WEST KIRBY EDUCATIONAL TRUST

Candidate
Information
Pack
C

Occupational
Therapist

02

Contents

ABOUT OUR SCHOOL

WELCOME FROM OUR HEADTEACHER

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

THE ROLE

Role Overview & Application Process
Person Specification
Job Description

04

05

06

07
08
10

03

ABOUT
OUR SCHOOL

Our dedicated staff are committed to ‘Changing children’s lives,
building better futures’.

We achieve this through a consistent approach towards understanding the needs and
motivations of children and young people (‘CYP’); and through recognising and celebrating their
efforts and achievements.

As a non-maintained special school, West Kirby School and College caters for CYP, aged 5-19
years, with a range of complex special educational needs and disabilities (‘SEND’). We support
pupils with social and communication difficulties; Autistic Spectrum Condition; ADHD; PDA;
related learning and emotional, sensory and motor needs, across a range of cognitive abilities.

Our aim is for young people to leave West Kirby School and College with academic
accreditations, together with developed social, emotional and communication skills. We achieve
this through a structured, supportive learning environment with an individualised curriculum,
based on relevant and meaningful learning, where CYP make aspirational progress from
individual starting points.

In tandem with this, we promote the development of life skills, personal wellbeing and good
mental health through structured activities and adventures, both in and outside school. These
enrich learning opportunities and give pupils an appreciation of the wider world, of community
and charitable partnerships.

Our broad approach enables pupils to experience
and develop career pathways which, we hope,
will lead them towards a successful adult life. Due
to its location to the North West of the Wirral
peninsula, West Kirby is able to offer a wide range
of opportunities for community relationships,
sports, water recreation and natural history.
Liverpool and Chester with their wealth of art,
culture and history are within easy reach.

The school is close to the centre of West Kirby
village and is 200m from
the nearest beach and
local marine lake.

04

WELCOME FROM OUR
HEADTEACHER

Dear Candidate,

I am delighted that you are interested in joining West Kirby School &
College as an Occupational Therapist.

I hope that this information pack gives you a flavour of this role and our
wonderful school community.

Welcome to West Kirby School and College, a non-maintained special school initially founded over
100 years ago as a hospice for children. Since that time we have grown and developed into the
successful school we are today. Times have changed, but we remain enthused by the opportunity
to support, enable and develop children and young people towards realising their aspirations.

Ultimately, we want to support each of our pupils towards ‘living their best life’.

As a team, we are driven to inspire and motivate pupils, ensuring they are equipped with
knowledge, skills and experiences which will help them achieve their goals and ultimately reach
their full potential. We understand that each child and young person is different and has individual
needs. Therefore we tailor teaching, learning and therapeutic interventions - making activities
accessible so pupils can flourish and thrive.

Our nurturing environment, culture of respect, and promotion of acceptance and diversity is a
backdrop which allows pupils to grow into young adults, who have an understanding of
themselves and those around them.

Our safe and accepting space also allows pupils to express themselves so they feel part of our
community. Coupled with this, we are dedicated to working within our community, using our
expertise to offer support to local schools, colleges and parent groups in areas of Special
Educational needs and Disabilities. We are currently developing a programme of free training and
support which will be offered across the Local Authority.

As Headteacher of WKS, I would be delighted to welcome you to the school to see for yourself our
inspirational environment and for you to meet our equally inspiring pupils.

With Warm Regards,

Richard

Mr Richard Hicks
Headteacher

05

EMPLOYEE
BENEFITS

Looking After You and Your Health

All employees are enrolled (free of charge) into our Healthcare Scheme – provided by Benenden
Healthcare. From day 1 of your employment, and through your Benenden membership, you can:

✓ Get access to and talk to a GP 24/7 and a 24/7 mental health helpline
✓ Get care planning and social care advice
✓ Get access to medical diagnostics (when the wait on the NHS is over 3 weeks)
✓ Get support with medical treatment and surgery (when the wait on the NHS is over 3 weeks)
✓ Get access to physiotherapy and mental health counselling support

School Facilities

Building Your Capability

You will have access to our School Gym and Sauna

You will also have access to a free school lunch – a
choice of hot meal, salad bar, sandwiches and wraps
as well as a selection of cakes

We offer half-termly well being afternoons for our
staff where they can take part in a variety of
activities such as yoga, golf … and more!

From day 1 of your employment you
will be supported with your
Continuous Professional
Development, with a focus on
supporting you
to build your personal levels of
capability; helping you to become the
best version of you that you can be.

Looking After You and Your Family
in the Difficult Times

Saving for the Future

All employees are enrolled (free of charge) into our
Group Life Assurance Scheme – provided by Unum.
After 6 months of employment, and through Unum,
if you were to die unexpectedly your nominated
beneficiary would receive up to 4 x your annual
salary.

All non-teaching staff are eligible (and
will be automatically enrolled) to join
the School’s Private Pension Scheme,
after 3 months of employment.

The School will match your
contributions (like for like) to your
private pension up to 7% of your
annual salary.

*Please note, Employee Benefits are subject to change from time to time and are non-contractual.

2306

ROLE OVERVIEW
& APPLICATION PROCESS

West Kirby School & College is seeking to appoint an
enthusiastic Occupational Therapist

Salary: £33,004.00 - £38,152.62 (point 23 – point 27)

Contract: Permanent, working term time only

Hours: 37 hours per week (part time working possible)

Role Overview:

We are seeking experienced OTs, new OTs, or those changing areas of practice. Please talk
to us about where you are in your career and how we can support you to transition to our
environment. You will be joining a fantastic team and will benefit from supervision
provided by an Occupational Therapist.

The OT will work collaboratively with other professionals to deliver assessment and
intervention plans in a specialised setting for neurodivergent young people. We have a
fully equipped Sensory Integration Suite meeting SI Fidelity. Facilities for our pupils
throughout the school also include multiple spaces for sensory regulation, nurture spaces,
animal and horticulture, and facilities to work on activities of daily living, as well as
opportunities to work with pupils in the local community including shops, the beach, and
local play park.

Application Process:

Application forms and further information can be downloaded from the school website:
www.wkrs.co.uk or contact recruitment@wkrs.co.uk for further information. The School does not
accept CVs.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be
subject to rigorous recruitment checks. West Kirby School & College is an exempt employer as
defined in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975) and as such, we have
a lawful basis for requesting an enhanced DBS disclosure certificate for all employees.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.
Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

2307

PERSON
SPECIFICATION

Person Specification – Occupational Therapist

West Kirby School & College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Essential

Desirable

These are qualities without
which the applicant could not
be appointed

These are extra qualities which
can be used to choose
between applicants who meet
all of the essential criteria

Method of
Assessment

• Recognised and relevant
Occupational Therapy
Degree/Diploma

• Sensory Integration
qualification e.g. ASI

• Attachment/Trauma

• Valid and up to date HCPC

qualification

Qualifications

Production of the
applicant’s
certificates

• Member of RCOT

• Knowledge of

neurodiversity affirming
practice

• Knowledge of Trauma
Informed Practice

Contents of the
Application Form

Interview

Professional
references

registration

• Drivers licence

• Able to provide rationales
for interventions from
evidence based practice and
individual need

• Understand and promote

holistic approach

• Understand the difficulties
of motivating young people
with low self-esteem and
high anxiety

• Have an understanding of
Autism and possible co-
occurring diagnoses

• Specialist knowledge of OT

assessment and intervention

• How Social Communication
difficulties impacts the
development of functional
skills, independence, life
skills – and how this can be
supported. Including sensory
& motor

Knowledge

08
23

PERSON
SPECIFICATION

Person Specification – Occupational Therapist

West Kirby School & College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Essential

Desirable

These are qualities without
which the applicant could not
be appointed

These are extra qualities which
can be used to choose
between applicants who meet
all of the essential criteria

Method of
Assessment

Contents of the
application form

Interview

Professional
References

•

Joint working with
education staff in a
classroom environment

• Working with children/

young people with SEMH
e.g Attachment and
Trauma, anxiety

• Delivering Training

• Experience of undertaking
appraisal  and planning CPD

Experience

• Working with children/
young people with SEN,
particularly those with
Autism

• Working with children /

young people with receptive
and/ or expressive language
difficulties

• Differential diagnosis;
formulation of therapy
plans; providing appropriate
intervention(s); evaluating
outcomes

• Carrying out formal and
informal assessments,
observations

• Report Writing

• Using Autism specific

strategies/ approaches

• Working with children with
sensory difficulties and
motor co-ordination
difficulties.

08
23

PERSON
SPECIFICATION (Cont.)

Person Specification – Occupational Therapist

West Kirby School & College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Essential

Desirable

These are qualities without
which the applicant could not
be appointed

These are extra qualities which
can be used to choose
between applicants who meet
all of the essential criteria

Method of
Assessment

• Effectively manage and

prioritise personal caseload

• Relate theory to practice

•

Initiative, problem solving
skills

• Approach therapy with
creativity and flexibility

• Experience of planning and
delivering group/ class
interventions

Contents of the
Application Form

• Support others in working

with children/ young people
e.g. providing (indirect)
intervention programmes,
advice.

Interview

Professional
references

Skills

• Excellent communication
and interpersonal skills

• Clear written and spoken

English

• Good organizational skills

• Skills in co-working, liaison
and consultation with other
professionals, especially
with regard to complex
cases

• Emotional resilience in
working with children/
young people who may
present with behaviours
which challenge

• Adaptable and flexible

• Passionate about

maximising each child’s
potential

Personal
Attributes

• Ability to work as a team

• Enthusiastic

Contents of the
application form

Interview

Professional
references

and independently

•

Sense of humour

• Ability to motivate others,
and promote positive
behaviour in a nurturing
environment.

2309

PERSON
SPECIFICATION (Cont.)

Person Specification – Occupational Therapist

West Kirby School & College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Essential

Desirable

These are qualities without
which the applicant could not
be appointed

These are extra qualities which
can be used to choose
between applicants who meet
all of the essential criteria

Method of
Assessment

Personal
Attributes

• Patience

• Ability to build good

relationships with pupils,
teaching staff, parents and
carers – whilst maintaining
appropriate boundaries

• Willingness to become

involved in all aspects of
school life

Contents of the
application form

Interview

Professional
references

2309

JOB
DESCRIPTION

Job Description – Occupational Therapist
West Kirby School & College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Summary of The
Role:

Working in an Education setting as part of a multidisciplinary team. This role
requires the application of knowledge and expertise to a range of pupils with
Complex Special Needs and co-occurring diagnoses including Autism and SEMH
difficulties. Primarily, our work supports pupils and their parents/ carers,
teachers and care staff.

The role involves assessment, formulation and direct work, consultation with
other teams , training and service development. Clinicians also undertake
assessments and reports for a variety of external professionals and contribute
to Annual Reviews.

We seek to apply expertise to benefit pupils across the school environments.

Line Management
Responsibility To:

Deputy Headteacher

Main Duties &
Responsibilities:

Core Responsibilities
• To provide a specialist occupational therapy input to young people, their

families/ carers, education and care staff in the school

• To provide specialist occupational therapy input to promote positive mental

health and emotional wellbeing , breaking down barriers to learning
through supporting physical and sensory needs.

• Undertake assessments (including motor and sensory assessments) and

reports for pupils in school and as part of the transition process

• Contribute to the delivery of training
• Undertaking assessments and interventions for pupils
• Hold an individual case load of pupils.

Practice Responsibilities
• To engage flexibly with pupils, staff and their carers/families to promote

positive working relationships.

• To provide support, guidance and advice to school staff and families to

support the sensory needs of pupils and OT and contribute specialist input
to the individual support plans and care plans.

• To interpret statistical data to formulate sensory profiles and strategies and

contribute specialist input to support plans.

• To support, where appropriate, the work of other staff working with pupils

through consultation and advice.

• To liaise with Social Services, CAMHS, Schools, Child Protection agencies,

General Practitioners, other NHS services and other staff in the provision of
services to pupils where appropriate.

• To produce assessments and other reports as required.

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JOB
DESCRIPTION (Cont.)

Duties &
Responsibilities
(Cont.):

Organisational
• To attend regular team meetings and CPD days with other colleagues.
• To positively engage with both clinical and line management supervision
• To maintain open and straightforward communication with colleagues and

provide information within the time and format required.

• To maintain and operate within HCPC standards and be responsible for

organising your own clinical supervision.

Administration
• To maintain proper clinical records and provide statistical returns as
required and within a minimum standard as identified by the HCPC.
• To maintain expenses and other organisational records as required.
• To maintain confidentiality for and with pupils (individual and

organisational)

Research
• Research in areas relevant to clinical work and community development is

encouraged and may be undertaken om collaboration with other
professionals, where appropriate.

The post holder will be required to:

1) Ensure that WKS policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through

his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has
responsibility.

2) Co-Operate fully with the implementation of Health and Safety

arrangements, reporting any incidents/equipment defects to his/her
manager and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for
pupils and staff.

3) Adhere at all times to all WKS policies/codes of conduct including for

example:

• Smoke free policy
•
IT Security Policy and Employee Code of Conduct
• Standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour
• Safeguarding

4) All employees of WKS are legally responsible for all records held, created or
used as part of their employment including clients, corporate and
administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including
emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general
public, with limited exception, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the
Environmental Information Regulations 2004 ad the Data Protection Act 1998.

5) Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development,
including full participation in clinical and line management supervision and
appraisals, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the
demands of the post and in line with HCPC requirements.

2311

JOB
DESCRIPTION (Cont.)

6) Represent WKS commitment to providing the highest possible standard of
service to pupils and staff by treating all those with who he/she comes into
contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

7) Undertake PRICE training on-going as an essential element unless exempt
through the Equalities Act due to a known disability.

8) Understand that this post may evolve over time and that this job description
will therefore be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances.
Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the role may be assigned
from time to time.

Duties &
Responsibilities
(Cont.):

2311

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West Kirby School & College
Meols Drive
West Kirby
Wirral
CH48 5DH

0151 632 3201
schooloffice@wkrs.co.uk