Therapy Assistant

Position: Therapy Assistant

Location: Caterham, Surrey

Hourly Rate: £11.55 - £12.60 per hour 

Salary: Actual salary £20,637.54 - £22,513.68 dependant on experience and qualifications

Hours: 40 hours per week, 8.30am-4.30pm, flexibility within these hours is essential and you are required to work till 5pm one day a week for staff training and meetings. Term time only. 

Caterham Education Centre 

Part of the Aurora Group, Caterham Education Centre (CEC), in Caterham Surrey are currently looking to recruit a Therapy Assistant. CEC is a 30-place secondary/post 16 learning centre supporting young people aged 11 – 16 who have difficulties with communication and social interaction, typically associated with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism, and challenging behaviour. 

CEC is linked to Aurora Redehall School they share the same Headteacher and Senior Management Team, however each site has its own Assistant Head and team of Teachers and TAs. Although the sites operate separately on the whole, students do cross between sites occasionally.

Purpose of the role: 

The purpose of the role is to implement interventions advised by Occupational Therapy and Educational Psychologist. You will implement and review therapy interventions as identified by the Therapy Team, through assessment and as set out as part of a Statement of Special Educational Needs or Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), to enable students to fulfil their potential in all aspects of their lives. These will include occupational therapy interventions as well as sensory and creative activities such as therapeutic art activities.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Enable students to regulate the impacts their sensory and emotional needs have on them
• Enable students to learn and develop independence skills and strategies to increase access to the world around them successfully and prepare them for adulthood
• Ensure young people are provided the tools they require to facilitate access to the wider world
• Support staff in an integrated way to support the meeting of targets and monitoring of progress in sensory development
• Keep detailed records of interventions and outcomes
• Meet regularly with the Occupational Therapist, Educational Psychologist and/or SENCo to feedback on work done, outcomes and alternative approaches
• To provide reports for termly reports, Annual Reviews and other key information-sharing opportunities.

The team at Caterham are a family, they believe in working together to achieve the best for their co-workers and students alike. Naturally passionate educators, the whole team strive to exceed expectations at every opportunity. At Caterham we understand “it’s about more than education”.

For the full job description please contact Liz from the recruitment team liz.hudson@the-aurora-group.com

Skills and Qualifications

• GCSE pass above C (or 4 in the new GCSE system) in English and Maths.
• A willingness to undertake professional development in relation to Occupational Therapy and psychological skills, knowledge and understanding.
• High level of mental and physical stamina
• A strong desire to make a difference to young people.
• Driving Licence
• Previous experience of a specialist setting and/or working with young people in education particularly those with Special Educational Needs
• Experience running interventions, with measureable impact, is desirable
• Knowledge of the roles of other professionals in health, social and education setting.
• Knowledge of legislation relevant to Occupational Therapy, education and social care.
• Knowledge of the National Curriculum and school settings is desirable.

Benefits and Additional Information

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

• Life assurance and Pension
• Perkbox - offering high street discounts
• Employee assistance programme
• Car lease scheme
• Fully funded training and qualifications
• Bike to work scheme
• 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.