Occupational Therapist / Specialist Occupational Therapist

Orchard Hill College is an Outstanding Specialist College (Ofsted, April 2025) offering life-changing learning opportunities to young people and adults with a range of special education needs and/or disabilities. We operate vibrant community-based College Centres across London and Surrey, where committed specialist teams deliver a variety of programmes designed to meet the diverse needs of our students. Students who study with us have a wide range of needs including profound and multiple learning disabilities, communication and behavioural difficulties and specific medical needs. All students are individual, and their learning programme is designed to support and empower them to achieve their aspirations and goals, whilst developing skills to become more independent members of their community. We are currently seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to join our team. This is a fantastic opportunity for an individual passionate about education and making a real difference in the lives of our students.' Key Responsibilities:

• Promote a person-centred approach that supports student choice, independence, dignity, and inclusion in line with Valuing People, the Human Rights Act, and the Preparing for Adulthood agenda.
• Deliver and evaluate specialist Occupational Therapy interventions, including sensory, seating, upper limb, and functional assessments, while independently managing a diverse caseload and contributing to EHCPs and multi-disciplinary reviews.
• Collaborate with internal and external professionals (e.g. education staff, families, social care, health services) to ensure smooth transitions, coordinated care, and delivery of inclusive, capable environments.
• Provide training, support and guidance to staff, families, and workplaces on best practices in manual handling, sensory and physical adaptations, and functional skill development.
• Maintain professional standards and development, including supervision, CPD, safeguarding responsibilities, data protection compliance, and active participation in audits, clinical governance, and college initiatives.
  
  Degree or Graduate Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• UK HPC Registration
• Experience with people over 16 who have severe/profound and multiple learning disabilities and / or Autism
  
  Orchard Hill College is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:
Rewards & Benefits: (Employee Benefits - Home)
• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)
Our Trust: The College is an Academy sponsor and established Orchard Hill College Academy Trust in 2013 which is home to 13 special schools. Together Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust provide for over 1500 pupils and students with SEN across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our vacancies page. Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential. As a large specialist education provider, we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities. It is an exciting time to be part of OHC, and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment. We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners. If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the college directly. Visits to the College in advance of applications are encouraged. 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.