Head of Occupational Therapy

Job Description – Head of Occupational Therapy Department

Minimum Qualification: Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy
Licensure: Valid DHA License is mandatory
Location: Al Barsha, Dubai
Reporting to: COO / CEO, Centre Head

Role Summary

The Head of Occupational Therapy Department will provide strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for Behaviour Enrichment’s Occupational Therapy services. The role is responsible for ensuring excellence in clinical care, departmental performance, service quality, staff development, parent satisfaction, interdisciplinary collaboration, and growth of OT services.

This individual will lead the OT department in delivering high-quality, evidence-based, family-centred occupational therapy services while continuously improving systems, documentation, training, outreach, and service standards.

This role includes carrying out OT assessments, choosing appropriate goals, and working with students in one-on-one and group settings.

Key Responsibilities

1. Department Leadership & Strategy

• Lead, manage, and develop the Occupational Therapy department in alignment with Behaviour Enrichment’s vision, values, and strategic goals.
• Establish and maintain high clinical, professional, and operational standards across the department.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance service quality, efficiency, parent experience, and clinical outcomes.
• Monitor departmental KPIs including productivity, quality, documentation compliance, parent satisfaction, and staff performance.
• Support workforce planning, staffing needs, recruitment, onboarding, and retention of OT team members.

2. Clinical Oversight & Service Delivery

• Conduct relevant occupational therapy assessments, therapy sessions, and clinical observations, and prepare comprehensive reports.
• Develop, oversee, and review individualized occupational therapy treatment plans and intervention programs.
• Provide direct therapy services, including one-to-one and group-based interventions.
• Collect data and maintain documentation pertaining to each child’s program.
• Communicate questions, child’s progress, or other feedback to parents, Program Supervisor, and other therapists from speech & ABA departments.
• Write progress reports to secure funding from insurance agencies using sound occupational therapy terminology.
• Arrive on time to all scheduled sessions, minimal cancellations.
• Collect and record data and update session notes during each session on the software system
• Maintain accurate and timely records including timesheets and reports.
• Write school observation reports highlighting the child’s strengths and areas of need, as well as recommendations for school staff, for the school and the child’s family.
• Conduct review meetings and write progress reports for each child.
• Ensure evidence-based clinical practice across the department.
• Support clinical decision-making for complex cases.
• Review therapeutic goals regularly to ensure meaningful and measurable progress.
• Ensure continuity of care and consistency in service delivery.

3. Documentation, Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Ensure accurate, timely, and high-quality clinical documentation across the department.
• Review, standardize, and continuously improve documentation templates, report formats, progress notes, assessment frameworks, school observation reports, and parent communication notes.
• Conduct regular audits of documentation, service quality, compliance, and therapist performance, with the assistance of the OT Assistant.
• Ensure timely completion of reports, insurance documentation, session notes, timesheets, and related paperwork.
• Maintain compliance with DHA, internal policies, insurance requirements, and professional practice standards.

4. Team Leadership, Supervision & Performance Management

• Provide direct supervision, mentoring, coaching, and performance management for OT staff.
• Conduct regular case reviews, supervision meetings, and competency development sessions.
• Support staff professional development, motivation, accountability, and engagement.
• Foster a collaborative, supportive, and high-performance departmental culture.

5. Training, Learning & Professional Development

• Develop and execute the annual OT training and professional development calendar.
• Conduct internal trainings, workshops, case discussions, and knowledge-sharing sessions.
• Ensure all OT team members complete required internal and mandatory training.
• Identify external training needs and coordinate specialist workshops, certifications, and expert-led learning opportunities.
• Promote adoption of current evidence-based practices and innovation within the department.

6. Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Work closely with Heads of ABA, Speech Therapy, BCBAs, and Operations to ensure integrated multidisciplinary care.
• Participate in collaborative case planning and interdisciplinary problem-solving.
• Ensure effective communication between departments to support client outcomes.

7. Parent Experience & Stakeholder Satisfaction

• Take ownership of overall parent satisfaction relating to OT services.
• Proactively collect, review, and analyse parent feedback.
• Address concerns, complaints, service gaps, and escalation matters promptly and professionally.
• Support therapists in managing complex parent communication where required.
• Build strong therapeutic relationships with families through transparent and responsive communication.

8. Outreach, Awareness & Business Development Support

• Increase awareness of Behaviour Enrichment’s Occupational Therapy services among schools, nurseries, universities, healthcare professionals, parents, and relevant stakeholders.
• Represent Behaviour Enrichment in external meetings, workshops, conferences, awareness campaigns, and professional forums.
• Conduct parent workshops, school trainings, awareness sessions, and professional development programs.
• Support relationship-building with referral sources and strategic partners.
• Contribute to growth initiatives that strengthen visibility, reputation, and service uptake.

9. Operations, Timelines & Department Coordination

• Ensure timely completion of all clinical and operational deliverables.
• Follow up proactively with team members to ensure adherence to deadlines and service timelines.
• Coordinate with Operations regarding scheduling, staffing, equipment, materials, space utilisation, and operational requirements.
• Support smooth day-to-day department functioning.
• Escalate operational concerns promptly and implement solutions.

10. Events & Program Management

• Organise department-led workshops, awareness initiatives, parent engagement events, and training programs.
• Support organisation-wide events requiring OT participation or leadership.

11. Continuous Improvement & External Collaboration

• Continuously benchmark and improve OT service standards.
• Build professional relationships with universities, training providers, and clinical experts.
• Facilitate external collaborations that strengthen BE’s OT practice and reputation.
• Drive innovation in assessment, intervention, training, and service delivery models.

General Responsibilities

• Attend all mandatory meetings, trainings, and organisational initiatives.
• Maintain confidentiality and professional conduct at all times.
• Arrive punctually for scheduled commitments and maintain high reliability.
• Perform other duties reasonably assigned by management in line with the role.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential:

• Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy
• DHA License (mandatory)
• Minimum 5–8 years of relevant clinical OT experience
• Strong paediatric occupational therapy experience
• Experience in multidisciplinary settings
• Experience in school collaboration, parent training, and professional workshops

Pay: From AED15,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person