Responsible To

Head Teacher

Location

The Anchor SENDfriendly Independent Specialist School

Salary

Dependent on qualifications, experience and responsibilities.

Contract Type

Full Time

About the School

TAS is an independent specialist school supporting children and young people aged 5-25 years with highly complex needs. Our pupils present with a wide range of learning, communication, sensory, physical, social, emotional and behavioural needs and require highly individualised support to access education, develop independence and achieve positive outcomes.

We are committed to delivering exceptional therapeutic support through both direct intervention and a universal, whole-school approach that enables every pupil to engage meaningfully in learning, daily living and preparation for adulthood.

Purpose of the Role

The Occupational Therapist will provide highly specialist assessment, intervention, advice and support to pupils across the school. The role combines direct therapeutic provision to meet Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) outcomes with strategic leadership to develop therapeutic learning environments, staff practice and whole-school approaches that promote participation, independence, regulation and wellbeing.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively with education staff, families and external professionals to ensure occupational therapy principles are embedded throughout the curriculum and daily routines.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessments for pupils aged 5-25 years.
• Assess functional skills, sensory processing, motor development, self-care, independence, participation and environmental barriers to learning.
• Develop, implement and review Occupational Therapy programmes aligned to EHCP outcomes.
• Deliver direct, indirect and consultative interventions as appropriate.
• Monitor and evaluate pupil progress and adapt interventions accordingly.
• Provide recommendations regarding sensory regulation, environmental adaptations, equipment and access arrangements.
• Support pupils in developing independence, life skills and preparation for adulthood outcomes.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date clinical records in accordance with professional standards.
• Produce high-quality assessments, reports and recommendations.

Whole School Responsibilities

• Lead the development of therapeutic, sensory-informed and occupation-focused practices across the school.
• Support the implementation of universal strategies that promote engagement, regulation, independence and participation.
• Work collaboratively with school leaders to develop environments that meet the needs of pupils with complex sensory, physical and developmental needs.
• Deliver whole-school training on topics such as sensory processing, regulation, motor skills, independence, environmental adaptations and participation.
• Design and deliver targeted training programmes based upon identified EHCP outcomes and pupil needs.
• Support curriculum teams to embed therapeutic approaches into everyday learning.

Multi-Disciplinary Working

• Work as an active member of the multidisciplinary team.
• Collaborate closely with Speech and Language Therapists, Educational Psychologists, teachers, support staff and external professionals.
• Attend and contribute to Annual Reviews, Team Around the Child (TAC) meetings and other professional meetings.
• Liaise effectively with families, local authorities and partner agencies.
• Support staff in understanding and implementing Occupational Therapy recommendations.

Safeguarding and Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain a secure understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and statutory guidance.
• Adhere to all school policies, procedures and professional standards.
• Promote the welfare, safety and wellbeing of all pupils.
• Participate in supervision, appraisal and continuing professional development.
• Contribute positively to the school’s culture, vision and values.
• Ensure all practice complies with HCPC standards and relevant professional guidance.

Person Specification

Essential

• Qualification in Occupational Therapy.
• Significant post-qualification experience working with children and young people with complex needs.
• Experience working within specialist educational settings.
• Strong understanding of EHCP processes and statutory responsibilities.
• Experience assessing and supporting sensory processing, motor skills, functional independence and participation.
• Experience delivering both direct therapy and universal whole-school approaches.
• Experience delivering training to education staff and families.
• Excellent report-writing, assessment and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and commitment to child protection.

Desirable

• Experience supporting pupils with autism, learning disabilities and complex developmental needs.
• Experience in sensory integration practice and sensory-informed approaches.
• Knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support and trauma-informed practice.
• Experience supporting preparation for adulthood, life skills and vocational pathways.
• Experience supervising, mentoring or leading other professionals.
• Experience contributing to service development and quality improvement.

Key Competencies

• Outstanding communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to influence practice across a whole-school community.
• Strong clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to person-centred and outcome-focused practice.
• Ability to balance direct therapeutic intervention with strategic service development.
• Commitment to collaborative working with pupils, families and professionals.
• Ability to work flexibly and respond to the changing needs of a specialist setting.