Therapy Assistant - (SEND School)

Due to continual growth of Coombe House School, we have an exciting new position as a Therapy Assistant to join the team. As our Therapy Assistant, you will be responsible for the implementation of Occupational Therapy, and Speech & Language Therapy advised interventions in a Specialist SEN School setting.

This role will start on 2nd September 2024.

You will implement and review therapy interventions as identified by and under the direction of the Therapy Team, through assessment and as set out as part of an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). As a Therapy Assistant you will provide support for intervention programmes including group interventions such as Lego-based Therapy groups, Social groups, sensory circuits, motor and life skills.

We would like to hear from you if you can bring a passion for supporting pupils with SEN difficulties including those with a range of neurodiverse conditions such as autism, and for helping children overcoming barriers to learning. You will have previous experience of supporting individual development and care plans and assisting individuals in accordance with their needs, particularly their sensory and communication needs.

Our school 

Coombe House School is an independent special school that provides education for pupils aged 5 to 19 with SEMH and ASD and associated difficulties, which represents the largest group of children and young people supported by an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) in Dorset and nationally. All pupils on roll have an EHCP. The school uses a therapeutic approach to support pupils with their individual difficulties. Everything the school does is based on the formation and maintenance of positive relationships and viewing all behaviour as communication.

We are seeking candidates who thrive on working in a challenging but immensely rewarding environment, who are passionate about supporting the development of social, life and independence skills and who truly want to make a difference in the lives of pupils. Our staff are kind, patient, calm and compassionate who work on building trusting relationships with our pupils.

More about the role:

• Delivering intervention programmes developed in partnership with the  Occupational Therapist and Speech and Language Therapist to support the education of groups of students.
• Assist with the development of individual EHCP plans and student assessments with the therapy team.
• To collect data on pupil objectives and complete session notes, as instructed by the Therapists.
• To support disadvantaged students to help ‘narrow the gap’.
• To prepare resources such as visual aids to be used in the classroom and resources for group and individual therapy sessions as requested by the Therapists.
• Working in any environments where it is deemed appropriate to deliver Occupational Therapy such as the pool, forest school and community.

Please review the job description and person specification for further information about the role. If you would like to work at a very special, caring, and nurturing school, please complete the application process.

Excellent salary, actual term time only pro-rated for this position is between £23,258.99 - £25,766.15 per annum depending on experience. Working hours are:

Full Time (35 hours)

08.30 – 16.00 Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday

08.30 – 16.30 on a Wednesday

08.30 – 15.30 on a Friday

The school is accessed via a private road and enjoys a secluded setting within its grounds. The accommodation extends to over 160,000 sq ft, set within in grounds of 55 acres.

What Coombe House School can offer you:  

• A workplace set in beautiful surroundings. 
• Competitive salary.
• Enhanced NEST Pension Scheme (10% employers' contribution).
• Continuous professional development and training
• Use of leisure facilities (gym and swimming pool), at specified times.
• Access to an employee assistance programme. 
• Highly supportive leadership team and working alongside a multi-disciplinary team of other SEN Specialists.
• The opportunity to play an integral part at the infancy of this exciting and unique journey.

Deadline for applications: Sunday 16th June 2024.

Interviews will be held on Thursday 27th June.

This post involves working with children or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them and will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

We are committed to safeguarding and expect everyone who works in our school (and visitors to our school) to share this commitment. We take all safeguarding and welfare concerns seriously and encourage our pupils to talk to us about any worries they may have. We will always act in the best interests of the child. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS.