Occupational Therapist – Specialist Therapeutic School

📍 Chelmsford, Essex
💼 Full Time | Permanent
💰 £36,000 – £52,000 per annum (dependent on experience)
📅 Start Date: September 2025 or sooner

Parker Smith Inclusion is proud to be working in partnership with a highly regarded therapeutic school in Chelmsford that offers a safe, nurturing, and trauma-informed environment for pupils with significant Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and additional SEND.

We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Occupational Therapist to join a committed multi-disciplinary team supporting pupils aged 5 to 16 with highly individualised interventions. This is a rare opportunity to play a central role in transforming the lives of children and young people through relational, sensory and functional support.

🌟 The Role

As an Occupational Therapist within this setting, you will:

• Deliver both structured and flexible 1:1 and group therapy sessions tailored to individual needs.

• Conduct detailed assessments, including sensory profiling and motor skill evaluations, to inform therapeutic programmes.

• Work collaboratively with teachers and therapists to integrate occupational therapy into classroom practice and everyday routines.

• Support transitions, including reintegration following exclusion or absence, using therapeutic resources such as social stories, sensory tools and visual timetables.

• Create a calm and welcoming therapy environment that promotes self-regulation, sensory integration and pupil wellbeing.

• Monitor and evaluate pupil progress, contributing to EHCP reviews and producing high-quality therapy reports for families and local authorities.

• Liaise with families and external professionals, such as CAMHS, to ensure consistent and joined-up support.

• Deliver training and reflective practice sessions to support staff in embedding therapeutic approaches throughout the school.

✅ The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• A degree in Occupational Therapy and registration with the HCPC (required)

• Experience working with children and young people, particularly those with SEMH, autism, trauma, or complex SEND

• A strong understanding of sensory processing, attachment, trauma and child development

• The ability to remain calm and consistent in challenging situations, using a therapeutic, non-judgemental approach

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trust with pupils, families and colleagues

• A proactive and flexible attitude, with the confidence to lead practice, contribute ideas and reflect critically

💡 Why Join This School?

• A therapeutic model that places relationships, emotional wellbeing and trust at the heart of everything

• A warm, close-knit team of passionate educators, therapists, and leaders

• A setting where clinical integrity is valued and protected – including external clinical supervision

• Ongoing training, CPD and opportunities to shape practice and provision

• A meaningful opportunity to make a real difference to vulnerable children’s lives 

👋 Interested?

Parker Smith Inclusion is an ethical and specialist SEND recruitment agency committed to supporting inclusion and pupil wellbeing. If you are an experienced or emerging Occupational Therapist looking for a role where relationships come first, we would love to hear from you.

📩 Apply now or get in touch for a confidential discussion.