Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

School Name:

Parkwoodhall Co-operative Academy, Swanley

Job Title:

Senior Occupational Therapist (Senior OT)

Reports To:

Deputy Principal - Pastoral

Hours

08:30 - 16:30, Mon - Fri (08:30 - 16:45 on Tuesdays), term time plus INSET


days plus 2 weeks 36 hours worked per week for 41 weeks per year.


0.9276FTE.

Salary

PO5 to PO7 dependent on qualifications and experience.


48,460 to 54,581 full-time equivalent - broadly comparable to Agenda for


Change Band 7


Parkwood Hall is a residential and day school for pupils aged 8-19 years with moderate to severe learning


difficulties and other complex needs including autism and language difficulties. We are passionate about


creating a culture of wellbeing where all staff and pupils are valued and supported so that we can all 'grow,


learn and flourish.'


Parkwood Hall aims to provide an outstanding and supportive learning environment which challenges


students to achieve success. The core learning values, which are at the centre of the curriculum, focus upon


developing the student's resilience and ability to make informed life choices.

Job purpose

: This role involves leading occupational therapy support within the school setting as part of a


Trans-Disciplinary Team, with a focus on driving and quality assuring occupational therapy interventions for


children and young people. In addition to delivering high-quality interventions, the role includes overseeing


the development of personalised support plans, supervising and mentoring therapeutic staff, and fostering


a culture of reflective practice. The position plays a key role in service development, contributing to school


improvement initiatives, and ensuring the highest standards of practice. This role also involves shaping


training programmes, advising on service delivery, and maintaining professional and safeguarding


standards across the school.

Line Management:

To be accountable to the Deputy Principal - Pastoral in all matters relating to the role. To


liaise with the Principal, Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Trustees as required.

Overall Duties

As part of the Trans-Disciplinary Team (TDT), you will support educational colleagues to provide
therapeutic living and learning environments and based on clinical assessment and formulation


offer both individualised and group interventions and engagement to our children and young


people.


Our therapists work collaboratively within our school, this ensures that therapeutic support
permeates every aspect of the education, care and support we offer all of our children and young


people. You will facilitate reflective practice and consultation, and provide workshops, training and


guidance to the teams around our children.


Ensure the needs and views of our children and young people are at the heart of everything we do:
offering evidence based, holistic and child-centred assessments and interventions across the school


in line with identified EHCP provision and in response to arising needs.


Use advanced specialist knowledge and levels of experience appropriately and effectively across a
range of work practices which is underpinned by comprehensive and extensive theoretical


knowledge and practical experience.


To use appropriate clinical and professional guidance within practice (e.g. RCOT or NICE guidance) Organise and facilitate internal child focused meetings where appropriate in partnership with the
transdisciplinary team, ensuring appropriate staff are invited.


To identity training needs, develop and facilitate training sessions to staff and parents/carers in
relation to supporting our children and young people.


To identify and deliver training to education or care staff teams in relation to supporting our
children and young people


To promote and facilitate reflective practice. To work with the Deputy Principal (Pastoral) in helping to promote and develop our service links and
work flexibly as may be required by the needs of the service and carry out any other reasonable


duties as required.


To induct, supervise and line manage other PHCA Occupational Therapists, or other therapeutic
professionals where appropriate (e.g. Therapy Assistant).


To advise and participate in service and practice development. This to include contributing to the
development of School Improvement Planning.


To quality assure reports the work and records of the Occupational Team. To support in the organisation and chairing of TDT meetings, including managing the allocation of
internal referrals.


To complete external referrals to specialist services as required. To role model to all children and young people, education and care colleagues how to promote self-


esteem and positive relationships.


To undertake high quality clinical assessments of children and young people and develop
formulations of therapeutic need. To write reports as part of a transdisciplinary team or individually


to reflect assessment, progress and outcomes as required.


To work closely with our children and young people, providing evidence-based occupational therapy
interventions and ensuring personalised adaptable plans of support. This will include


communicating, reviewing and celebrating children and young people's success and achievement


with them.


To develop evidence-based programmes of occupational therapy intervention and to formally
evaluate the impact and outcomes of such interventions.


To develop professional relationships with the other school staff. To keep accurate and contemporaneous online records following professional guidelines and in
accordance with legal requirements for maintaining confidentiality and data protection.


To complete administrative requirements in a timely manner. These include evidencing that you are
meeting EHCP requirements, liaison and completion of TDT reports and updating Parkwood Hall Co-



operative Academy electronic systems as appropriate.


To attend regular, clinical supervision and line management supervision. To attend and/or inform professional meetings (such as Annual Reviews/TACs/PEPs/CLAs etc) where
appropriate.


To follow the HCPC standards and maintain membership of HCPC. To maintain professional registration and memberships relevant to the profession. To maintain professional accountability To complete a 6-month probation period as well as ongoing annual performance management
reviews.


Parkwood Hall Co-operative Academy is committed to the safeguarding and promotion of the
welfare of all children and young people in our care. All staff have a key role and responsibility in


this area.


To follow Parkwood Hall Co-operative Academy policies and procedures. To maintain professional registration and memberships relevant to the profession. To participate in the school's Staff Development Programme. To perform any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the position as requested
by the Deputy Principal - Pastoral.

General Information:

Equality of Opportunity


As a member school staff to take individual and collective professional
responsibility for reinforcing and promoting a working environment free


from discrimination, victimisation, harassment, and bullying.


Ensure the development and progression of equality within the sphere of
responsibility of this post and the fair and equal treatment of all


colleagues, children, parents and visitors.


Confidentiality and Data


Protection


To treat all information acquired through employment, both formally
and informally, in strict confidence.


To be aware of the school's responsibilities under the Data Protection Act
1984 for the security, accuracy and relevance of personal data held on


such systems and ensure that all processes comply with this.


To contribute as an effective


and collaborative member


of the school team


Any other duties as reasonably required by any SLT of the school. To co-operate with all Parkwood Hall Co-operative Academy staff in
maintaining good relationships with outside agencies and the public to


promote and uphold the school's image.


Participating in the ongoing development, implementation, and
monitoring of the school plans.


Attend regular meetings as required and make a positive contribution
during meetings.


To contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the school. Keep yourself fully appraised and aware of educational and other
appropriate developments whether national or local and assess their


impact on the school.


Child Protection


Attend regular meetings as required and make a positive contribution
during meetings.


To be alert to issues of child protection ensuring that the welfare and
safety of children attending Parkwood Hall Co-operative Academy is


promoted and safeguarded and to report any child protection concerns


to the designated Safeguarding Lead using safeguarding policies,


procedures, and practice.


Prevent, identify, and minimise risk of interpersonal abuse or violence,
safeguarding children and other vulnerable people, initiating the


management of cases involving actual or potential abuse or violence


where needed.


Be aware of and update colleagues, as appropriate to comply with
current legislation and policies affecting practice, e.g., Children's Act,


National Service Frameworks, Child Protection Procedures, Health and


Safety and Data Protection.


Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each


individual task undertaken may not be identified.


The school will endeavour to make any necessary reasonable adjustments to the job and the working


environment to enable access to employment opportunities for disabled job applicants or continued


employment for any employee who develops a disabling condition.

This job description is current at the date below but will be reviewed on an annual basis and, following


consultation with you, may be changed to reflect or anticipate changes in the job requirements which are


commensurate with the job title and grade.

Person Specification -

Senior Occupational Therapist (Senior OT)

Education &

Qualifications

Essential

Recognised Course of Study that fulfils the requirements for membership
of HCPC


HCPC registered Trained and able to provide clinical supervision. Sensory Integration (SI) certified practitioner or a willingness to undertake
SI certification to become a qualified practitioner.

Desirable

Additional qualifications or specialist training that reflects the needs of
the children and young people at Parkwood Hall Co-operative Academy


Member of RCOT.

Knowledge,

experience

and training

Essential

Proven ability to communicate effectively with children and young people;
their families and professional colleagues.


Experience of producing high quality assessment, reports, and evidence-


based intervention.


Experience of individual and group work with young people Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary or trans-disciplinary
team


Awareness of Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures Experience working as a Occupational Therapist, planning and delivering
evidence interventions.


Experience of working with people with a range of needs, such as; Special
Educational Needs (SEN), Neurodiversity, developmental trauma and


Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH).


Experience using Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
devices and other communication tools.


Experience creating and using resources including social stories, visual
timetables etc.

Desirable

Awareness of the network of children's services & experience of multi-


agency inter-professional work


Understanding & experience of school and education systems Experience delivering training to parents and/or professionals Experience of line managing. Experience of providing clinical supervision. Experience of working in a challenging environment Experience of working with those who displays behaviours that challenge.

Skills &

Abilities

Essential

Good leadership skills Ability to give advice and guidance and direct others. Ability to work independently and to demonstrate initiative Ability to work collaboratively as part of a trans-disciplinary team Excellent social/professional and communication skills Excellent organisational skills, time management and ability to work under pressure


Ability to devise and deliver staff training Interest, experience and commitment to developing projects and/or new
initiative

Desirable

Ability to work in a highly charged environment, demonstrating resiliency
and compassion.

Personal

Qualities

Essential

Readiness to seek help & support to manage professional issues and
problems


High level of motivation and commitment to supporting our young
people, staff teams and clinical services.


Ability to prioritise work/caseload and the general demands of day to day
working.


Flexibility and resilience

Desirable

* Willingness to work in an innovative and creative way.