Job Introduction
We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our established Schools OT Sensory Outreach Service.
This Occupational Therapy role is primarily a consultative role in which you will be responsible for supporting and enabling school leaders, teachers, SENCO’s and TA’s across BCP to understand the impact Sensory Processing difficulties can have on Children & Young people’s participation and engagement within the classroom and wider school environment. It will aim to support our education colleagues to learn, develop and implement meaningful sensory strategies to support their students to reach their potential.
The successful candidate may be required to complete individual clinical observations, 1-1 assessments, use sensory screening tools such as the School Sensory Processing Measure, deliver targeted training for School staff around Sensory Processing, create sensory toolkits/sensory diets for individual children, recommend environmental modifications, set up gross motor/movement groups and demonstrate use of sensory strategies and sensory resources to education staff.
A key focus of the OT Schools Outreach service is to provide advice, support and strategies into Schools where we know there are many children with/without a diagnosis of SEND, who are experiencing sensory processing difficulties which are severely impacting on their ability to participate and engage in their learning and wider school life.
There will be a requirement for clear outcome measures and data collection to establish the effectiveness and value of this OT role and provision. This may be required quantitively and in a more detailed qualitative way which will support evidence-based practice. You may be asked to contribute to BCP Council tribunal requests, support will be provided to develop skills in this area if needed.
The successful applicant will be required to be a qualified Occupational Therapist, (HCPC Registered) with post graduate training and experience in Sensory Integration (minimum of Level 1 Sensory Integration Training or working towards) and have experience working in education settings with children who have a variety of additional needs and disabilities.
A sound knowledge of safeguarding and local and national policies relating to Special education needs & Disabilities (SEND) would also be advantageous. You will be responsible for the supervision and day to day line management of the Schools Sensory Service OT Assistant.
A comprehensive understanding of the impact of Sensory Processing difficulties on the educational needs of children and young people is essential, along with an understanding of suitable and appropriate strategies and advice that may be recommended. A car driver is essential for this role as you will be required to work across BCP visiting several Schools.
Whilst you will be within the Outreach Service, you will be supported by the BCP Children’s Occupational Therapy Team Manager as well as peer supervision. We have a commitment to provide further SI Training to the successful candidate.
If you would like to know more about this role, please contact Ruth Morgan, Children’s Occupational Therapy Team Manager via email: Ruth.Morgan@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Interviews to be held week of 14th July 2025.
About BCP Council
BCP Council provides services to a diverse community of 400,000 residents and employs more than 5,000 people. Our area includes over 15 miles of beautiful world-renowned coastline. We can offer career defining roles to transform and improve services. By working with us, you can help deliver a vision of a thriving, word-class, prosperous and inclusive place for generations to come.
Our Benefits
We offer an excellent benefits package for further details see here
As a result of the creation of BCP Council in 2019, we are working on simplifying our terms and conditions of service and will be creating a single pay structure which is to be applicable for all employees. It is important to us that we offer benefits that our colleagues value as part of their total employment package and we are reviewing these to make sure we have it right. We have been in a process of collective bargaining since 2019 and have positively worked forward to reach an agreed position with the unions for the new contractual offer. This has taken longer than we hoped and therefore we are having to consider all alternative avenues available to enable us to remove inequality in the organisation as a result of bringing together 3 councils.
We are in the process of establishing a timescale for implementation, and all colleagues joining us will be included in these changes. We want to reassure everyone that whichever route is taken to reach the new terms and conditions, we can honour continuous service and there will not be any job reduction as a result of the implementation of Pay and Reward. If you have any questions at all about this process, please feel free to raise this with the hiring manager.
DBS
BCP Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the community and expects all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Applicants to this post will be required to complete the appropriate level of Disclosure & Barring Service Check. Please refer to the Job Description or Role Profile for more details.