First Bridge School

Occupational Therapist SEND School Location: Imperial Wharf, Chelsea, London (Hammersmith & Fulham) Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience Contract: Full-time, Permanent Working Pattern: Monday to Friday Setting: Specialist SEND / Autism School About the Role First Bridge School is looking for an experienced Occupational Therapist (OT) to join our multidisciplinary team. This is an excellent opportunity for a paediatric Occupational Therapist to work in a specialist SEND school supporting children aged 2 to 11 with autism and complex developmental needs. Our Occupational Therapist works as an integral part of the school team, collaborating closely with Teachers, Speech and Language Therapists and Behaviour Specialists. Therapy is embedded within the school day and designed to directly support children's learning, development, communication, independence and participation. About First Bridge School First Bridge School is a DfE-registered specialist SEND school based in Chelsea, London. We support children with autism and complex developmental needs in a purpose-built environment where education and therapy are closely integrated. Our multidisciplinary approach means that therapists work directly alongside teaching and classroom teams, helping ensure that therapeutic strategies are consistently applied throughout the school day. Key Responsibilities Conduct occupational therapy assessments and deliver evidence-based individual and group interventions for pupils with autism, sensory processing difficulties and developmental delays. Develop sensory strategies, sensory diets and environmental adaptations to support regulation, learning and engagement. Assess and support sensory, motor, functional and daily living skills. Work collaboratively with Teachers, Speech and Language Therapists, Behaviour Specialists and classroom staff to embed therapeutic strategies into daily practice. Contribute to EHCP assessments, annual reviews and multidisciplinary planning, including preparation of professional OT reports. Provide advice and training to staff and communicate effectively with parents and carers regarding pupil progress and recommendations. Maintain accurate clinical records in accordance with professional standards and follow safeguarding and child protection procedures. Essential Requirements Degree in Occupational Therapy and current HCPC registration. Experience working with children in a paediatric, SEND, education or related setting, including experience supporting children with autism and/or developmental needs. Knowledge and practical experience of sensory processing assessment and intervention. Good understanding of SEND and EHCP processes. Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team, with strong written and verbal communication skills. Commitment to safeguarding and child-centred practice. Desirable Experience Postgraduate training in sensory integration, such as Ayres Sensory Integration. Experience within a specialist SEND or autism school, early years or paediatric community setting. Knowledge of autism-specific approaches and structured teaching, with experience supporting non-verbal or pre-verbal children. What We Offer Competitive salary with progression opportunities. Funded CPD, specialist training, clinical supervision and strong staff support. Purpose-built specialist SEND environment with daily multidisciplinary working and genuine clinical autonomy. 34 days' holiday, inclusive of bank and public holidays. Laptop provided for work and home use. Clear career progression opportunities within a growing specialist school. Who We Are Looking For This role would suit an Occupational Therapist who wants to specialise in paediatric OT and is passionate about supporting children with autism and complex developmental needs. You will value collaborative multidisciplinary working and want to see therapeutic strategies embedded into children's everyday learning and development. You will be motivated by meaningful, long-term developmental outcomes rather than a high-throughput clinical model. Safeguarding First Bridge School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including professional references and an enhanced DBS check. Our vacancies are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent employment. Each case will be considered in relation to the nature of the role and the circumstances and context of any offences. An online search will be conducted on all shortlisted candidates as part of our safer recruitment process. How to Apply Please submit your CV together with a brief statement explaining why you would like to work at First Bridge School and how your experience makes you suitable for the role. Following an initial review, suitable applicants will be invited to an initial screening call and asked to complete our application and self-disclosure forms. Shortlisted applicants will subsequently be invited to attend an assessment and formal interview day.

Speech and Language Therapist SEND School Location: Imperial Wharf, Chelsea, London (Hammersmith & Fulham) Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience Contract: Full-time, Permanent Working Pattern: Monday to Friday Setting: Specialist SEND / Autism School About the Role First Bridge School is looking for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist (SaLT) to join our multidisciplinary team. This is an excellent opportunity for a Speech and Language Therapist to work in a specialist SEND school supporting children aged 2 to 11 with autism, complex communication needs and language development delays. Communication is central to everything we do. Our Speech and Language Therapists are core members of the school team, working closely with Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Occupational Therapists and Behaviour Specialists to ensure communication strategies are embedded consistently throughout the school day. About First Bridge School First Bridge School is a DfE-registered specialist SEND school based in Chelsea, London. We support children with autism and complex developmental needs in a purpose-built environment where education and therapy are closely integrated. Our multidisciplinary approach means therapists work directly alongside teaching and classroom teams to support communication, learning, development and independence. Key Responsibilities Conduct comprehensive Speech and Language Therapy assessments for pupils with autism, AAC needs and speech, language and communication difficulties. Design and deliver evidence-based individual and group SaLT intervention programmes. Develop and implement AAC systems, PECS programmes, communication passports and other appropriate communication supports. Work closely with Teachers and Teaching Assistants to embed communication strategies into classroom routines and everyday learning. Collaborate with Occupational Therapists and Behaviour Specialists to ensure consistent and integrated therapeutic approaches. Contribute to EHCP assessments, annual reviews and multi-agency planning, including preparation of professional SaLT reports. Provide training, coaching and practical guidance to classroom staff to support confident and consistent use of communication strategies. Maintain accurate clinical records in accordance with professional standards and GDPR requirements. Communicate effectively with parents, carers and external professionals regarding pupil progress and recommendations. Follow safeguarding and child protection procedures at all times. Essential Requirements Degree in Speech and Language Therapy, current HCPC registration and membership of the RCSLT. Experience working with children with autism and complex communication needs. Experience and confidence in AAC assessment and implementation. Strong knowledge of EHCPs, SEND legislation and multi-agency working. Ability to train and support non-clinical staff in communication strategies. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a commitment to safeguarding and child-centred practice. Desirable Experience Experience working within a specialist SEND school, early years or paediatric community setting. Training or experience in Makaton, PECS, LAMP or SCERTS frameworks. Experience supporting pre-verbal or minimally verbal pupils. Familiarity with structured teaching approaches such as TEACCH. What We Offer Competitive salary with progression opportunities. Funded CPD, specialist SaLT training, supervision and strong staff support. Purpose-built specialist SEND environment with genuine multidisciplinary working and clinical autonomy. Manageable caseload with a Monday to Friday working pattern. 34 days' holiday, inclusive of bank and public holidays. Laptop provided for work and home use. Clear career progression opportunities within a growing specialist school. Who We Are Looking For This role would suit a Speech and Language Therapist who wants to specialise in paediatric practice with a strong autism and complex communication focus. You will value being embedded within a school environment and working closely with Teachers, Teaching Assistants and other clinical specialists. You will be motivated by meaningful communication and developmental outcomes and want to see therapeutic strategies consistently applied throughout a child's day. Safeguarding First Bridge School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including professional references and an enhanced DBS check. Our vacancies are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent employment. Each case will be considered in relation to the nature of the role and the circumstances and context of any offences. An online search will be conducted on all shortlisted candidates as part of our safer recruitment process. How to Apply Please submit your CV together with a brief statement explaining why you would like to work at First Bridge School and how your experience makes you suitable for the role. Following an initial review, suitable applicants will be invited to an initial screening call and asked to complete our application form. Shortlisted applicants will subsequently be invited to attend an assessment and formal interview day.