Job Description
Senior Occupational Therapist – Autism & SEMH
Location: Chigwell, Essex
Salary: £52,042 – £59,741 (including paid school holidays)
Hours: Full time – Term-time only
Contract Type: Permanent
Service Type: Specialist Autism and SEMH School
We are supporting a specialist education provider to recruit a Senior Occupational Therapist for a newly available post at a high-quality independent day school for children and young people with Autism and associated needs.
You will play a key role within a highly skilled multi-disciplinary team, delivering therapeutic interventions to students with complex presentations, including neurodevelopmental conditions, developmental trauma and SEMH. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a supportive clinical setting with full school holiday entitlement and a strong commitment to CPD.
Role Overview
- Deliver direct and indirect Occupational Therapy support across a school setting for students with autism and complex needs.
- Work collaboratively with education and residential colleagues to embed therapeutic approaches.
- Support the development of individualised therapeutic plans based on robust assessment and formulation.
- Deliver training and consultation to staff teams to promote clinically informed support.
- Participate in wider MDT discussions and contribute to clinical governance.
Key Duties
Clinical
- Conduct assessments using a range of standardised and observational tools.
- Design and deliver OT interventions tailored to sensory, functional and emotional needs.
- Provide input into EHCPs and multidisciplinary reports.
- Support the creation of autism-friendly, sensory-informed learning environments.
Consultation & Training
- Deliver training and workshops to school and care staff.
- Provide ongoing consultation and supervision to support best practice.
- Contribute to behaviour support planning and positive risk management.
Leadership
- Support junior colleagues and contribute to service development.
- Liaise with parents/carers, external professionals and commissioners as needed.
Requirements
- HCPC-registered Occupational Therapist.
- Specialist experience supporting children or young people with Autism and/or SEMH.
- Confident in delivering therapeutic interventions and formulating functional goals.
- Skilled in delivering staff training and multidisciplinary working.
- A car driver due to occasional travel between sites.
Benefits
- Term-time only schedule with full holiday pay.
- Competitive salary: £52,042 – £59,741.
- Generous CPD budget and internal clinical development programme.
- Medical cashback and employee assistance programme.
- Beautiful working environment with excellent facilities.
- £1,000 refer-a-friend bonus scheme.
- Supportive team culture within a national network of clinicians.
For more information or to arrange a confidential chat, contact:
Katie Ward – Director, Livingwell Recruitment
07748 635033| katie@livingwellrecruit.co.uk