SEN Occupational Therapist

Help children and young people reach their full potential in school and beyond

Help children and young people reach their full potential in school and beyond

Working as an SEN Occupational Therapist in our Bi-borough Inclusion Service means using your professional skills to make a real difference. You’ll help children and young people with special educational needs thrive in education by providing practical, tailored support to them, their families and school staff. This role is about more than therapy – it’s about building confidence, independence and belonging for every child you work with.

Working Style

You’ll be working within mainstream schools in the Bi Borough throughout the week, have access to Kensington and Westminster town hall for administration duties and flexible opportunities to also work from home, when not delivering direct support in schools. Whether you’re working on the frontline in schools or behind the scenes, you’ll be part of a dedicated team making a real difference to residents’ lives.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll manage a caseload of around 40–50 students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), ensuring every child receives the occupational therapy provision set out in their plan. Your day-to-day work will focus on delivering high-quality, school-based support — assessing needs, developing strategies, modelling approaches and recommending equipment or adaptations where required.

A key part of your role will be working closely with teachers, SENCOs and school leaders to integrate occupational therapy into everyday learning. You’ll help staff apply OT principles in the classroom, deliver targeted groups for children with specific needs and provide universal training to help schools become more inclusive environments.

You’ll also work directly with parents and carers, supporting them through workshops, coffee mornings and one-to-one guidance. You’ll contribute to annual reviews, collaborate across education, health and social care, and ensure your interventions have lasting impact.

You’ll have supervision and professional guidance from experienced SEN Occupational Therapists, with opportunities to contribute to an exciting transformation project across the NHS, education and local authority. This is a role where you’ll be encouraged to innovate, share ideas and grow as a practitioner.

For further details, please review the Job Description and Person Specification

What you’ll bring

You’ll hold a recognised degree or diploma in Occupational Therapy and be registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). You may be newly qualified or have experience in paediatric or educational settings, but you’ll share a genuine passion for supporting children and young people with additional needs.

You’ll have experience working with people with disabilities, a good understanding of child development and knowledge of the UK education system — particularly around Special Educational Needs. You’ll bring strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain strategies clearly and sensitively to children, families and school staff.

You’ll be organised, adaptable and able to manage your caseload effectively, using sound clinical reasoning to plan and evaluate interventions. Collaboration comes naturally to you, and you’ll value teamwork as much as professional autonomy. Most importantly, you’ll bring curiosity, compassion and a commitment to continuous learning.

Why join us

At RBKC, we’re all in – investing in our people, our communities and our future.

You’ll be part of a collaborative team of SEN Occupational Therapists who support one another, share knowledge and embrace innovation. This school-based role gives you the chance to embed occupational therapy into the classroom, helping schools and families apply practical, sustainable strategies that make a real difference.

You’ll also be part of the wider Bi-borough Inclusion Service, working alongside a range of professionals such as Autism Advisory Teachers and Inclusion Practitioners. We’ll invest in your professional development with regular supervision, peer learning and training opportunities to help shape new approaches through our ongoing transformation project.

It’s a supportive, forward-thinking environment where your ideas are valued, your growth is encouraged and your work directly contributes to improving outcomes for children and families.

About us

Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough.

As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work every day, ensuring our services are delivered with care and competence. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all.

Your role as an SEN Occupational Therapist reflects what we mean by ‘we’re all in’. By working alongside schools, families and partners, you’ll help children overcome barriers, build confidence and participate fully in their education. Every success story will be a direct result of your skill, empathy and determination.

Interview and position details

This role requires the successful applicant to undertake an enhanced DBS and Children's Barred List.

Interviews will take place W/C 3 November 2025

Ready to join us?

We’re all in – are you? If you share our values and have the skills to contribute, we’d love to hear from you.

Please apply online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description.

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.

We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.

We are committed to fair, transparent, and consistent pay practices. New hires will normally start at the minimum of the pay scale. However, a higher starting salary may be negotiated where a candidate demonstrates exceptional skills, knowledge, or experience.

Employees receive annual salary increments until they reach the top of the pay scale, as well as any agreed cost of living pay awards.