OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST – THERAPEUTIC SEMH SCHOOL

Location: Chelmsford, Essex
Contract: Full Time | Permanent
Salary: £36,000 – £52,000 per annum (dependent on experience)
Start Date: September 2025 or sooner
Parker Smith Inclusion is proud to be working with a highly regarded therapeutic school in Chelmsford that provides a safe, nurturing, and trauma-informed environment for pupils with significant 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 make a significant impact on the lives of children and young people through relational, sensory, and functional support.
The Role

AS AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, YOU WILL:

• Deliver 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 daily routines.
• Support transitions, including reintegration following exclusion or absence, using therapeutic resources such as social stories, sensory tools, and visual timetables.
• Create a calm, 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, including CAMHS, to ensure consistent and joined-up support.
• Deliver training and reflective practice sessions to support staff in embedding therapeutic approaches across the school.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

• A degree in Occupational Therapy and registration with the HCPC.
• 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 and 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 center of practice.
• A warm, close-knit team of passionate educators, therapists, and leaders.
• A setting where clinical integrity is valued and protected, including access to external clinical supervision.
• Ongoing training, CPD, and opportunities to shape practice and provision.
• A meaningful opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable children.

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

Please refer the Job description for details