Lead Clinician - Job Opportunity at Outcomes First Group

Bristol, United Kingdom
Full-time
Senior
Posted: June 14, 2025
On-site
GBP 50,000 - 60,000 per year

Benefits

Four-day work week with full pay compensation after probation period, providing exceptional work-life balance in the healthcare sector
Comprehensive pension scheme with flexible contribution options for long-term financial security
Enhanced family support including extended maternity and paternity leave plus fertility treatment coverage
Premium mental health and wellbeing support services with physical health assessments
Life assurance coverage providing financial protection for dependents
Flexible benefits platform allowing personalized benefit selection including health, insurance, and lifestyle options
Extensive discount program with hundreds of options for UK and international purchases
Sustainable transport initiatives including cycle-to-work and electric vehicle purchase schemes
Critical illness coverage providing additional financial security

Key Responsibilities

Lead and strategically develop a multidisciplinary clinical team to deliver transformational therapeutic services for neurodivergent pupils
Drive the implementation of neurodiversity and intersectionality affirming therapeutic support frameworks that set industry standards
Manage a personal caseload while providing clinical leadership and supervision to ensure high-quality service delivery
Collaborate with education teams to create holistic therapeutic environments that maximize pupil outcomes and long-term success
Design and deliver bespoke assessment and intervention plans that address complex needs including trauma, mental health, and behavioral concerns
Provide expert clinical training, consultation, and reflective practice sessions to enhance team capabilities and service quality
Shape service development and clinical provision strategy during a critical expansion phase of the organization
Maintain safeguarding excellence and ensure pupil voices are central to all clinical decision-making processes

Requirements

Education

Degree or Masters in Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Psychotherapy or Doctorate in Psychology

Experience

Experience of working with people who have an intellectual disability and/or autism with additional needs (e.g. complex trauma, mental health needs, behaviours of concern)

Required Skills

Ability to work collaboratively with a range of key partners Able to work sensitively with people and resolve conflict effectively Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the setting Resilient and enthusiastic individual with therapeutic approach Ability to make decisions and manage own workload

Certifications

Registered with the HCPC and own professional body Full UK Driving Licence and access to own vehicle required
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The special educational needs sector is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by increased awareness and diagnosis of neurodivergent conditions, with autism diagnoses alone increasing by over 787% in the past two decades. This creates substantial demand for specialized clinical services in educational settings. There is a significant shift towards neurodiversity-affirming practices in clinical settings, moving away from traditional deficit-based models to strengths-based approaches that celebrate neurological differences. This trend is reshaping how clinical services are delivered in educational environments. The integration of clinical and educational services is becoming the gold standard for supporting children with complex needs, with multidisciplinary teams proving more effective than siloed approaches. This holistic model is increasingly adopted across the UK's special education sector. Mental health awareness and trauma-informed care have become central to clinical practice in educational settings, particularly following increased recognition of the intersection between neurodivergence and mental health challenges.

Salary Evaluation

The salary range of £50,000-£60,000 is competitive for senior clinical roles in the UK special education sector, positioning slightly above the national average for clinical leadership positions. This reflects the specialized nature of the role and the premium placed on neurodiversity expertise in educational settings.

Role Significance

The role typically involves leading a multidisciplinary team of 5-8 clinical professionals including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and psychology professionals, with potential for team expansion during the service development phase.
This is a senior leadership position that combines clinical expertise with strategic service development responsibilities. The role holder will be instrumental in shaping the clinical direction of the organization and will have significant influence over service delivery models and team development.

Key Projects

Implementation of neurodiversity-affirming therapeutic frameworks across multiple educational settings Development of integrated clinical and educational service delivery models Creation of specialized assessment and intervention protocols for complex trauma and behavioral needs Establishment of clinical governance frameworks and quality assurance systems Design and delivery of professional development programs for clinical and educational staff

Success Factors

Exceptional clinical leadership skills combined with the ability to influence and inspire multidisciplinary teams toward shared therapeutic goals Deep understanding of neurodiversity principles and the ability to translate these into practical, evidence-based interventions that respect individual differences Strong collaborative skills to work effectively across disciplines and build productive relationships with educational professionals, families, and external partners Strategic thinking capability to shape service development during a critical growth phase while maintaining high-quality clinical standards Resilience and adaptability to work in challenging environments with complex cases while maintaining therapeutic optimism and professional boundaries

Market Demand

Extremely high demand exists for qualified clinical professionals in special education, with the sector experiencing a critical shortage of experienced practitioners. The combination of increasing referrals and limited qualified professionals creates excellent job security and career prospects.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Clinical leadership and team management capabilities are essential as this role requires the ability to inspire and guide a diverse group of professionals while maintaining high standards of care. The success of the entire clinical service depends on effective leadership that can balance clinical excellence with team development and strategic vision. Neurodiversity-affirming practice expertise is crucial as the organization explicitly commits to this approach, requiring deep understanding of how to deliver therapeutic interventions that celebrate and support neurological differences rather than attempting to normalize them. This specialized knowledge is increasingly valued in the market. Collaborative working skills are fundamental as the role requires seamless integration with educational professionals, families, and external partners. The ability to build productive relationships across disciplines directly impacts the quality of outcomes for pupils and the effectiveness of the holistic service model.

Beneficial Skills

Research and evaluation skills would enhance the role by enabling the development of evidence-based practices and contributing to the growing body of knowledge in neurodiversity-affirming therapeutics, potentially leading to opportunities for academic collaboration and professional recognition Training and mentorship capabilities would accelerate career progression by demonstrating the ability to develop others and share expertise, skills that are highly valued for advancement to senior clinical director positions Business development and strategic planning skills would provide valuable insight into the commercial aspects of clinical service delivery, knowledge that becomes increasingly important for progression to executive clinical roles

Unique Aspects

The four-day work week with full pay is virtually unprecedented in the clinical healthcare sector, offering exceptional work-life balance that significantly differentiates this opportunity from standard clinical positions
The role offers the rare opportunity to shape clinical services from the ground up in a new facility, providing unusual autonomy and influence over service development that is typically reserved for much more senior positions
The focus on neurodiversity-affirming practices positions this role at the forefront of progressive clinical thinking, offering exposure to cutting-edge therapeutic approaches that are reshaping the field
The integration of clinical and educational services creates a unique multidisciplinary environment that provides broader professional experience than traditional clinical settings
The organization's scale and reputation provide access to resources, training, and career development opportunities that smaller providers cannot match

Career Growth

Progression to senior clinical director roles typically occurs within 3-5 years for high-performing clinical leaders, with opportunities for accelerated advancement given the rapid growth in the special education sector.

Potential Next Roles

Clinical Director positions overseeing multiple sites and larger clinical teams Head of Clinical Services roles with responsibility for strategic clinical development across regional operations Consultant positions providing specialized expertise to multiple organizations Academic roles combining clinical practice with research and teaching in neurodiversity and special education

Company Overview

Outcomes First Group

Outcomes First Group is the UK's largest independent provider of special educational needs services, operating across England, Scotland, and Wales with a comprehensive portfolio of specialized schools and care services. The organization has established itself as a market leader through consistent growth and acquisition strategies, building a reputation for quality outcomes and innovative approaches to supporting vulnerable young people.

As the largest independent provider in the sector, Outcomes First Group holds a dominant market position with significant influence over industry standards and practices. The company's scale provides stability and resources for professional development while offering opportunities to work on cutting-edge clinical initiatives.
The Bristol location represents a strategic expansion into the Southwest region, indicating the company's continued growth trajectory and commitment to increasing service accessibility. This new site opening demonstrates organizational confidence and investment in regional market development.
The organization's five consecutive 'Great Place to Work' certifications reflect a genuine commitment to employee wellbeing and professional development. The innovative four-day work week policy demonstrates progressive thinking about work-life balance, while the focus on multidisciplinary collaboration creates a supportive professional environment for clinical excellence.
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