Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapist - Specialist SEND Setting

Location: Leeds
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-Time, Monday to Friday
Start Date: September 2026
Salary: Competitive - dependent on experience and qualifications

About the Role

NextGen Teachers are delighted to be supporting a large and highly specialist SEND setting in Leeds, providing education and specialist support for children and young people aged 2-19 with a wide range of complex special educational needs and disabilities.

We are seeking an experienced, skilled and compassionate Occupational Therapist to establish and develop Occupational Therapy provision across the organisation.

This is an exciting opportunity for an Occupational Therapist to have a genuine influence on practice, embedding therapeutic approaches throughout teaching, learning and everyday experiences for children and young people with complex SEND.

The Role

As the Occupational Therapist, you will work closely with learners, families, education staff, therapists and external professionals to improve participation, independence, communication, regulation and preparation for adulthood.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Deliver specialist Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions.
• Develop and embed sensory-informed practice across the organisation.
• Support learners with complex physical, sensory, cognitive and functional needs.
• Develop practical strategies that enable learners to access education and increase independence.
• Coach and train education staff to implement effective therapeutic strategies.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary planning and EHCP outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with families and partner agencies.
• Support service development, quality improvement and future therapeutic provision.
• Influence therapeutic practice across multiple sites and specialist services.
• Help ensure Occupational Therapy is effectively embedded into learners' everyday experiences.

Requirements

• Qualified Occupational Therapist with current HCPC registration - essential.
• Experience working with children and young people with SEND and complex needs - essential.
• Strong knowledge of sensory processing and sensory-informed approaches.
• Experience delivering assessment and therapeutic intervention.
• Ability to translate clinical expertise into practical, education-focused strategies.
• Strong understanding of how occupational therapy can support participation, independence and functional development.
• Confident building positive relationships with families, education staff and multidisciplinary professionals.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to coach, influence and develop practice across teams.
• A compassionate, reflective and collaborative approach.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Key Skills & Experience

The successful candidate will ideally have experience supporting learners with a range of complex SEND, potentially including physical, sensory, cognitive, communication and functional needs.

You will be someone who can take specialist clinical knowledge and turn it into practical strategies that staff can confidently use within the classroom and wider school environment.

This role would particularly suit an Occupational Therapist who is looking for the opportunity to develop a service, influence whole-setting practice and take ownership of the development of Occupational Therapy provision within a specialist education environment.

Why Join?

This is an exceptional opportunity to join a highly successful specialist organisation at an exciting point in its development.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Establish and shape a new area of Occupational Therapy provision.
• Influence whole-setting practice and therapeutic approaches.
• Work alongside a highly collaborative multidisciplinary team.
• Make a visible and meaningful difference to children and young people with complex SEND.
• Access ongoing professional development and specialist training.
• Benefit from coaching, supervision and leadership development opportunities.
• Contribute to wider SEND practice and improvement across Leeds.
• Access a strong wellbeing offer, including the Local Government Pension Scheme and a range of employee benefits.

If you are a qualified HCPC-registered Occupational Therapist with experience supporting children and young people with complex SEND and you're looking for an opportunity to shape and develop therapeutic provision within a specialist education setting, we'd love to hear from you.

Please email your CV to charlotte@nextgenteachers.co.uk or apply directly to this advert.

Huntress does not discriminate on the grounds of age, race, gender, disability, creed or sexual orientation and complies with all relevant UK legislation. PLEASE NOTE! You should make yourself aware of how immigration laws apply to your situation before applying for any jobs. We are acting as a Recruitment Business in relation to this role.