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. If you are newly qualified or about to graduate in Occupational Therapy (OT) we encourage you to apply. The school will support the successful candidate to gain the necessary SI post graduate qualifications over time.

SALARY: £29,970 – £36,483 per annum (NHS Band 5) Pay Award Pending NHS + 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)

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 74 students on role and have been awarded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted for both Education (2024) and Residential Care (2025). The school also has Advanced Level Autism Accreditation Beacon status 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 an enthusiastic and dynamic 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.

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.

DUTIES

• Organising, prioritising, and being responsible for a designated caseload ensuring timely and effective management of Occupational Therapy needs whilst ensuring an individualised approach.
• Identifying and implementing 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.
• Using the views and aspirations of students, including analysing results of their QoL surveys, and considering these when setting up and reviewing therapy plans, goals and programmes.
• Making clinical decisions and devising appropriate therapy goals and plans using knowledge and experience under-pinned by evidence-based practice to meet the changing needs of the students following a tiered model of service delivery (whole school, targeted/specialist).
• Having knowledge of the content of students’ EHCPs and utilising this information within clinical decision making.
• Ensuring that the identified needs and interventions of their designated caseload is fed back to the Lead OT alongside collation of student specific data so that they are represented in the school’s Provision Map.
• Attending meetings to represent Occupational Therapy and/or the needs of the student(s) e.g. school MDT meetings, Child in Need meetings, Student Council and Annual Reviews.
• Planning and delivering individual therapy, small group work and class-based interventions using evidence-based approaches.
• Supporting and contributing 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.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

• 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.
• Applying safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Conducting assessments, analysing results and determining appropriate therapeutic package of support.
• Working in a multi-disciplinary team environment and interagency working.
• Understanding and maintaining professional boundaries.
• Working within confidential and Data Protection boundaries.
• Using databases for recording, maintaining monitoring and retrieving information such as clinical notes.

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.