Occupational Therapist

Step by Step School

Banding: Band 6/Band 5 Pay:NHS B5: £32,073 – £39,043

NHS B6 £39,959 – £48,117

Contract TypeMaternity Cover: 12 months with possibility to extend to permanent position

Full-time. Part-time hours negotiable

Location: Grinstead Lane, Sharpthorne, East Sussex, RH19 4HP Start date: June 2026 (negotiable for the right candidate)

Join our caring, friendly and dynamic multi-disciplinary team who are passionate about promoting independence, identity, and wellbeing in our pupils and supporting and empowering families. Harness and develop your hands on paediatric assessment and therapeutic skills as part of our therapy team. We are looking for a full time Band 6 or a Band 5 OT to join our therapy team to deliver high quality, child centered therapy to our pupil cohort. Please contact Sian Kelly (Occupational Therapist/Therapy Lead) to arrange a tour of the school and initial enquiries via email: skelly@stepbystepschool.org.uk or phone: 01342 811852.

Step by Step was rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted (2025), and is a not-for-profit independent special school for autistic children. We are located near East Grinstead in the beautiful Sussex countryside. The pupil population includes autistic children and young people with complex behavioural and learning needs.

The School provides an individualised curriculum delivered through the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis for pupils aged 4 to 19. The school is registered for 40 pupils. The Therapy Team provide specialist, individualised, and integrated therapy to pupils, working alongside class staff, teachers, behaviour analysts, and other professionals associated with the school.

We offer our Occupational Therapists:

• Excellent Annual Leave entitlement: 12 weeks per year
• Flexible working available with working from home
• Working within a direct therapy model with intensive therapy delivered through 1:1, paired, and group sessions
• Experience of planning and running therapy groups
• Completing community trips to support development of skills to promote community integration, safety, and independence
• Regular supervision from an experienced OT (e.g., Fortnightly for B5; half termly for B6)
• Ongoing training and CPD opportunities
• Ongoing clinical supervision from an experienced Occupational Therapist
• Networking with professionals from other similar provisions already in place
• Working collaboratively with other professionals (e.g., Speech and Language Therapists; Physiotherapists; Behaviour Anaylists, Teachers)
• Working with involved and supportive parents
• Training in Applied Behaviour Analysis
• The opportunity to work closely with the class teams through occupational therapy targets in Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
• An occupational therapy allocated budget managed by the OT team
• Free onsite parking and potential for car sharing
• You will be based in a bright, airy office with the rest of the therapy team with a phone, and double monitor
• Flexible working patterns for staff with part time hours
• Protected CPD hours
• Access to our onsite gym after school hours
• School set in beautiful open countryside

The successful candidate will have/need:

• Professional Qualified Occupational Therapy qualification to degree level
• HCPC Registration
• Knowledge of assessment, planning, and evaluating treatment
• Demonstrable commitment to Evidence Based Practice (EBP)
• Understanding of a range of interventions to support sensory difficulties, handwriting, fine and gross motor coordination, and independence in activities of daily living
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Passionate about supporting autistic children and young people

You will join a supportive staff team where teamwork, flexibility, and a positive personality are essential attributes. Come and join the team to help make a difference to the lives of our children and young people.

For more information about the Band 6 role, please click here.

For more information about the Band 5 role, please click here.

For an application form, please click here.

Deadline for applications 27 th April 2026 at 9am. With interviews scheduled from 6

^thMay.

If you would like to discuss this role, please contact Sian Kelly (Occupational Therapist/Therapy Lead):

skelly@stepbystepschool.org.uk

Please note: we are unable to accept CVs.  To apply for this position, please contact Clare Eastwood for an application pack: ceastwood@stepbystepschool.org.uk

We look forward to hearing from you.

Step by Step School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.  An enhanced disclosure will be conducted for the successful applicant.