Job Description

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Description

The Assistant Principal - Therapy Services (APTS) will be a key member of the College Management Team, overseeing a multidisciplinary team of therapy and health care professionals. This team will deliver specialised services that are critical to supporting the unique educational needs of students at QAC. Whilst it is not expected that the APTS may have specialist knowledge of across all therapy and specialist areas, they will be a highly effective, credible manager of a team of clinical and specialist professionals.



The APTS will ensure that a high-quality, effectively planned and delivered therapy service meets the needs of students as expected in line with EHCPs outcomes. The APTS will ensure the therapy services enhance the overall student educational experience and that work undertaken is effectively and timely monitored and reported and can be shown to positively contributes to students' personal and educational outcomes.

Salary:

Circa 50,000 - Starting salary subject to skills and experience

Hours:

37 hours per week
52 weeks per year, with enhanced bookable leave.
Participation in senior on-call rota (CMT) to support out of hours cover evenings/weekends.

Direct Reports:

Service Area Managers (SAM's) and seniors for designated therapy and health services

Please note this job may close early dependent on applications*


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Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

Provide leadership and management for the Therapy Services team, ensuring alignment with the College's vision, mission, and values. Effectively manage a multidisciplinary team, including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, VI specialists and other health care professionals. Ensure professional standards are met in line with professions and regulatory requirements. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and performance-driven culture within the Therapy Services team. Work closely with other Assistant Principals (Teaching & Learning, Student Services, Personal Development; Quality & MIS) to ensure therapy input is effectively integrated into students' educational programmes and support plans and progress reported accurately through educational management systems to ensure regulatory and legal requirements are met.

Service Development and Delivery

Develop and deliver the Therapy Services vision in line with strategic aims, ensuring services are responsive to need, evidence-based and meet statutory requirements. Lead on planning and implementing service improvements and initiatives to ensure outstanding therapy provision for educationally placed learners with complex SEND; working in collaboration with the specialist teams, oversee the design and delivery of therapy programs, ensuring they meet individual student needs and comply with relevant legislation and standards. Evaluate and monitor the quality of therapy services to ensure continuous improvement. Report on achievements and progress through team meetings, teaching and learning forums, CMT and to trustees as required. Ensure timely, comprehensive assessments and interventions to support students' educational, communication, physical, sensory, and health needs. Promote multidisciplinary working to enhance consistency and effectiveness of support for students. Maximise and unify the use of record keeping through the centralised MiS. Ensure reporting of progress by the team meets EHCP review and other reporting requirements. Manage the utilisation of the Therapy Services in line with budgets and funding.

Collaboration and Communication

Work closely with the college management team, Service Area Managers (SAMs), Curriculum Area Managers (CAMs), teachers and support staff to ensure an integrated and embedded therapy approach to student educational progress. Contribute to transition planning for students joining and leaving the College, ensuring therapy and health needs are documented and communicated effectively. Engage with external organisations, health professionals, and families to enhance the therapy provision within the College; proactively engaging with external networks for self and team. Act as an ambassador for the College's therapy services, promoting their value and impact for Open Days, Professional Days and on occasion, externally.

Operational and Compliance Responsibilities

Maintain high standards of clinical governance, ensuring therapy and healthcare services comply with legal, regulatory and professional standards (e.g. HCPC, NMC, RCSLT, CSP). Monitor, evaluate and report on service quality and outcomes through data analysis, audits and stakeholder feedback. Lead on risk assessment across the services and contribute to safeguarding processes as required. Oversee the recruitment, training, and professional development of the Therapy Services team in conjunction with HR. Ensure the team adheres to safeguarding policies and practices, as well as health and safety regulations. Ensure the organisational values are promoted and celebrated by the Therapy Service area. Manage budgets and resources for therapy services, ensuring efficient allocation in line with College priorities. Participate in staff training and development as required within the college's priorities and provision needs. Ensure specialism(s) is (are) maintained in line with student need and college strategy. Liaise closely with the Marketing Team to promote QAC as a provider of choice to stakeholders. Contribute to the preparations for Ofsted, LA, and other external and internal FE reviews and audits and engage in the development of others. Promote the college's visions, mission, values and purpose through effective coordination of staff; being an appropriate role model for working relationships, behaviours and personal presentation and adopting the college's policies, procedures and working practices in day-to-day activities Develop & deliver aspirational continuing professional development to delivery teams in response to identified needs, priorities and college strategy. Provide professional challenge and contributions to the assessment and panel process.


The above list is not exhaustive, but is indicative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the work to be undertaken. The responsibilities and duties may vary from time to time without changing the nature of the post. The post holder will be expected to adopt a flexible approach to enable the efficient and effective running of the College.

Safeguarding Statement:

Queen Alexandra College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and all staff and volunteers are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards the health and wellbeing of our students/clients. Successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and two employment references.###

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

We are seeking a values-driven, dynamic leader who is passionate about inclusive education and making a meaningful difference in the lives of students with special educational needs. You will be an excellent communicator with strong organisational and interpersonal skills, able to engage confidently and collaboratively with staff, students, and external stakeholders alike.



You will bring a wealth of management experience from therapeutic or educational settings, with a deep understanding of the complex needs of students with high needs in an educational context. Your leadership experience includes overseeing multidisciplinary teams and effectively managing performance, driving service improvement through analytical thinking and strategic problem-solving.



As a confident, flexible, and resilient professional, you will thrive in a team environment--contributing positively while also motivating and inspiring others. The successful applicant will embrace change management and lead others through transformation with integrity, respect, and professionalism. With your high standards of personal presentation and credibility reflect your readiness for a senior leadership role.



With strong IT skills and a solid working knowledge of MIS systems--preferably Databridge--you will be equipped to lead in a data-informed, digitally enabled environment.



Above all, we look for a candidate who is proactive, self-motivated, and enthusiastic, with a genuine commitment to QAC's mission and values. Your dedication to excellence and inclusivity will ensure every student receives the support and opportunity they deserve.###

Why work at Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham

Join our team at Queen Alexandra College!

Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of students with special educational needs? Do you thrive in an inclusive and supportive academic environment? If so, we want YOU to join our team. QAC has just gone through an exciting rebrand, dealt with a period of swift growth and academic improvement and this is your opportunity to become part of a vibrant College that is moving forward and making a real difference to the lives and futures of our students.

The newly structured Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham offers you the chance to have a positive impact as you join a committed group of colleagues in ensuring that all students achieve their aims and aspirations. We are dedicated to providing exceptional education and support to students with diverse learning needs and life experiences. Our specialist setting fosters an inclusive community where every student is valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.

QAC offers a vibrant, varied and enriching educational experience for both residential and day students. Our curriculum aims to maximise adult life, independence and work opportunities for all students. Class sizes are designed to meet specific needs and support levels are high.

Joining our supportive team, you will have the opportunity to:
Work closely with students with SEN to achieve their goals Make a difference to the educational experience of young people Be a voice for students and staff in specialist education Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment, promoting academic growth, self-development and self-confidence Develop your own skills, aspirations and progress your career.



Our benefits include;

Schedule 1 Benefits (reviewed annually and/or as appropriate)

Academic Year 2024/25

Access to on site car parking Use of QAC Fitness Centre (subject to opening hours) Cycle to Work Scheme (Salary Sacrifice) 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme Helpline (BHSF) Access to Education Support Free Helpline for Teachers & Education Staff QAC Mental Health First Aiders & activities to support health and wellbeing BHSF Benefits Package including Healthcare Plans, discounted shopping/services Annual Flu vaccination/voucher Access to other benefit/discount schemes (which may be subject to charge) e.g. Blue Light Card, TOTUM (NUS), Charity Worker Discounts, Discounts for Teachers Dell Advantage programme - a free programme that offers savings to students, parents and all staff at QAC - up to 20% off. https://www.dell.com/en-uk/lp/dell-advantage Health and Wellbeing Services (Occupational Health/Counselling) Free Tea/Coffee and Staff Room facilities Dining Room facilities with hot/cold food (free meal provided for those supporting students at mealtimes) Additional discretionary concessionary/closure days as part of leave entitlement (including closure over Christmas/New Year period) Reward and Recognition Policy - Living the Values Awards (team & individual) and long service Enhanced/Occupational paid leave e.g. maternity/paternity (subject to qualifying criteria) Occupational sick pay (based on length of service) On site wellbeing activities (e.g. yoga, meditation) Support for training/ CPD (either by way of study leave and/or funding) Flexible working arrangements including Flexible Working Policy Agreements, Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) in prior agreement with line manager.


This list is not exhaustive and may be subject to review and/or change.



We look forward to receiving your application and knowing more about your qualifications, skills,

personal qualities and experience that you would bring to the role and to QAC. Please take time to

review the job description above.



Please upload a CV/Resumewith details of your full employment history (since leaving school,
including education, employment and voluntary work) including reasons for any gaps in

employment. This should also include a statement of the personal qualities and experience you

believe are relevant to your suitability for the post and how this meets the job description and

person specification requirements. Your CV/Resumewill be re-produced in a standard format by
the system (without personal identifiers) to assist us in our anonymised shortlisting process.

Under Section 7 of SVGA 2006 it is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from

engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. The College's Safeguarding Policies are

available here



As part of our commitment to safer recruitment, and in line with updated guidance published in

September 2022, we will carry out an online search of all shortlisted candidates. This search may

enable us to identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and publicly available for review

online, which we may wish to explore with you in further detail during the interview process. As part

of your application we have asked you to provide the account names, usernames and/or handles for

any social media platform that you use, as well as the names of any websites that you own, post on,

or contribute to. A Google search will also be conducted. These checks will only be conducted if you

are shortlisted for interview. Please see our safer recruitment and selection policy for further

information.###

About Queen Alexandra Charity

Queen Alexandra Charity (QAC) provides education, residential support, community services and enterprises in support of young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities.



Education is provided through a national residential College that supports a diverse range of student/client abilities and needs. Our College provides education, training, routes to independent living and employment through an innovative, holistic approach to learning and support. It offers a vibrant, varied and fun educational experience for both residential and day students. Our curriculum aims to maximise adult life, independence and work opportunities for all students. Class sizes are small and support levels high.



We have educational and learning sites based in Birmingham, one of Europe's most welcoming and vibrant cities, with a rich and diverse culture. Our main site is based in Harborne, a pleasant leafy Birmingham suburb, on a friendly and green 8-acre campus with excellent facilities and resources. In addition we also have Pinewood Campus which is located on a business park and is designated to employment progression.



Clients within our Residential Services programme still require support and the aim is to deliver a service that provides them with the means to live independently/semi independently into the future. Many clients are either in education, voluntary work or paid employment not linked to QAC directly.



Our Community Services based at our Umberslade Campus in Stirchley include a supporter worker service, women's group, men's group, LGBTQ plus group, Saturday Socials, The Night Owl Experience (disability friendly night club visit in Birmingham City Centre).

All students, clients and staff are supported within safe and well-resourced environments.



QAC makes a positive difference to the lives and learning of people with disabilities and learning difficulties. We have high expectations of staff, students and clients whilst being responsive, innovative and collaborative. Our Charity values drive how we work with students, clients, stakeholders and as a team.

We continue to attract and retain staff of the highest calibre, who are proud of QAC's achievements and who wish to be an integral part of ongoing and future successes.

As Leaders in Diversity which drives the culture at QAC and we warmly welcome applications from individuals who share our values, from all backgrounds, to add to our committed and diverse team.