing within mainstream education settings.
As a leader within the Experts at Hand team, you will be responsible for delivering Occupational Therapy services in line with programme guidance. Working with education settings, you will support universal, targeted and targeted-plus interventions through whole-setting approaches, consultation, workforce development, group work and early intervention.
There will also be opportunities to work within the core Occupational Therapy service to maintain and develop wider clinical skills.
You will join a supportive multidisciplinary team committed to delivering high-quality care. We offer supervision, peer support
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