Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist | Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Job description

About

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking an experienced and innovativeHighly Specialist Occupational Therapist (Band 7)to join theExperts at Handprogramme within the Children and Young People's Integrated Therapy Service.

This exciting role sits at the forefront of SEND reform, supporting mainstream education settings across Buckinghamshire to develop inclusive environments that enable children and young people to thrive. Working collaboratively across education, health and care, the post holder will provide highly specialist occupational therapy consultation, coaching, training and targeted support to schools, early years settings, further education colleges, special schools and alternative provision.

The role focuses on early intervention, prevention and capacity building, helping education settings identify and overcome barriers to participation, learning and independence through the graduated approach. Rather than delivering statutory therapy, the successful candidate will empower education staff to implement evidence-based occupational therapy strategies and reasonable adjustments within everyday learning environments.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated occupational therapist with expertise in SEND, inclusion and occupational performance, who is passionate about influencing practice at a systems level and improving outcomes for children and young people across Buckinghamshire.

As a Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist within theExperts at Handprogramme, you will provide expert consultation, coaching and training to education settings across Buckinghamshire, supporting the development of inclusive environments. Working collaboratively with schools, colleges and early years providers, you will identify and reduce barriers to participation, independence and learning through whole-setting observations, environmental assessments and evidence-based occupational therapy recommendations.

Using your specialist knowledge, you will support education staff to implement effective strategies for children and young people with a range of needs, including sensory processing differences, motor coordination difficulties,  functional independence difficulties and participation restrictions. You will coach and empower staff to make reasonable adjustments and embed inclusive practice through the graduated approach.

The role includes designing and delivering training programmes, workshops and resources that build workforce confidence and capability across education settings; working closely with colleagues across health, education, social care and the voluntary sector, strengthening local SEND provision and supporting positive outcomes for children and young people.

You will provide supervision and support to occupational therapy colleagues and therapy assistants, while contributing to service development, quality improvement, audit and innovation initiatives. 

Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! - https://bit.ly/3DNEQfD

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?

• As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.

• We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes. 

• We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

Why work for us?

• We’re committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.

• As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued, and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.

• Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve. 

What do we stand for?

• Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.

• Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.

• Our CARE values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.

For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.

If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on bht.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number.

This advert closes on Thursday 8 Oct 2026