Occupational Therapist

Does working 4 days a week but with FULL pay sound like a dream?!*

It doesn't have to be! Have a better work/life balance and come and work for Outcomes First Group!

Job title:           Occupational Therapist

Location:          Wessex Lodge School and associated homes, South West 

Hours:              37.5 hours per week, 8.30am – 4.30pm 

Contract:          Permanent

Salary:              Up to £53,200 per annum, dependent on experience plus £2000 Training and Development allowance

Essential:         Full UK Driving Licence and access to own vehicle required

We’re looking for an Occupational Therapist with demonstrable clinical and leadership skills to join our Wessex Lodge school (and associated children’s homes) clinical service. This is a fantastic opportunity to support the developing clinical service at the school and to work closely with the Clinical Locality Lead to develop the clinical provision in line with neurodiversity and intersectionality affirming therapeutic support. 

This is a varied role ideal for those looking for a new challenge where you can truly have an impact on shaping a service and driving transformational change.

About the role

We understand the value of helping our employees to achieve their Continued Professional Development goals, and offer a £2,000 training allowance to allow you to complete role specific training tailored to your individual requirements.

We are excited to be expanding our clinical service during a time of growth for the service.  We currently have an opportunity for an Occupational Therapist to join our Clinical Wellbeing team. The post holder will work collaboratively to deliver bespoke assessment and intervention plans for our pupils. This is an excellent opportunity to join the team as they expand their clinical provision, making a real difference and implementing a holistic, therapeutic approach.

You will be responsible for holding an Occupational Therapy caseload alongside other OT’s at Wessex Lodge School (and associated children’s homes) based in the South West. With the full support of our well-established and knowledgeable Clinical Team, you will also contribute to staff training, consultation, and reflective practice. Both a challenging and rewarding role, this position would suit a resilient and enthusiastic individual, with a therapeutic approach and the ability to make decisions, as well as manage their own workload.

Our well-established Clinical Team support a nurturing environment where our pupils can flourish, always putting them at the forefront of everything they do. All our settings maintain a strong safeguarding culture, and our pupils are heard, respected, and involved in decisions that affect them wherever possible.

When it comes to looking after our pupils, we strive for excellence, which is why we are the leading service provider in the UK. With this in mind, we are looking for an Occupational Therapist who shares our vision; to build incredible futures by empowering vulnerable young people in the UK to be happy and to make their way in the world.

Location: Wessex Lodge School and associated children’s homes, South West

Welcome to Wessex Lodge School 

About the Group

Outcomes First Group is the largest independent provider of special needs education and care. We are a vital part of local communities in England, Scotland and Wales with a renowned reputation for quality and positive outcomes for the people we educate and care for.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Our divisional brands include Acorn Education and Options Autism.

 Essential Criteria:

• Occupational Therapy degree.
• Sensory Integration trained to minimum Practitioner level (PGCert) or willingness to complete this training.
• Registered with HCPC and RCOT.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience working in SEN education, or with a similar caseload, as an Occupational Therapist.
• Experience of managing a complex caseload.
• Clear and concise report writing relating to clinical and research activities.
• Full valid UK driving licence, access to a car and ability to drive extended distances across the Locality, when required, e.g., to attend meetings.
• Ability to work independently as agreed under supervision.
• Experience of multi-professional work teams or services within designated specialty.

For further information on this role please refer the Job Description and Person Specification attached. To discuss this role in more detail, please contact

What’s in it for you?

You will be working with an ambitious and driven service that’s really going places, supported by an exceptional team of likeminded individuals who are keen to learn from you. This role will be key to the development of the service, working closely with the Clinical Locality Lead and Head of Clinical Operations (South). This is an opportunity to enrich the lives of the people we support and make a positive difference, in a role where you have autonomy.

We offer a friendly and inclusive working environment where our people are heard, respected and hugely valued. We want our employees to come to work with energy, determination and most importantly we want them to be happy in their work. We are well aware that it is our highly skilled teams that make Outcomes First Group the success it is, and we want this to continue. This is why we provide a range of benefits designed to support you, not just in your work life but also on a personal level too. We want you to be the best you can be and offer genuine opportunities for career development and progression.

Benefits 

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
• Work 4 days, be paid for 5 *T&C's apply - following  successful completion of the probation period