Contract executive jobs in Bristol

BSL version can be found in the attached document

About Deaf Unity

Deaf Unity is a deaf-led charity working to empower deaf people and champion their rights. We support deaf individuals to move successfully from education into employment and beyond. 

We are now at an exciting stage of growth and are looking for a proactive and highly organised Services Coordinator to help develop and expand our income-generating services. This is a key role within a small, ambitious organisation where your work will have a direct and meaningful impact on the deaf community.

About the role

This is a hands-on, varied role where you will lead on the coordination, development and promotion of Deaf Unity’s services. These include communication support (CSWs), interpreting provision, translation services, and a growing jobs board.

You will manage day-to-day service delivery while also identifying opportunities to grow income and strengthen what we offer—particularly in providing communication support services to deaf school leavers, jobseekers and professionals.

This role would suit someone already working freelance within the BSL or deaf services sector who is looking for flexible, purposeful work with room to grow.

What you’ll be doing

Service coordination and delivery

• Managing requests for Communication Support Workers (CSWs), BSL Interpreters and Translation services
• Matching clients with appropriate professionals and ensuring a high-quality, reliable service
• Building and maintaining a regular client base, encouraging repeat business
• Managing freelance staff, including rotas, onboarding and compliance (DBS, insurance, etc.)
• Handling quotes, invoicing and payment follow-ups
• Maintaining accurate records and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations

Growth and development

• Promoting Deaf Unity’s services and building relationships with new and existing clients
• Identifying and exploring new income-generating opportunities
• Supporting the growth of services for deaf school leavers, jobseekers and professionals
• Cross-promoting services alongside Deaf Unity’s training offer

Quality and improvement

• Ensuring services are accessible, responsive and high quality
• Gathering feedback and using this to improve delivery
• Keeping up to date with developments in deaf access and communication support

About you

We are looking for someone who is organised, self-motivated and confident building relationships. You will be comfortable managing your own workload and taking initiative to develop services.

You will ideally have:

• Experience managing services, projects or freelance provision
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Experience in outreach, sales or building partnerships
• Confidence working independently and managing multiple priorities
• A genuine commitment to accessibility, inclusion and deaf empowerment

Knowledge of the deaf community and communication support services (e.g. interpreting, CSWs) is highly valued.

Essential:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Proven ability to promote services and meet targets
• Ability to manage administration alongside relationship-building

Desirable:

• BSL Level 2 or above
• Experience using CRM systems
• Knowledge of interpreting or communication support best practice

Inclusion and accessibility

As a deaf-led organisation, we strongly encourage applications from deaf people. Lived experience is valued and welcomed.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process and working environment are fully accessible. This includes:

• Offering interviews in BSL
• Accepting applications in BSL video

If you require any support to apply, please let us know—we are happy to help.

Why join us

• Flexible freelance role with potential to grow in hours
• Opportunity to shape and develop services in a growing charity
• Work that directly impacts deaf people’s access to education, employment and support
• Collaborative, values-driven team environment

How to apply

-Please read the Job Description in full before applying

-Please submit your CV and a short supporting statement outlining your experience and interest in the role.

-We welcome applications in written or BSL video format.

Join our Psychology and Therapy Hub (PATH) and make a meaningful difference in everyday life for adoptive, kinship and care-experienced families. We’re recruiting an Occupational Therapist with specialist expertise in sensory processing/sensory integration and attachment-informed practice to deliver practical, trauma-informed assessment and intervention that strengthens regulation, participation and connection. 

• Make a difference that families feel every day: co-produce practical strategies that support calmer routines, better sleep, smoother transitions and greater participation at home, school and in the community. 

• Bring specialist sensory expertise: assess sensory processing and regulation needs and translate findings into clear, realistic plans for parents/carers and partner professionals. 

• Work at the sensory–attachment interface: use a trauma- and attachment-informed lens to understand behaviour and build felt safety and co-regulation alongside sensory strategies. 

• Thrive in an MDT: contribute an OT perspective to formulation-led work within PATH, collaborating with psychology and therapy colleagues to create joined-up support. 

• Flexible, UK-wide reach: deliver support primarily online with occasional travel for team days, training or commissioned work (as required and agreed). 

You’ll need: 

• HCPC registration as an Occupational Therapist. 

• Strong experience supporting children/young people and their parents/carers (including complex presentations). 

• Proven skills in sensory processing assessment and intervention, including regulation strategies, activity adaptation and environmental modification. 

• Confidence working in an attachment- and trauma-informed way with adoptive/kinship/care-experienced families (or closely related work). 

• Excellent communication and report-writing skills, able to translate specialist thinking into practical, non-judgemental guidance that families can use. 

ROLE PROFILE

JOB TITLE:

Occupational Therapist

ACCOUNTABLE TO:

Clinical Lead

RESPONSIBLE TO:

Clinical Director

HOURS OF WORK:

Full time / Part time

LOCATION:

Remote working with travel flexibility

DURATION:

Permanent

SALARY / GRADE:

Grade 8 - £43.471

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

•      Clinical Director and PATH Clinical Lead
•      PATH team
•      AUK staff
•      Children and adults accessing our services
•      Referrers and external agencies as appropriate

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Occupational Therapist (Sensory & Attachment) will deliver high-quality, trauma-informed occupational therapy assessment and intervention to families with a history of adoption, kinship care and long-term fostering. The postholder will bring advanced expertise in sensory processing/sensory integration and the impact of early adversity, attachment disruption and developmental trauma on regulation, participation and family life. The role will work as part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) within PATH, contributing to formulation-led support, practical strategies and therapeutic approaches that strengthen safety, connection, and everyday functioning at home, school and in the community.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

·Provide specialist assessment and intervention where sensory processing differences interact with attachment needs, developmental trauma, neurodiversity and emotional/behavioural presentations.

·Co-produce practical, strengths-based support plans with parents/carers and, where appropriate, the child/young person; provide clear strategies that are realistic for family life.

·Deliver evidence-informed interventions (1:1 and group-based as appropriate) including sensory-based regulation strategies, activity adaptation, routine design, environmental modification and caregiver coaching.

·Integrate attachment- and trauma-informed principles (e.g., PACE/connection-based approaches) into OT recommendations, ensuring strategies support safety, relational connection and felt security.

·Contribute to MDT formulation and case discussions, offering an occupational therapy perspective on function, participation, sensory-motor development and regulation

·Prepare high-quality written outputs including assessment summaries, recommendations, letters and reports suitable for families and professionals; contribute to documentation required for commissioning/regulated service evidence as needed.

·Support families to understand the sensory, neurodevelopmental and trauma/attachment factors that may underpin behaviour and distress, and to implement strategies safely.

·Maintain accurate, timely records in line with organisational policies, data protection and confidentiality requirements.

·Contribute to the development of resources (e.g., guides, webinars, workshops) that translate specialist OT knowledge into accessible tools for families and professionals.

·Contribute to delivery of training in your specialist area (sensory processing, regulation, sensory-attachment interface) internally and externally.

·Actively manage a caseload, prioritising risk and complexity, and working within agreed service pathways, timescales and outcome measures.

CRITERIA

Knowledge and Experience

•  Significant experience working with children and young people and their parents/carers.

•  Experience delivering assessment and intervention for sensory processing differences and regulation needs.

•  Experience delivering remote/online OT interventions and caregiver coaching.

•  Experience of group work (parents/carers and/or young people).

•  Experience of working with adopted children, previously looked-after children, kinship or long-term foster families (or closely related settings).

•  Strong understanding of attachment, developmental trauma and the impact of early adversity on regulation, behaviour and participation.

•  Ability to integrate sensory strategies with relational/attachment-informed approaches.

•  Training/experience in DDP, PACE, NVR, therapeutic parenting or other attachment-informed models.

•  Expert knowledge of sensory processing and sensory-based regulation strategies.

•   Ability to differentiate sensory needs from (and understand overlap with) trauma responses, anxiety, and neurodevelopmental differences.

•  Sensory Integration training (e.g., postgraduate modules) and/or recognised competency frameworks.

•  Knowledge of neurodevelopmental profiles (e.g., autism, ADHD, DLD, FASD) and how these can interact with trauma/attachment and sensory processing.

•  Ability to provide accessible psychoeducation to families and partner professionals.

Qualifications and Education

   •Degree/diploma in Occupational Therapy.

   •     Current HCPC registration as an Occupational Therapist. Postgraduate       training/qualification relevant to sensory integration, sensory processing or advanced   paediatric OT practice.

•  Evidence of continuing professional development (Essential)

•  Training in a range of therapeutic modalities e.g. DDP, Theraplay, BUSS model, Sensory Attachment Intervention (Essential)

Skills and Abilities

   •         Experience of working within an MDT and contributing an OT perspective to shared          formulations and plans.

•Leadership and support skills

•Group work skills

•A reflective and empowering approach

•Strong application of theory

•Creativity and innovative approach to service delivery

•A commitment to the voice of children and families

Accountability

•Consultant Clinical Psychologist

•Responsible for maintaining own professional standards

•Responsible for delivering practice within the policies and standards of the charity

Behaviours

•Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of role at      all times.

•Contributes to an open and honest culture

•Supports, encourages, and motivates colleagues.

•Encourages challenge, creativity and innovation.

•Leads by example.

•Values transparency and consistency.

•Understands the role of individual and collective accountability.

•Actively contributes to Adoption UK’s mission.

•Has a clear understanding of other colleagues’ roles and responsibilities

•Shares skills and knowledge.

•Promotes Cross Functional team working.

•Offers outstanding service to members.

•Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values in all interactions with external stakeholders.

•Identifies and uses the most appropriate form of communication.

•Communicates clearly, seeking clarity when unclear and valuing the opinion of others.

•Treats colleagues and other stakeholders with respect, honesty, fairness and courtesy

•Is responsive to colleagues, third party professionals and service users.

•Takes pride in own development.

•Enthusiastic and committed to achieving high standards and meeting agreed objectives.

•Takes an active interest in recognising professional and personal development needs and priorities within Adoption UK.

This role profile is a guide to the nature of the work required and may involve other such duties as deemed necessary by the Organisation. It is not wholly comprehensive or restrictive. The role profile will be reviewed with the post-holder at significant points for the Organisation.

Postholder is expected to abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice, and to work within a framework of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.