Band and Salary
Band 6/Band 5
Pay: NHS B5: £32,073 – £39,043; NHS B6: £39,959 – £48,117
Contract Type: Maternity Cover: 12 months with possibility to extend to permanent position; Full‑time; Part‑time hours negotiable
Location: Grinstead Lane, Sharpthorne, East Sussex, RH19 4HP
Start date: June 2026 (negotiable for the right candidate)
Overview
Join our caring, friendly and dynamic multi‑disciplinary team who are passionate about promoting independence, identity, and wellbeing in our pupils and supporting and empowering families. Harness and develop your hands‑on paediatric assessment and therapeutic skills as part of our therapy team. We are looking for a full‑time Band 6 or a Band 5 Occupational Therapist to join our therapy team to deliver high quality, child‑centred therapy to our pupil cohort.
Step by Step was rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted (2025), and is a not‑for‑profit independent special school for autistic children. We are located near East Grinstead in the beautiful Sussex countryside. The pupil population includes autistic children and young people with complex behavioural and learning needs.
The School provides an individualised curriculum delivered through the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis for pupils aged 4 to 19. The school is registered for 40 pupils. The Therapy Team provide specialist, individualised, and integrated therapy to pupils, working alongside class staff, teachers, behaviour analysts, and other professionals associated with the school.
Benefits
* Excellent Annual Leave entitlement: 12 weeks per year
* Flexible working available with working from home
* Working within a direct therapy model with intensive therapy delivered through 1:1, paired and group sessions
* Experience of planning and running therapy groups
* Completing community trips to support development of skills to promote community integration, safety and independence
* Regular supervision from an experienced OT (e.g., Fortnightly for B5; half termly for B6)
* Ongoing training and CPD opportunities
* Ongoing clinical supervision from an experienced Occupational Therapist
* Networking with professionals from other similar provisions already in place
* Working collaboratively with other professionals (e.g., Speech and Language Therapists; Physiotherapists; Behaviour Analysts, Teachers)
* Working with involved and supportive parents
* Training in Applied Behaviour Analysis
* The opportunity to work closely with the class teams through occupational therapy targets in Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
* An occupational therapy allocated budget managed by the OT team
* Free onsite parking and potential for car sharing
* You will be based in a bright, airy office with the rest of the therapy team with a phone and double monitor
* Flexible working patterns for staff with part time hours
* Protected CPD hours
* Access to our onsite gym after school hours
* School set in beautiful open countryside
Requirements
* Professional, qualified Occupational Therapy qualification to degree level
* HCPC registration
* Knowledge of assessment, planning and evaluating treatment
* Demonstrable commitment to Evidence Based Practice (EBP)
* Understanding of a range of interventions to support sensory difficulties, handwriting, fine and gross motor coordination, and independence in activities of daily living
* Excellent communication and teamwork skills
* Passionate about supporting autistic children and young people
Contact Information
Please contact Sian Kelly (Occupational Therapist/Therapy Lead) to arrange a tour of the school and initial enquiries. Email: skelly@stepbystepschool.org.uk or phone: 01342 811852.
For more information about the Band 6 role, please contact us at the provided email address.
For more information about the Band 5 role, please contact us at the provided email address.
For an application form, please contact us at the provided email address.
Deadline
Deadline for applications 27 April 2026 at 9am. Interviews scheduled from 6 May.
We are unable to accept CVs. To apply for this position, please contact Clare Eastwood for an application pack: ceastwood@stepbystepschool.org.uk.
Commitment to Safeguarding
Step by Step School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. An enhanced disclosure will be conducted for the successful applicant.
#J-18808-Ljbffr