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- Tasks: Support young people with complex needs through therapeutic interventions and collaborative teamwork.
- Company: Join Witherslack Group, a leader in education and care for children with special educational needs.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, full school holidays, flexible benefits, and wellbeing support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young lives while working in a diverse and inclusive environment.
- Qualifications: Must be a qualified Occupational Therapist with experience in therapeutic interventions for children.
- Other info: Opportunity for professional growth with access to a supportive multi-disciplinary team.
The predicted salary is between 30700 - 35300 £ per year.
£37,602 – £45,426 (including paid school holidays) + excellent benefits
Those Huge Small Victories
Our clinicians are fulfilled by the idea of affecting even the smallest positive changes in our young people, so we celebrate the little things.
Get out what you put in
This role is based at Pontville School either full or part time, covering maternity until January 2027.
Pontville School is an independent specialist day school providing high quality education for boys and girls. Based in Ormskirk, the school is regarded by many as the first choice for speech, language and social communication in the UK.
Our clinicians are a crucial part of the most joined-up model in SEND. Across all of our specialist schools and children’s homes, we provide unrivalled levels of clinical support, both in terms of our expertise and breadth of provision. Our young people present with a complexity of need including developmental trauma, neuro-developmental conditions and special educational needs.
As part of a multi-disciplinary clinical team you will be supporting educational and residential colleagues to provide therapeutic living and learning environments and, based on clinical assessment and formulation, offer individualised interventions and engagement to our young people.
Our Occupational Therapists work collaboratively within our schools and children’s homes, this ensures that therapeutic support permeates every aspect of the education, care and support we offer all of our children and young people. You will provide consultation, workshops, training and guidance to the educational and residential teams around our children.
What we do for you
We know you’re going to do great things. For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with the best salary and benefits package in the sector. With us, you’ll get to make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people – plus you’ll get:
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Training : A full induction and on the job training
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Holiday : You’ll work hard at WG, so you’ll be rewarded with full school holidays including bank holidays
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Clinical Development : If career growth and professional advancement is your thing, we provide a leading programme of clinical learning and development
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Flexible benefits : meaning you can increase/decrease benefits such as life insurance – check out our benefits here
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Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance
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Medical cover so you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment and a host of high-street discounts
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Beautiful working environments with the very best facilities – check out our schools here
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A recommend a friend scheme that offers a £1,000 bonus every time
Bring your whole self to work
Our young people come from all walks of life, diverse backgrounds and with different needs – and our workforce reflects that diversity, so that our teams can engage, encourage and inspire our young people to be themselves. The kind of person we’re looking for will:
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Be a qualified Occupational Therapist registered with the HCPC
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Have experience and be skilled in delivering therapeutic interventions for children and young people with complex needs
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Need experience of supporting teams around a child or young person to ensure they are being provided with clinically informed living and learning environments and experiences
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Be a confident, engaging and effective, model, guide, leader and trainer
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Be highly organised and ready to take the initiative
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Be committed to ensuring the best outcomes for young people
This is a great opportunity to change young lives and have a positive impact on their future. Embedded within our living and learning environments you will be offered the support, resource and platform for you to do great things. You’ll benefit from supervision, a clinical development programme and access to a 220+ strong team of multi-disciplinary clinical colleagues who will be with you every step of the way.
Interested in joining us?
At Witherslack Group, inclusion is part of who we are. We’re committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued and that they truly belong.
As a specialist provider of education and care for children and young people with special educational needs, we understand the importance of embracing individuality and championing difference- especially when it comes to neurodiversity. We celebrate diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and the unique strengths that each person brings to our community.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. We are proud to be recognised as an inclusive employer and are committed to making our recruitment and workplace practices inclusive and accessible. If you need any adjustments to support you through the recruitment process or in the workplace, we’ll be there every step of the way.
By building a diverse and inclusive team, we’re better able to support the children, young people and families we serve and ensure every member of our team can thrive, grow, and be their authentic self.
The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (we will cover the cost) and an online search. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.
For a full job description and person specification, please click here .
To view our ex-offenders policy please click here .
To view our Child Protection Policy, please visit the \’Parents and Carers\’ section of this School/Learning centre. You can find all our Schools here .
Special Education / Careers in Care / Careers in Special Education / Working with Children / SEMH / SEN / ASD
Occupational Therapist employer: Witherslack Group
Contact Detail:
Witherslack Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Occupational Therapist
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of the children at Pontville School. Understanding the complexities of developmental trauma and neuro-developmental conditions will help you demonstrate your expertise during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Witherslack Group. They can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which can help you tailor your approach when discussing your fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience in multi-disciplinary teams. Highlighting your ability to collaborate effectively with educational and residential colleagues will show that you can contribute to the therapeutic environment they strive to create.
✨Tip Number 4
Be ready to share examples of how you've successfully implemented therapeutic interventions in the past. Concrete examples will illustrate your skills and commitment to achieving positive outcomes for young people.
We think you need these skills to ace Occupational Therapist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of an Occupational Therapist at Pontville School. Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of the children and young people you will be working with.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to highlight relevant experience and skills that align with the job description. Emphasise your qualifications as a registered Occupational Therapist and any experience you have in delivering therapeutic interventions for children with complex needs.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for making a difference in the lives of young people. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully supported teams around children or young people in previous roles.
Highlight Your Commitment to Inclusion: In your application, express your commitment to creating an inclusive environment. Discuss how your background and experiences can contribute to the diversity and inclusivity of the team at Witherslack Group.
How to prepare for a job interview at Witherslack Group
✨Show Your Passion for Helping Young People
Make sure to express your genuine enthusiasm for working with children and young people, especially those with complex needs. Share specific examples of how you've made a positive impact in previous roles, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Demonstrate Your Collaborative Skills
Since the role involves working within a multi-disciplinary team, highlight your experience in collaboration. Discuss how you've successfully worked with educational and residential colleagues to create supportive environments for young people.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to handle challenging situations. Prepare by thinking of scenarios where you had to deliver therapeutic interventions or support teams around a child, and be ready to discuss your approach and outcomes.
✨Emphasise Your Commitment to Continuous Learning
The role offers opportunities for clinical development, so it's important to convey your commitment to professional growth. Talk about any relevant training or courses you've undertaken and how you plan to continue developing your skills in occupational therapy.
