Specialist Occupational Therapist, Brantridge School

Salary: Band 6 – £18,421.85 - £22,196.64 per annum (FTE £31,702 - £38,198) per annum inclusive of High Cost Area Supplement – Fringe

Hours: 22.5 hours per week, 39 weeks per year

Location: Brantridge School, Haywards Heath, RH17 6EQ

Brantridge School is a special school for boys with social emotional and mental health difficulties and autistic spectrum conditions. It currently provides places for 54 boys aged 6 to 11 years old with plans to introduce a co-ed secondary provision from September 2022.

The school is located in an adapted country manor house on impressive grounds near Haywards Heath in the Sussex Weald, and offers its pupils an exciting programme of outdoor learning on site. It strives to provide a curriculum that is flexible and personalised to facilitate a community where individuals flourish and achieve their full potential.

Dedicated and experienced staff work with families to ensure children make real progress at Brantridge School, and parental feedback is overwhelmingly positive on the child-centred approach and flexibility of the staff team. To find out more about us visit www.brantridgeschool.org

We are looking for an enthusiastic and resilient Occupational Therapist interested in a career in paediatric Mental Health to join our school to provide intensive specialist support for pupils.  We seek a therapist who wants to develop their skills and knowledge in a specialist educational setting from Key Stage 1 and 2.  Confidence and experience of working with children with complex Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs is essential. 

You will

• Be able to provide 1:1, paired and group interventions both in and outside of the classroom setting, in order to meet provision outlined on pupil’s Education, Health and Care Plans

• Support the pupils with specific areas of difficulty, and have specific knowledge and experience in developing interventions to target social and psychological needs 

• Be confident in implementing strategies to manage pupils’ emotional regulation, to increase engagement in learning and develop pupils’ self-esteem 

• Support in the development and coordination of a new sensory room within the school

• Attend multi-displinary meetings and provide training for the Education team, Pupil Support team, Safeguarding team and Therapy team to provide updates on pupil progress, encourage effective sharing of research and knowledge and to develop sound understanding of the needs of the pupils 

• Be able to advise parents and carers with the management of students’ emotional regulation and sensory needs at home

• Maintain succinct clinical notes, complete relevant assessments highlighting issues of concern to the teams around the pupils and track progress, to ensure pupil data is available to inform future planning.

This is a unique opportunity to develop specialist clinical skills within an educational environment, offering the chance to work collaboratively with a range of professionals and to use therapeutic skills creatively to meet the needs of pupils and students.  In return we offer excellent support from colleagues and staff, commitment to CPD, access to internal and external training.

If you believe you can help our pupils to fulfil their potential at school, at home and in their communities and are looking for a fresh challenge, then this role may be just what you are looking for.

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.

Brantridge School is part of Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust, an established family of specialist academies and college centres that provide for over 1500 pupils and students with a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs. To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit https://www.ohcat.org/work-for-us/ 

For an informal discussion about the role, candidates are invites to contact Gio De Lucia - Head of Behaviour, via email gj.delucia@brantridge-school.co.uk to arrange a time to speak with him.

To apply for the role please use the quick apply option to submit an application. If you have any queries, please contact schooloffice@brantridge-school.co.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. Failure to show evidence will result in your application not being shortlisted for interview.

Please note that CV applications will not be considered.

Closing date: 9am Monday 14th March 2022

Interview date: Week commencing 28th March 2022

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.