Specialist Occupational Therapist (Maternity Cover)
Location: Dibden Park School & Bower Lodge School, Hampshire SO45 5TD (covering both sites)
Salary: Up to £53,200 pro rata (dependent on experience)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 08:30am-16:30pm (2.5 days at each site)
Contract: Fixed Term until July 2027

In a world where the demand for clinical support is increasing daily, we understand the importance and value of the work you carry out. Your unique skills and expertise are critical to building better outcomes for our students. This is why we aim to have a multidisciplinary clinical team for each of our sites to provide this vital provision in collaboration with our education teams. Creating an environment where our students can truly flourish and grow in independence is key.

Are you looking for an employer who can offer you opportunities for growth and development in your occupational therapy career, all whilst working within a friendly multidisciplinary team in a rewarding education setting?

Do you want to have opportunities to participate in research projects, special interest groups and form part of a wider occupational therapy network that meets regularly for training & development?

Do you want to have flexibility and be able to work creatively to deliver specialist OT assessment and intervention fostering independence within an education setting?

How about working for an employer who has been awarded a 'Great Place to Work' for the 6th year running?

At OFG we give you time to enjoy those special moments and hobbies outside of work.

About Outcomes First Group
Every student is unique. Education should be personalised around them.

For more than 20 years, OFG Education has developed a deep understanding of how education designed around the individual can improve outcomes. We know that when students are understood, their strengths, interests, ambitions, starting points and needs, we can create personalised pathways that help them achieve and thrive.

Across our specialist schools, independent schools, online provision and support services, every student benefits from education shaped around who they are and what they can become. We combine educational and clinical expertise with research, evidence-informed practice, innovation and technology, underpinned by consistently high standards.

From deep specialist support to exceptional academic challenge, we are ambitious for every student, helping them achieve academically, discover their strengths and develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and attitudes they need for learning, work and life.

Every student. Every pathway. Every future.

The role
We are looking for a Specialist Occupational Therapist to join our in-house clinical team at Dibden Park School & Bower Lodge School.

Working collaboratively with the education team, you will deliver bespoke Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention to students who may have experienced developmental trauma, be neurodivergent or have SEMH needs. You will work within the standards provided in the OFG Occupational Therapy Ways of Working. This will guide your practice within an education setting and clarify your roles and responsibilities, while taking into account the requirements of your governing and professional bodies. You will be given responsibility for holding an occupational therapy caseload, with the full support of your designated clinical supervisor and Lead Clinician, also contributing to staff training and consultation as required.

This post would suit a resilient, creative and enthusiastic individual.

Our Clinical Teams help maintain a person-centred, empowering approach always putting the students we support at the forefront of everything they do. All our settings maintain a strong safeguarding culture, and the students we support are heard, respected, and involved in decisions that affect them. We strive for excellence, which is why we are one of the leading service providers in the UK. With this in mind, we are looking for a Specialist Occupational Therapist who shares our vision to use innovative approaches to enhance the quality of life and outcomes of the students we support.

Location
Dibden Park School forms part of our Acorn Education brand, and is an independent specialist day school, supporting children and young people aged 8 to 16.

Bower Lodge School forms part of our Options Autism brand and is an independent specialist day school supporting children and young people aged 4 to 11.

Essential Criteria:

• Recognised Occupational Therapy degree
• HCPC registered and member of RCOT
• Relevant experience in a previously held job (LD, SEMH, neurodivergence)
• Enhanced knowledge and clinical understanding of OT theory and its practical application
• Experience of multi-disciplinary working in a range of settings, with some responsibility for service & team performance
• Experience of communicating with/working with families/relatives and carers
• Good communication including relationship, analytical and judgemental skills
• Clear understanding of the relationship between behaviour and communication
• Clear understanding of physical needs, dexterity, coordination and sensory skills for assessment and treatment of client group
• Clear understanding of other developmental needs that may impact on an individual and skills needed for independence
• Up to date knowledge of a range of approaches relating to neurodivergence, learning disability and trauma informed practice
• Knowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group
• Good clinical reasoning skills and able to confidently express rationale
• Able to engage in quality improvement and enhanced service delivery
• Understanding of information governance, confidentiality and record keeping standards
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of the multi-disciplinary team, as well as support with supervision of staff and students
• Sound knowledge of different assessment tools, intervention programmes and formulation of treatment plans from a range of OT modalities
• Evidence of continuous professional development and consistently undertakes self-development
• Ability and willingness to travel on company business
• Flexible approach to working environments, creative problem solver
• Able to work under pressure and to deadlines

Desirable:

• 3+ years practicing as an OT
• Evidence of formal post graduate study in Sensory Integration and/or developmental trauma and/or sensory attachment

Why work for us?
Alongside working with a network of over 350 clinical colleagues with regular forums for peer reflection and practice development, Outcomes First Group offer an array of flexible benefit options.

Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you'll get an exceptional reward and flexible benefits package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions