Therapies Assistant

Witherslack Group; Chorley; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

The Witherslack Group is seeking a dedicated clinician to support young people with special educational needs (SEN) in a nurturing environment. This role provides comprehensive training and development opportunities while offering a competitive salary and excellent benefits. Join our multi-disciplinary team and make a real difference in the lives of our students.

Benefits

Full induction and on-the-job training

Paid school holidays

Clinical learning and development programme

Flexible benefits package

Access to wellbeing tools and advice

Medical cover for opticians and dentists

Referral scheme of GBP2000

Qualifications

• Experience working with children and young people with SEMH and/or SEN
• Good understanding of safeguarding rules and practices
• Experience in modelling AAC

Responsibilities

• Support educational colleagues to provide therapeutic environments.
• Offer individualized interventions based on clinical assessment.
• Engage in reflective practice and stay current with evidence-based approaches.

Skills

Empathy

Resilience

Teamwork

Education

At least 5 GCSEs, including English

Job description

Our clinicians are fulfilled by the idea of affecting even the smallest positive changes in our young people, so we celebrate the little things.

GBP23,493 - GBP24,335 (including paid school holidays) + excellent benefits

Join our team this September and take the next step in a role that offers rich, hands-on experience with a diverse range of communication profiles. From supporting non-speaking learners and AAC users to working with those who experience developmental language differences and delays, you'll have the opportunity to build your clinical skills in a truly inclusive environment. We are looking for someone who brings a compassionate, learner-centred mindset—someone who celebrates and respects every young person's unique communication style and sensory needs. A passion for special educational needs (SEN) and a commitment to ongoing professional growth are essential, as is an eagerness to engage with reflective practice, seek feedback, and stay current with the latest evidence-based approaches.

Our clinicians are a crucial part of the most joined-up model in SEND. Across all of our specialist schools and children's homes, we provide unrivalled levels of clinical support, both in terms of our expertise and breadth of provision. Our young people present with a complexity of need including developmental trauma, neuro-developmental conditions, and special educational needs.

As part of a multi-disciplinary clinical team, you will support educational colleagues to provide therapeutic living and learning environments and, based on clinical assessment and formulation, offer individualised interventions and engagement to our young people.

What we do for you

We know you're going to do great things. For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with the best salary and benefits package in the sector. With us, you'll get to make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people—plus you'll get:

• Training: A full induction and on-the-job training.
• Holiday: You'll work hard at WG, so you'll be rewarded with full school holidays including bank holidays.
• Clinical Development: We provide a leading programme of clinical learning and development for career growth and professional advancement.
• Flexible benefits: You can tailor benefits such as life insurance; check out our benefits here.
• Wellbeing: Access a host of wellbeing tools and advice, including employee assistance.
• Medical cover: Claim back costs for opticians, dentists, and more, plus enjoy high-street discounts.
• Beautiful working environments: Our schools feature top facilities—see for yourself here.
• Referral scheme: Earn a GBP2,000 bonus for each friend you recommend who joins us.

Bring your whole self to work

This role offers a great opportunity to change young lives and positively impact their future. Embedded within our living and learning environments, you'll have the support, resources, and platform to do great things. You'll benefit from supervision, a clinical development programme, and a team of over 220 multidisciplinary clinical colleagues supporting you every step of the way. Here’s what we need from you:

• At least 5 GCSEs, including English
• Experience working with children and young people with SEMH and/or SEN in similar or other roles
• A good understanding of safeguarding rules and practices
• A 'can do' attitude—team player willing to help others
• Honesty and empathy—genuinely caring about our young people and each other
• Resilience to handle challenging situations
• Experience in modelling AAC
• Experience creating visuals using IT software
• Experience working with children using total communication (speech, sign, AAC, intensive interaction)
• Experience in trauma-informed environments
• Experience with attention autism, Lego therapy, emotional literacy tools

Interested in joining us?

Our young people deserve the best future, and we aim to provide our teams with a fulfilling career in a purpose-led environment where you can be yourself.

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (cost covered) and online search. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all community sections.

For a full job description and person specification, please click here.

To view our ex-offenders policy, click here.

To view our Child Protection Policy, visit the 'Parents and Carers' section of this school/learning centre. All our schools can be found here.

Keywords: Special Education, Careers in Care, Careers in Special Education, Working with Children, SEMH, SEN, ASD