Job Title

Occupational Therapy Resolution and Reconciliation LeadNHS AfC: Band 8bJob overviewDue to maternity leave, we are delighted to be able to offer a unique opportunity within our Children’s and Young People’s Therapy (CYPT) Service. The service is recruiting to an Occupational Therapist SEND Resolution and Reconciliation Leads post on a fixed term/secondment basis. The successful applicant will work alongside a job-share partner who has extensive knowledge and experience of SEND and the Hertfordshire System. This is a great opportunity to work for an innovative and agile organisation who is committed to continuous service improvement in response to the needs of our local children and young people and their families. Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT) and the CYPT Service work collaboratively with parent/care forums, the Local Education Authority and other health partners in the NHS to positively influence the outcomes of children and young people with or without SEND. Additionally, the service has excellent relationships with local commissioners which enables the therapy team to be at the forefront of innovative service delivery and improvements. *Proposed interview date: 20th May 2025* Main duties of the jobMain duties of the job will include: -Supporting the CYPT service in managing SEND Appeals and Tribunals around CYPT therapy provision -Supporting Therapists with assessments, meetings, and reports as part of SEND Appeals -Engaging in mediation and resolution meetings with families and SEN Teams, representing the CYPT service and/or supporting therapists; to seek resolution at the earliest stages of any disagreement -Representing the CYPT Service at Tribunal Hearings -Development of processes and protocols in relation to SEND Appeals to ensure compliance with statutory duties -Proactively managing current SEND Appeals on behalf of the CYPT service, including having an oversight of appeal casesat Hertfordshire County Council Working for our organisationA big thank you for considering joining us at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust You’ll find it a great place to work with many benefits offered to you as a member of our staff We put our patients, their families and carers at the centre of our vision - Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities Our staff are proud to be Innovative, Caring and Agile in their work to help achieve the Trust vision We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds We don’t want you to miss out so we’d like you to know that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date, so please make your application as soon as possible -Apply now You’ve made a great decision to apply to join to HCT - we’re looking forward to taking the next steps of the journey with you. Detailed job description and main responsibilitiesPlease see Job Description attached, which details the responsibilities within this post. Also attached is the Person Specification. The postholder will be part of the CYPT service and work closely with local SEND Teams to manage statutory SEND resolution pathway in a way that supports fair, equal and positive outcomes for children, young people and families. The postholder will have excellent communication skills and be able to work flexibly, balancing the clinical expertise required to respond to individual appeals and a strategic leadership role to improve the therapy offer to CYP with SEND within Hertfordshire. The postholder will have the opportunity to continue to develop the evidence base which inform clinically effective therapy recommendations and be involved in staff training and mentoring to ensure that any new practice guidance and evidence is shared and imbedded. HCT provides Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Services for families across the county. Our service is jointly commissioned by health and education, allowing us to provide a seamless pathway of care from early years through to schools, specialist provisions and further education settings. If you are keen to be part of our well established and professional therapy team, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Melissa Robertson (Designated Clinical Officer for CYPT and CAMHS) on07584 335 902for an informal chat and further details about this opportunity. Applicants wanting to fewer hours per week over a longer period will be considered. A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010). In addition to the basic salary, this post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of basic salary subject to a minimum payment of£1,258 and a maximum payment of £2,122 per annum (pro rata where applicable and dependent on base location). Interview date is set for: 20/05/2025 (Morning) Whilst it is not a legal requirement, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust encourages and supports all staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID-19. Person specificationQualifications and TrainingRegistered Therapist (Occupational or Speech and Language) Educated to Masters level or equivalent level of experience working at a senior level in a specialist area Knowledge and understanding of working with Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development Knowledge and understanding of the central issues affecting outcomes for children, young people and families, particularly CYP with SEND In-depth knowledge and understanding of the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice 0-25 (2014) Knowledge of the local area inspection process for SEND Understanding of SEND in the reformed NHS and the role of commissioners, providers and NHS England Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of children’s services at both a local and national level Experience and KnowledgeExperience of working in a designated/named or other children’s Senior Leadership capacity with highly developed specialist knowledge Substantial clinical experience of the needs of children and young people with SEND Experience of the Education, Health and Care planning process and pathway and SEND Appeals and of undertaking highly complex assessments Experience of developing and delivering strategies/policies and plans Experience of producing strategic reports for boards and committees Experience of critical analysis, decision making and working to statutory processes Understanding of SEND Appeals and Tribunal Process Skills and AbilitiesExcellent communication skills both oral and written, including the ability to liaise and negotiate particularly in highly emotive situations Ability to chair high level multi agency/multi professional meetings Able to analyse, interpret and present complex data at high level meetings Ability to evaluate options and develop clear and realistic implementation plans Effective problem solving and conflict resolution skills Specialist technical skills relevant to the specialist area of practice acquired through advanced training and significant experience OtherHold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010) We will communicate any interview arrangements with applicants via e-mail so it is advisable that you check the email address you give on your application on a regular basis. Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band. All new appointments (excluding Medical & Dental roles) are subject to a 26 week probation period. We are proud to be an armed forces friendly employer and support the employment of the armed forces community, including veterans, spouses and partners. For more information, contact hct.armedforcesrecruitment@ Applications from qualified job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications, subject to you meeting minimum criteria of the role and salary threshold. Please visit the Gov.UK website for detail. If applicable to the role, staff are required to hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use with business insurance (unless the member of staff has a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010). In submitting an application form, you authorise Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Electronic Staff Record Inter Authority Transfer process should you be appointed to the post. Employer certification / accreditation badgesYou must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service. Name Melissa Roberts Job title Designated CO for CYPT and CAMHS SEND Email address melissa.robertson5@ Telephone number 07584 335 902 Additional information Karen Woollard Children and Young People’s Therapy Services Manager 07741 237616 E-mail:karen.woollard@#J-18808-Ljbffr