Band 6/7 Occupational Therapist, Orchard Hill College – Sutton or Kingston

Band 7: Professional Pay scale Spine point 31 - 36, FTE £46,643 - £52,656 per annum

Band 6: Professional Pay scale Spine point 25 – 30, FTE £38,690 - £45,572 per annum

Applicants will be considered who have a professional interest or prior experience in working with people with Learning Disabilities and Autism

Location: SM5 2EJ or KT3 3HY

Hours:36 hours per week, full time, (This includes 40 days holiday, and we are happy to consider term time only or term time + 4 weeks working patterns, or part time, as part of our flexible working offer). 

We are looking for professionals who want to champion the rights and independence of people with learning disabilities and Autistic people to live their best lives and reach their full potential. 

Orchard Hill College is an Outstanding Specialist College (Ofsted, November 2019) offering life-changing learning opportunities to young people and adults with a range of special education needs and/or disabilities. We have eight vibrant community-based College Centres across London and Surrey where committed, specialist teams deliver a range of programmes to meet the needs of over 400 students.

Students who study with us have a wide range of needs including profound and multiple learning disabilities, communication and behavioural difficulties and specific medical needs. All students are individual, and their learning programme is designed to support and empower them to achieve their aspirations and goals, whilst developing skills to become more independent members of their community.

Orchard Hill College is a truly unique and rewarding place to work with inspirational students and a dynamic and supportive staff team.

The College is also an Academy sponsor and established Orchard Hill College Academy Trust in 2013, which is home to 14 special schools. Together Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust provide for over 1500 pupils and students with SEN across London, Surrey, Sussex, and Berkshire. To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit https://www.ohcat.org/work-for-us/.

To find out more about Orchard Hill College please visit https://orchardhill.ac.uk/.

The Occupational Therapy Team are passionate about:

·        Working collaboratively with curriculum staff, parents & carers to help students achieve their full potential in college and the community.

·        Promoting students’ independence and access to all areas of life.

·        Creating capable and enabling environments within a multi-disciplinary Positive Behaviour Support framework.

·        Supporting students to develop their skills and independence in self-regulation through exploring their feelings, triggers and helpful tools. 

·        Researching, trialling, and recommending affordable, creative, and evidenced based assistive devices and technology to empower students’ independence in meaningful activities. 

·        Promoting all student’s health and wellbeing through the assessment and provision of appropriate seating and accessing interests within their local communities.

·        Championing creative projects to facilitate students’ engagement in, and development of, the curriculum. 

·        Supporting each other, our OT team, to realise and develop our clinical and professional potential.

·        Working collaboratively and creatively with the rest of the Integrated Services team which comprises Occupational Therapy, Creative Arts therapists, Nursing, Physiotherapy and Positive behaviour support leads.

We are looking for Occupational Therapists who love working with people with Learning Disabilities in creative, functional, and person-centred ways - so whatever your current band or level of experience, we would be delighted to hear from you. 

As a family friendly employer, we are happy to consider applications for part time working including term time, or job shares. You are welcome to speak to our HR Department for further information prior to application. 

We can offer you:

• Line management and clinical supervision
• Clinical leads in each discipline to support your development alongside opportunities for peer supervision and peer support.
• Continuing professional development and a career progression pathway.
• A supportive team and opportunities to work creatively in a transdisciplinary way with occupational therapists/assistants, physiotherapists, creative arts therapies, nurses, speech and language therapists, therapy assistants and health care assistants.
• A wide range of clinical experience, including manual handling; management of complex physical disabilities; seating; establishing capable environments; AMPS; sensory integration; embedding regulation curriculums; supporting students into work; PMLD students; delivering capable environments; active support of students who may display behaviours of concern. 
• 40 days annual leave for full time therapists
• Local Government Pension
• Being in a team who are implementing Positive Behaviour Support and working with the PBS Alliance schools and colleges networks
• Workplace research and clinical development

Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details on the role and the skills, experience and knowledge we are looking for.

For an informal discussion about the role, candidates are invited to contact Shikara Rajballi, Deputy Head of Integrated Services at SRajballi@orchardhill.ac.uk.

To apply for the role please use the quick apply option to submit an application. If you have any queries, please contact jobs@orchardhill.ac.uk.

Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.

Please note that CV applications cannot be considered.

Closing Date: Wednesday 5th July 2023

Interviews will take place on: Thursday 13th July 2023

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.