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Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Operational Lead Early Years, EAST

The closing date is 05 February 2026

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Job summary

12 Months Fixed Term Contract

Are you passionate about shaping and delivering high-quality services for children in their early years?

We're looking for an experienced and motivated allied health professional to take a key leadership role within our Children and Young People's Integrated Therapies (CYPIT) service.

As Operational Lead, you will be responsible for the day-to-day management of our Early Years Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Speech & Language Therapy services. This includes supporting the under-5 autism assessment pathway and developing the JAC clinic model to strengthen integrated working across teams.

Main duties of the job

  • Provide operational leadership, ensuring services run smoothly and performance targets are achieved.

  • Line manage and support a defined team of staff, promoting development and best practice.

  • Work closely with the CYPIT leadership team and clinicians to plan, coordinate, deliver, and evaluate services.

  • Lead service development in your area of responsibility, collaborating with senior managers and professional leads.

  • Build andmaintaineffective partnerships with wider agencies to meet the needs of pre-school children.

  • Support tribunal work and contribute to decision-making at SEN panels, working closely with local authority SEN and legal teams.

  • Hold a small clinical caseload whererequired.

  • Deputise for the CYPIT Early Years and School Age Leads when needed.

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

  • Caring for and about you is our top priority
  • Committed to providing good quality, safe services
  • Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

  • Flexible working options to support work-life balance
  • 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
  • Generous NHS pension scheme
  • Excellent learning and career development opportunities
  • 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
  • Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
  • Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
  • Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
  • Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
  • Free parking across Trust sites

Details

Date posted

22 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£50,008 to £56,908 a year per annum (Incl of HCAS)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CFS644-A

Job locations

St Marks Hospital

112 St Marks Road

Maidenhead

SL6 6DU


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must have's for this role:

  • An allied health professional with experience in service delivery and leadership.
  • Skilled in partnership working, with excellent communication and organisational abilities.
  • Confident in leading teams, driving service improvement, and ensuring high-quality outcomes for children and families.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Gemma West on 07789741450 or email: gemma.west@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The must have's for this role:

  • An allied health professional with experience in service delivery and leadership.
  • Skilled in partnership working, with excellent communication and organisational abilities.
  • Confident in leading teams, driving service improvement, and ensuring high-quality outcomes for children and families.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Gemma West on 07789741450 or email: gemma.west@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • AHP qualification degree or equivalent
  • HCPC Registered
  • Completion of post graduate education relevant to clinical role of post

Desirable

  • Management and/or leadership training

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • QMIS training
  • Care Aims - IBCDM and Getting to the Heart of the Matter
  • Evidence of on-going personal development

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of experience in clinical work in children's services to a level of in depth knowledge and expertise
  • Contribution to clinical supervisory or mentoring less experienced staff, students or assistants
  • Evidence of leadership e.g. staff management, leading a project, change in practice
  • Experience of developing and using performance management information to inform service planning and development

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • High level of knowledge of service provision within children's therapy services
  • High level of clinical expertise in relevant profession with the ability to support and develop junior/less experienced staff as needed.
  • Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments
  • Good understanding of budget/finance and impact for service development and delivery
  • Understanding of data in performance monitoring and delivery of services
  • Efficient, effective diplomatic communication skills both written and verbal
  • Awareness of community working partnerships and structures
  • Good computer literacy
  • Working knowledge of arrangements for children's health services and early help including knowledge of legislation, SEND, statutory guidance, government policy, practice guidance and best practice.
  • Ability to identify and use outcome measures to inform performance and productivity
  • Ability to demonstrate and apply understanding of the unique contribution of each of the 3 primary therapy professions and how they can work together

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Car driver with access to own car and ability to travel to multiple sites
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • AHP qualification degree or equivalent
  • HCPC Registered
  • Completion of post graduate education relevant to clinical role of post

Desirable

  • Management and/or leadership training

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • QMIS training
  • Care Aims - IBCDM and Getting to the Heart of the Matter
  • Evidence of on-going personal development

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of experience in clinical work in children's services to a level of in depth knowledge and expertise
  • Contribution to clinical supervisory or mentoring less experienced staff, students or assistants
  • Evidence of leadership e.g. staff management, leading a project, change in practice
  • Experience of developing and using performance management information to inform service planning and development

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • High level of knowledge of service provision within children's therapy services
  • High level of clinical expertise in relevant profession with the ability to support and develop junior/less experienced staff as needed.
  • Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments
  • Good understanding of budget/finance and impact for service development and delivery
  • Understanding of data in performance monitoring and delivery of services
  • Efficient, effective diplomatic communication skills both written and verbal
  • Awareness of community working partnerships and structures
  • Good computer literacy
  • Working knowledge of arrangements for children's health services and early help including knowledge of legislation, SEND, statutory guidance, government policy, practice guidance and best practice.
  • Ability to identify and use outcome measures to inform performance and productivity
  • Ability to demonstrate and apply understanding of the unique contribution of each of the 3 primary therapy professions and how they can work together

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Car driver with access to own car and ability to travel to multiple sites

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

St Marks Hospital

112 St Marks Road

Maidenhead

SL6 6DU


Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

St Marks Hospital

112 St Marks Road

Maidenhead

SL6 6DU


Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

CYPIT Early Years Lead (East)

Gemma West

gemma.west@berkshire.nhs.uk

07789741450

Details

Date posted

22 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£50,008 to £56,908 a year per annum (Incl of HCAS)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CFS644-A

Job locations

St Marks Hospital

112 St Marks Road

Maidenhead

SL6 6DU


Supporting documents

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