Occupational Therapist in Kingston upon Thames

Permanent, Part time 0.6 FTE 21.6 hours a week.

As a college, we believe that young adults should be respected and have their individual choices, needs and aspirations reflected in the educational opportunities made available to them. We encourage independence in all our learners and support them to achieve their full potential through a high-quality curriculum to develop skills in living, work, community and communication.

As our Occupational Therapist, you will have a vital role in supporting learners to meet their optimal level of function and autonomy. You will be supporting students to manage their sensory, behavioural and motor coordination challenges in a range of different environmental settings. You will carry out holistic occupational therapy assessments and person-centred interventions that will support the learners to access and develop their functional skills across the curriculum. You will support students' social integration at college as well as supporting their emotional wellbeing, working pro-actively to avoid behaviours of concern.

You will use a person-centred approach to promote choice, independence, and inclusion, reflecting the key principles of Valuing People and Valuing People Now. We would like our Occupational Therapist to hold a degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy and have experience of assessing learners with Learning Disabilities, Autism and Sensory processing differences, both formally and informally.

You will have experience of devising and implementing evidence-based intervention for learners with different communication profiles, with experience of writing reports & support plans/communication guidelines for a range of audiences and needs. HPC registered, you will have experience of planning and delivering training (both classroom and/or coaching & reflection), able to keep clear and accurate records for clinical records and additional support funding purposes.

With knowledge of sensory and motor needs/learning strategies for this client group, you will be able to use initiative, organise and prioritise your own caseload with the ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines. Although this is a Group wide role, it will be primarily based at Kingston College and Carshalton College.

Salary is dependent on experience. The successful candidate will be eligible for any increase in salary as a consequence of the annual cost of living review that will be implemented in the new academic year.

The benefits package includes generous annual leave of 40 days, plus up to 8 additional days over Christmas/New Year as well as an additional 5 days Wellbeing leave to enhance employees’ physical and mental health. This leave is all in addition to Bank Holiday entitlement. There is an excellent pension scheme that receives a significant financial contribution from the employer (Teachers Pensions or Local Government Pension Scheme), subsidised sports facilities and professional development and training plus a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. The benefits package will be pro-rated for part time staff.

South Thames Colleges Group is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. As outlined in the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010, we are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

As part of our due diligence checks on prospective employees, successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, an online search and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.