Job Description

Due 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 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 cases at Hertfordshire County Council

A 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.



Please see 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) on 07584 335 902 for 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.