Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Location: Quidenham, Norwich, NR16 2NZ

Salary: £11.45 - £12 per hour (£20,458.85 - £21,441.59 actual salary per year) Dependant on experience and qualifications

Hours: 40 hours per week, Term time only

Aurora White House School and Aurora Eccles School

Due to the continued expansion of our school, we’re currently looking for an Occupational Therapy Assistant to join our cross site therapy team. You will be working across both schools as required, working closely with the rest of the class teams and the other therapists to create an enabling environment and supporting students to actively engage with their social and academic environment.

Part of the Aurora Group, Aurora White House and Aurora Eccles School in Quidenham, Norwich provides day placements for students aged 6 to 16 years primarily with communication and interaction difficulties or specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia. Some may be on the autistic spectrum or have anxieties and difficulties that create barriers to learning. 

With small classes, a maximum of 10 students and a minimum of 3 staff per class you can focus on the needs of each student. There is a full clinical team onsite to support at all times and you will have the support of an experienced and stable SLT.

To take a virtual look around our schools please click here: Eccles Virtual Tour or  White House Virtual Tour

Main Purpose of the Role:

To assist the Occupational Therapy team in providing Occupational Therapy services, covering all aspects of the students’ occupational, functional, and sensory development within their school environment, working in a way that puts their health, safety and welfare first. The main focus of this role will be to support the implementation of occupational therapy support and therapy programmes with identified students within Aurora Eccles School and within Aurora White House Schools. The assistant will be part of the Occupational Therapy team, working closely with the class teams and other therapists to create an enabling environment, and supporting students to actively engage with their social and academic environment.

Key Duties

• Assist the Occupational Therapist and the class teams in creating a sensory friendly and enabling environments within Aurora White House School and Aurora Eccles School.
• Work alongside the Occupational Therapist in the assessment of students within both schools
• Implementing interventions and programmes with classes and pupils as directed by the Occupational Therapy Team and wider clinical and SEN team
• Together with the class teams support students’ sensory, motor and occupational needs to be able to develop their daily living skills as well as engage with their social and academic environments
• To liaise effectively with multi-disciplinary colleagues and maintain associated records
• Research, advise on and source, or prepare and make, equipment and materials which contribute to the efficient delivery of occupational therapy services
• Under direction of senior clinical team members, prepare training materials and / or support training to staff in relevant areas as appropriate and as required
• Administrative duties as assigned by senior clinical team members and clinical lead

Skills and Qualifications

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English Language qualification minimum Grade 4 or equivalent is essential.

Essential

• Interest in developing young people’s functional skills and meeting sensory needs
• Commitment to and experience of supporting children and young people with a variety of SEN
• Confidence in own communication skills, and ability to guide and motivate other staff
• Ability to work flexibly and as part of a busy team
• Fluent in written and spoken English with the ability to communicate complex information in a clear manner to a range of audiences including young people, parents, and professionals.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to relate to others and develop good working relationships.
• Good time-management and organisation skills. Ability to organise and prioritise own workload. 
• Ability to keep legible and accurate notes.
• Ability to cope with working in an environment that can be unpredictable.
• Good IT skills for administration, presentations, recording and reporting systems.
• A positive and creative approach in meeting individual needs.
• A patient, caring, encouraging, tactful and caring attitude.
• A basic understanding of the purpose and role of Occupational Therapy within a special education needs setting. 
• Good observational and listening skills.

Desirable

• Previous study in related area
• Innovative and practical skills.
• Knowledge and experience of supporting children and young people with sensory differences
• Knowledge and experience of implementing motor programmes for students to support the development of fine and gross motor skills
• Knowledge of sensory support strategies

Due to the rural location of the school, candidates are strongly advised to hold a full UK driving licence and have access to their own vehicle.

Benefits and Additional Information

Be part of our successful team and also benefit from a generous package that includes:

• Life assurance
• Pension
• Free lunches
• Free onsite parking
• Perkbox - offering high street discounts
• Employee assistance programme
• Car lease scheme
• Fully funded training and qualifications
• Bike to work scheme
• Family Swim
• Free membership to our Health cash back plan - Claim back money on services such as dental, optical, physio and many more.

How to Apply: 

You can apply online by completing our online application form.  For more information on this position please contact Liz on 07918 585258 / liz.hudson@the-aurora-group.com

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled. 

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.