Description
Job Purpose
To over see the day to day Postural Management of our students. This includes students postural management in their wheelchairs, seating within class, use of standing frames, and time out on the bed for position change and pressure relief. The skills required for this specialist role include practical problem-solving for complex postural and mobility needs and highly developed clinical reasoning and communication skills.
Salary:
£37,334.86 per annum
Fixed Point Salary [PP18]
Work Pattern:
37 Hours per week, Monday to Friday
52 Weeks per year
Fixed Term Role – 12 months with a review to possibly become permanent
Direct Reports:
4x Personal Care Assistants
Key Responsibilities
Postural Management
* Assess, implement, and review students' postural management plans across all settings (wheelchair, classroom seating, standing frames, and bed-based positioning).
* Ensure equipment is correctly fitted, safe, and appropriate for each individual's needs.
* Monitor and adapt postural strategies to support pressure relief, comfort, function, and participation in learning.
2. Assessment & Intervention
* Carry out comprehensive occupational therapy assessments of students' physical, sensory, and functional needs.
* Develop tailored programmes to promote independence, functional mobility, and safe participation in school life.
* Provide specialist advice on assistive technology, mobility aids, and adaptive equipment.
3. Collaboration & Consultation
* Work closely with teaching staff, physiotherapists, nursing teams, and families to ensure integrated support.
* Provide training, guidance, and support to staff on postural management techniques and safe handling practices.
* Liaise with external professionals, including NHS therapists, wheelchair services, and orthotics teams.
4. Line Management of Personal Care Assistants
* Directly line manage a team of Personal Care Assistants, ensuring effective deployment to meet student needs.
* Provide day-to-day supervision, guidance, and support to PCAs in delivering safe and high-quality postural care and personal support.
* Conduct regular supervision meetings, performance reviews, and identify training and development needs.
* Oversee adherence to safeguarding, health and safety, and moving and handling procedures.
Manage rotas, allocation of duties, and contribute to recruitment and induction of new staff as required.
* Promote a positive, collaborative, and supportive team culture.
5. Monitoring & Evaluation
* Maintain accurate clinical records and contribute to multidisciplinary reports and reviews (EHCPs, annual reviews).
* Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and adapt strategies as required.
* Contribute to risk assessments and ensure compliance with safeguarding and health & safety requirements.
6. Professional Development & Service Improvement
* Keep up to date with developments in postural management and occupational therapy practice.
* Participate in supervision, training, and continuous professional development.
* Contribute to the development of policies and best practice in postural care and occupational therapy provision.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
* Degree in Occupational Therapy (BSc/MSc) or equivalent.
* Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
* Evidence of continuing professional development in relevant clinical areas (e.g., postural management, seating, moving and handling).
* Experience working with children and/or young people with complex physical, postural, and mobility needs.
* Demonstrated knowledge of posture, seating, pressure management, and safe positioning.
* Understanding of safeguarding, manual handling, and health and safety requirements.
* Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.
* Knowledge of specialist equipment (wheelchairs, standing frames, supportive seating systems).
* Highly developed clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
* Ability to assess complex postural and mobility needs and develop effective, individualised care plans.
* Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts clearly to students, families, and staff.
* Ability to work flexibly, manage caseload priorities, and adapt to changing needs.
* Strong documentation, reporting, and IT skills for record-keeping and service reporting.
Desirable
- Membership of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists
Why work at Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham
Join our team at Queen Alexandra Charity
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;
Benefits (reviewed annually and/or as appropriate)
* 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.
* 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/Resume* with 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/Resume* will 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.