At Odyssey our clinical and therapy input is an integral part to our pupils journey. Our Occupational Therapists play a pivotal role in assessing the needs of a variety of students and providing targeted and specialist interventions to support their development. Working within the Therapy team at Bloomsbury/Wokingham you will support our teaching staff to deliver therapeutic education and develop a therapeutic environment. Alongside this our occupational therapists and wider therapy team provide support for young people at home and online to support young people's returning to the school environment.
Duties and responsibilities
Therapy & Learning
* Evaluating students to determine need for occupational therapy
* Developing appropriate therapy programs, including routines for classroom and home adaptation
* Delivering therapy integrated into the school day to support learning and functional skill development for students with ASD, ADHD, EBSA, anxiety and other conditions
* Conduct comprehensive assessments of students' sensory, motor, and self-care skills to support them in self-regulating and coping with day-to-day challenges
* Provide ongoing monitoring and evaluation of intervention effectiveness, adjusting plans as necessary to optimise outcomes
* Conduct training and support to teaching staff on strategies and techniques to promote students' functional skills and independence within the classroom setting.
Building Relationships
* Supporting staff and families to implement therapy strategies
* Participating in service development and contributing to a multi-disciplinary team
* Collaborate closely with teachers, parents, and other professionals to integrate occupational therapy goals into students' educational plans and learning environment
* Participate actively in multidisciplinary meetings to contribute expertise and ensure coordinated care for students with complex needs
* Support the Therapy Lead to deliver essential therapeutic care to students in a variety of educational settings.
Records & Documentation
* Maintain accurate documentation of assessments, case notes, annual review reports and intervention plans in accordance with regulatory standards and school policy
* To maintain a high standard of report writing for annual reviews and attend annual reviews as appropriate
* To attend and provide regular clinical supervision and line management meetings, and to take part in the school's professional development procedure
* To attend staff meetings and in service training as required.
Personal and Professional Development
* Actively engage with personal supervision and line management supervision, demonstrating the ability to reflect on own practice with peers and mentors and identify own strengths and development needs
* Maintain and develop core professional competencies, underpinned by current evidence-based practice
* Actively engage in extending knowledge and clinical experiend in areas of personal interest and professional relevance
* Maintain membership of professional bodies, including HCPC and the Royal College of Occupational Therapy
Other Areas of responsibility
* To set a good example in terms of professional dress and appearance, punctuality and attendance
* Adhere to the Odyssey House School safeguarding policy and procedures at all times
* Ensure that the OHS vision is upheld at all times
* To support the aims and ethos of the school and adhere to the requirements as defined in the staff handbook and school code of conduct
* To work within the context of all policies and procedures in relation to the school, and any adaptations to these relating to students
* To travel between school sites.
Qualifications and Training
* Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
* Qualification or relevant experience working with children with SEND needs
* Qualification or experience working with children with ASC, trauma or poor mental health
* Have a recognized Occupational Therapy degree
* Be registered with the Health Care Professions Council
* Experience working in a school environment or other educational setting
* Experience working with children/young people with SEND and/or short-term difficulties (e.g. behavioural difficulties, mental health, physical disabilities)
* Experience supporting and working with parents of young people with SEND / additional needs
* Experience working with children and young people with a range of occupational performance difficulties
* Experience working with children with Sensory differences
* Experience in Sensory integration (desirable)
* Evidence of continuing professional development
* Understanding of developing effective communication strategies in schools
* Assessment of individual pupils
* Tailoring plans and interventions to individual pupils
* Assessment and other data analysis and tracking
* Safeguarding of children and young people
* Patient and calm
* Desire to provide the best possible opportunities for all pupils
* Able to create good relationships with children, staff, parents and external agencies
* Organisation, time management, proactive and self-motivated
* Be passionate about supporting pupils to access both social and academic potential.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £40,000.00-£50,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person