Salary: Band 7: Spine Point 31 – 36, actual salary based on all year round 5 days per week – Inner London FTE £52,290 - £58,702, Outer London FTE £49,945- £56,357;
- Band 6: Spine Point 25 – 30, actual salary based on all year round 5 days per week – Inner London FTE £43,132 - £51,148, Outer London FTE £41,334 - £48,803;
Location: Kingston / Sutton / Southwark
Working Pattern: All Year Round, Term Time Only or Term Time Plus
Orchard Hill College is an Outstanding Specialist College (Ofsted, April 2025) offering life-changing learning opportunities to young people and adults with a range of special education needs and/or disabilities. We have nine vibrant community-based College Centres across London and Surrey where committed, specialist teams deliver a range of programmes to meet the needs of over 500 students.
Students who study with us have a wide range of needs including profound and multiple learning disabilities, communication and behavioural difficulties and specific medical needs. All students are individual, and their learning programme is designed to support and empower them to achieve their aspirations and goals, whilst developing skills to become more independent members of their community.
As an Occupational Therapist at Orchard Hill College, you’ll work closely with students, teaching teams, families, and external professionals to design and deliver interventions that are creative, functional, and always student centred.
Key Responsibilities:
• Promote a person-centred approach that supports student choice, independence, dignity, and inclusion in line with Valuing People, the Human Rights Act, and the Preparing for Adulthood agenda.
• Deliver and evaluate specialist Occupational Therapy interventions, including sensory, seating, upper limb, and functional assessments, while independently managing a diverse caseload and contributing to EHCPs and multi-disciplinary reviews.
• Collaborate with internal and external professionals (e.g. education staff, families, social care, health services) to ensure smooth transitions, coordinated care, and delivery of inclusive, capable environments.
• Provide training, support and guidance to staff, families, and workplaces on best practices in manual handling, sensory and physical adaptations, and functional skill development.
• Maintain professional standards and development, including supervision, CPD, safeguarding responsibilities, data protection compliance, and active participation in audits, clinical governance, and college initiatives.
Key Requirements:
• Degree or Graduate Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• UK HPC Registration
• Experience with people over 16 who have severe/profound and multiple learning disabilities and / or Autism
Rewards & Benefits:
• 40 days’ annual leave for full time therapists (public/bank holidays off, Christmas closure period)
• Flexible working schemes
• Enhanced CPD & career progression pathway
• Workplace research
• Mental health advocates across all sites
• Local government pension scheme
• Comprehensive wellbeing programme including ride2work, electric car & home electronic schemes, counselling referrals and wellbeing sessions.
• Opportunities to engage with internal professional networks.
• Occupational health & wellbeing support initiatives, including EAP.
• Company pension scheme with lump-sum death benefits.
• Family-friendly policies including enhanced parental leave schemes.
• Salary sacrifice schemes including Cycle to Work, season ticket loan.
• Discounted gym membership subscription.
Our Trust
The College is an Academy sponsor and established Orchard Hill College Academy Trust in 2013 which is home to 14 special schools. Together Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust provide for over 1500 pupils and students with SEN across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit Vacancies - Orchard Hill College,
We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.
If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the college directly. Visits to the College in advance of applications are encouraged.
Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.
To apply for this role, please click ‘Fast Apply’, you will then be directed to a ‘Login’ page, once signed in, please complete and submit the Application Form.
Please note that CV applications cannot be considered.
Closing Date: 25th August 2025
Interviews will take place on: 1st September 2025