Occupational Therapist

Held Health; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Held Health is seeking a qualified Occupational Therapist to work within school settings in Sheffield. You will assess pupils, identify barriers to participation and develop practical strategies for individuals and groups, including delivering targeted training to staff and parents.

The role involves visiting multiple school sites and conducting autism assessments as part of our neurodevelopmental pathway. Applicants should be RCOT/HCPC registered with a background in children’s development and

Qualifications

• Qualified Occupational Therapist registered with RCOT and HCPC.
• Experience with children’s development including DCD and neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Desirable: experience in LA or education roles; ADOS experience.

Responsibilities

• Functionally assess pupils in school settings using clinical observation to identify barriers to participation.
• Break down tasks (handwriting, dressing for PE, cutlery use, accessing lessons) to tailor strategies.
• Write recommendations or model practical strategies for individuals, groups or classes.
• Run or co-deliver targeted groups (e.g., ADHD strategies, sensory processing, fine motor skills).
• Coach and train staff to use strategies independently and audit learning environments with MDT.
• Develop training resources and participate in autism assessments (including parent interviews with ADOS when needed).
• Maintain accurate records, reports, audits and intervention plans.

Skills

Paediatric OT

Sensory processing

Motor coordination

Executive functioning

Classroom interventions

Communication with CYP

Education

BSc or MSc in Occupational Therapy

Job description

Functionally assess pupils in context using clinical observation skills to identify emerging needs across the school environment and identify both what is affecting everyday participation across environments and those requiring referral to other OT services. Complete occupational analysis by breaking down tasks such as handwriting, dressing for PE, using cutlery, organising equipment or accessing a lesson to understand where the barriers are occurring. Advise teachers and SENCOs by writing recommendations or modelling practical strategies for individual pupils, groups and classes. Run or jointly deliver targeted groups, for example: curriculum friendly strategies for students with ADHD, understanding sensory processing, or fine motor skill development. Coach and train staff to use strategies independently rather than relying on therapist-led interventions. Audit the schools learning environments with MDT working and sensitivity to reasonable adjustments. Focus on whole-school approaches
and communication-friendly environments rather than individual therapeutic needs. Work with parents/carers, including advice, strategies, resources, workshops and helping families understand how strategies can be used consistently at home and school. Help to develop the offer in schools including writing and preparing training and resources. Participate in carrying out individual Autism assessments as part of our broader service and neurodevelopmental assessment pathway out of term-time. This may include some parent interview information-gathering appointments or carrying out ADOS-2 assessments. Maintain accurate record keeping including reports, audits, training logs and intervention plans where required.

Why Join Held Health?

Career Development: At Held Health, we are committed to helping you grow professionally. This role will give you the opportunity to develop your career with us.

Training and Progression: You will have access to ongoing professional development through regular supervision, training workshops, and career progression pathways. We value continued learning and provide the support you need to develop new skills.

Supportive Environment: Work within a collaborative environment. Youll have regular clinical supervision from senior colleagues and opportunities to participate in peer reviews and team discussions.

Impactful Work: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families, with the ability to directly influence the school environment of children facing challenges with communication or access to education due to a broad range of factors.

Who Were Looking For:

Qualifications:

A recognised qualification in Occupational Therapy (e.g., BSc or MSc) and registered with the RCOT and HCPC.

Experience:

Background in children's development including DCD, neurodevelopmental conditions (autism or ADHD) or mental health.

Desirable:

Experience in LA, education roles or working in mainstream schools. Designing universal and targeted interventions
that are suitable for reducing barriers to access in the classroom and school environments. ADOS or experience carrying out autism assessments. Car driver and/or ability to flexibly travel to different sites across the week in Sheffield is essential. Travel expense scheme.

Essential Skills:

Strong paediatric OT clinical knowledge including understanding sensory processing, motor coordination, fine and gross motor development, self-care, regulation, executive functioning, attention and participation in school occupations. Ability to create and implement individualised or holistic intervention plans. Clinical reasoning and decision making such as equipment adaptations following functional assessments or classroom audits. Confident to deliver training, facilitate workshops, and build effective consultative relationships with school staff. Knowledge of SEN and the DfE's plan for inclusion and integration of OTs working collaboratively and sensitively with educators. Proven
excellent communication skills, with CYP, school staff to support children and their families and within multidisciplinary teams. Organisational skills to manage a varied caseload.

Personal Qualities:

Compassionate and child-focused, with a genuine desire to help children with safeguarding and care central to the role. Team-oriented, with the ability to collaborate effectively with other professionals. Systems thinker, able to adapt between whole school, SEND and individual approaches depending on need. Flexible and adaptable, open to growing within the role and the service.