Occupational Therapist / Occupational Therapy Practitioner

Occupational Therapist / Occupational Therapy Practitioner who is a registered member of HCPC with experience of using a wide range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions appropriate for autistic children/young people is required to join our team at Swalcliffe Park School.

SALARY: £29,970 - £36,483 per annum (NHS Band 5) + Benefits

BENEFITS: 13 weeks’ paid holiday and membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, comparable to NHS

LOCATION: Swalcliffe, Nr Banbury, Oxfordshire

JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Permanent (Term Time)

OVERVIEW

Swalcliffe Park School is a non-maintained charitable incorporated organisation specialising in day and residential education and care for autistic young people (aged 10-19 years old). We currently have 73 students on role and have been awarded 'Outstanding’ by Ofsted for both Education (2019) and Residential Care (2022, 2023 and 2024). The school also has Advanced Level Autism Accreditation and an Enhanced Practitioner Commendation. We offer excellent working conditions in a beautiful setting, including paid school holidays, opportunities for career development and staff training.

We have an exciting opportunity for a forward-thinking Occupational Therapist to join our friendly innovative team of three Occupational Therapists. We are integrated within the school and work closely with the onsite multi-disciplinary therapy team (Speech & Language Therapy and Clinical Psychology) including joint assessments as well as joint planning and delivery of therapy sessions. Newly qualified Occupational Therapists are welcome to apply.

The role includes responsibility for a small caseload with the opportunity to carry out individual, small group and class-based interventions using evidence-based approaches within the school day and during residential hours. The role includes a strong support element for the school staff, residential staff and parents including liaisons, subject specific support, classroom, and environmental modifications/advice as well as delivering workshops/training.

As part of the Quality of Life research that Swalcliffe Park School is leading, the role also includes a focus on developing self-management needs within independence activities and functional life skills through delivering independence lessons as well as supporting our young people to access their community following a therapeutic framework.

The applicant must be registered with HCPC and RCOT.

DUTIES

Duties as the Occupational Therapist / Occupational Therapy Practitioner include:

• Organise, prioritise, and be responsible for a designated small caseload ensuring timely and effective management of Occupational Therapy needs whilst ensuring an individualised approach

• Identify and implement appropriate formal / informal assessments to evaluate the Occupational Therapy needs of students within the context of the classroom, wider school situations, residential environment and community providing comprehensive analysis of the results

• Use the views and aspirations of students, including analysing results of their QoL surveys, and considering these when setting up and reviewing therapy plans

• Make clinical decisions and devise appropriate therapy goals and plans using knowledge and experience under-pinned by evidence-based practise to meet the changing needs of the students following a tiered model of service delivery (whole school, targeted/specialist)

• Knowledge of the content of students’ EHCPs and utilising this information within clinical decision making

• Ensure that the identified needs and interventions of their designated caseload is fed back to the Lead OT

• Plan and deliver individual therapy, small group work and class-based interventions using evidence-based approaches

• Support and contribute to the development of the whole school provision within the education and residential setting as directed by the Lead OT including setting up, devising and reviewing tutor/small group work

REQUIREMENTS

As Occupational Therapist / Occupational Therapy Practitioner you will have the following:

• Honours Degree in Occupational Therapy

• Registered member of HCPC

• A willingness to commit to undertaking supported CPD to achieve the Post Graduate Sensory Integration Modules 2 and 3 qualifications under a Training Agreement

• Using a wide range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions appropriate for autistic children/young people

• Conduct assessments, analyse results and determine appropriate therapeutic package of support

• Work in a multi-disciplinary team environment and interagency working

DESIRABLE

• Evidence of attending courses and/or training in relation to understanding and supporting students with Autism including therapeutic evidence-based interventions

• Work within a paediatric setting on placement

• Work within an educational setting on placement

• Work with autistic children, young people and/or adults

• Apply the principles of clinical governance and audit

• Collate and analyse quality student and family data & monitoring information

This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be expected to undertake an enhanced disclosure. We are an equal opportunities employer.