Qualified Occupational Therapist

Salary: £16.16 - £19.37 per hour (£33,612.80 - £40,289.60 pro rata)

Position Type: Permanent Full-Time Term Time Only

Location: Cedars School

Hours: 40

About Aurora Cedars School

Aurora Cedars School offers a tailored education for up to 80 pupils aged 5–19 with ASC and SEMH needs. Many of our students benefit from specialist support from Occupational Therapy.  This role is central to this position.

The Role

We are looking for a Qualified Occupational Therapist to develop and deliver our school‑based OT provision.

This is a varied and rewarding role combining direct clinical work, staff support, and service development within a highly collaborative MDT consisting of a Clinical Psychologist, Speech and Language Therapist, 2 Assistant Psychologists, 2 Therapy Assistants, and SENDCo.

You will work closely with our Clinical Lead, SENDCo and wider team within a school culture where Occupational Therapy is highly valued and actively embedded in everyday practice. to support pupils' participation, independence and regulation within a sensory‑informed learning environment

You will build on existing OT provision within the school, taking a lead role in shaping and developing the service over time. You will be supported by a therapy assistant, and will work within a tiered model of support (universal, targeted, specialist) to ensure sustainable and effective provision across the school.

Responsibilities

• Carry out occupational therapy assessments and contribute to EHCP advice and annual reviews, using clinical reasoning to identify pupils' needs and appropriate support

• Plan, implement and review targeted and specialist OT interventions, delivered both directly and indirectly through teaching staff and the therapy assistant

• Manage and prioritise a caseload of pupils, using a structured and tiered approach to ensure effective and sustainable provision

• Support teaching staff and TAs through training, modelling and consultation to embed strategies that promote participation, regulation and independence in everyday school activities

• Contribute to the development of a sensory‑informed, accessible school environment across classrooms and daily routines

• Work collaboratively with the MDT to support pupils' engagement, regulation, independence and access to learning

• Provide direction, delegation and clinical oversight to the therapy assistant and other staff implementing programmes

• Maintain accurate clinical records and monitor outcomes to inform ongoing intervention

• Actively engage in supervision, training and CPD to develop clinical skills and ensure safe practice
  

We are looking for someone who is:

• Confident working independently within a supportive MDT

• Able to prioritise and manage workload effectively

• Skilled in building strong, positive relationships with staff and pupils

• Passionate about supporting participation, independence and real‑life outcomes for children and young people

This role would suit someone with a creative and flexible approach, who is motivated to make a meaningful difference to pupils' daily functioning and school experience.

Essential criteria:

• HCPC‑registered Occupational Therapist

• Degree in Occupational Therapy (or equivalent)

• Experience working with children or young people with additional needs

• Ability to work independently within a supportive MDT

Desirable Criteria: 

• Experience in a school or SEND setting

• Experience supporting autism and SEMH

• Experience delivering staff training or consultation

About Aurora

• The Aurora Group is a forward-thinking provider of education and care for children, young people, and adults with special educational needs and disabilities. This is an exciting time to join us. Aurora Cedars is a growing school where your expertise can truly shape its future.

What's on offer? 

• A school culture where Occupational Therapy is valued and embedded, with staff actively engaging with and implementing OT strategies across the setting.

• A supportive MDT including Clinical Lead (Clinical Psychologist), SALT, assistants, and SENDCo

• Support from a full time Therapy Assistant

• Access to regular OT clinical supervision

• Regular online company‑wide peer supervision with other OTs

• Opportunity to shape and develop the role

• Term‑time working for work‑life balance

• A beautiful setting in which to work, with dedicated therapy rooms and spaces

How to apply?

Please complete an online application form in full, remembering to include all employment and education details.  If you need any assistance or would like any more information please contact Betsy in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at betsy.walley@theauroragroup.co.uk

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.