Occupational Therapy Assistant

Do you have experience of supporting Occupational therapy programmes of intervention and working with young people and adults with complex needs including learning disabilities and Autism Spectrum Conditions? Would you like to help someone reach their potential? Together we make a difference, develop and learn, and support each other. Every day with us is different, but our mission remains the same: To champion the rights, needs and ambitions of the people we support - they are at the heart of everything we do. We stand by them and we work together for change.

We have an exciting opportunity for an Occupational Therapy Assistant - Maternity Cover (Fixed Term Contract) to join our Therapy team within Inscape House School.

• Hours: 37.5 hours per week
• Working pattern: 41 weeks per year - Term Time only
• Salary: £26,520 (Pro-rated from £29,108 FTE)
• Location: Inscape House School, Cheadle, Cheshire
• Reporting to: Occupational Therapy Lead

Inscape House School supports children and young people aged 5 to 19 years with autism spectrum conditions and related social communication difficulties. The postholder will provide assessment, intervention and monitoring supervised by a registered therapist, for pupils with autism spectrum conditions which will enable them to develop functional skills optimising their independence. They will work in close collaboration with parents and other professionals within and outside the school. Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults is a priority for all employees.

Key responsibilities:

• Under the guidance of an Occupational Therapy Lead, you will work with a clinical caseload of students, including assisting on complex cases.
• Complete assessments of students’ motor, sensory, independence and equipment needs.
• Support the intervention and monitoring of pupils' regulation and functional needs.
• Provide ongoing support and guidance to school staff, advising them on how to effectively address and meet pupils’ occupational therapy goals.
• Assist Occupational Therapists in delivering training to staff, as needed.
• Liaise with parents, families and carers, external professionals, and provisions, and advise on issues relating to the occupational therapy input and students’ development.
• Contribute to general projects, events or extra-curricular activities across the wider school as directed, for the purpose of further embedding and raising staff awareness of best practice regarding occupational therapy support.
• Attend MDT and other meetings as required.

About You:

• Educated to NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in health, education, or related discipline (or equivalent experience) e.g. QCF Level 3 in Clinical Healthcare Support, Level 3 in Supporting Teaching and Learning in schools.
• Experience of supporting occupational therapy programmes of interventions (as an occupational therapy assistant, or in another relevant role, e.g. teaching assistant).
• Experience of working with young people and adults with complex needs including learning disabilities and Autism Spectrum Conditions.
• Knowledge of relevant safeguarding requirements and how to help children and young people stay safe in education.
• Knowledge of Autism Spectrum Conditions as well as learning disabilities and associated conditions.
• Flexible, person-centred approach with ability to critically appraise own performance and to set priorities for own learning.
• An innovative thinker and confident IT user - independent and competent with Microsoft 365, Teams, Email, Word, Excel.

Benefits:

• Generous pension scheme and death in service benefit, up to 7% company pension contributions initially rising with length of service and up to 6 x basic salary death in service benefit.
• Occupational sick pay and family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
• Reward and Discount platform offering discounts at high street shops, travel, insurances etc.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Eligibility to apply for Blue Light card.
• Proud to be a real living wage employer.
• Refer a friend scheme, be rewarded for recommending a friend to work with us.
• Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including apprenticeship qualifications.
• Long service awards including cash gifts and extra holiday.
• Promotion of Wellbeing across the organisation including Mental Health First Aiders offering wellbeing support from trained colleagues and free weekly yoga sessions in person or online.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme for you and adults at your home.

To discover the full details of this rewarding role within the Together Trust take a look at our Job Description. Alongside an incredible team of like-minded peers, you’ll be working behind-the-scenes to support our staff, volunteers, families, and supporters. You will be helping our work happen across the charity; enabling us to care for and champion the rights, needs and ambitions of the people we support.

Applications are very welcome from all regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status or socio-economic background. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments for disabled people. We positively encourage applications from those with lived experience.

If there is any part of your lived experience you want to keep confidential in some way please talk to the Recruitment or HR shared service teams and we will do what we can to support you.

Salary £29,108.00 (pro-rated to £26,520 based on weeks and hours worked)

Frequency Annual

Job Reference togethertrust/TP/685/267

Contract Type Fixed Term Contract

Closing Date 24 June, 2025

Job Category Occupational Therapy

Location Cheadle, Stockport - Greater Manchester, United Kingdom