Overview and Responsibilities
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Location: Aurora White House School, Quidenham, Norwich, NR16 2NZ
Salary: £13.40 - £14.03 per hour
Actual annual salary: £23,943 - £25,068 Dependant on experience and qualifications
Hours: 40 hours per week, Term time only
Aurora White House School
Aurora White House School, part of the Aurora Group, supports children aged 5–16 with communication, interaction, and learning difficulties including autism, dyslexia, and SEMH needs. We offer small class sizes and a full onsite clinical team.
To take a virtual look around the schools please click here: White House Virtual Tour
The Role:
As an Occupational Therapy Assistant you will provide direct support to the Occupational Therapy (OT) team to promote students’ functional, sensory and occupational development within the school. Focus on implementing targeted OT programmes and interventions for identified students in specific primary classes (Key Stage 1). Work closely with class team(s) and the multidisciplinary therapy team to create an inclusive, enabling, sensory-friendly environment that supports students’ participation in learning and social activity.
Key Duties
*Work under the direction of the Occupational Therapist, using own initiative appropriately and escalating changes, concerns or improvements.
*Prepare equipment, materials and resources to support activities with children.
*Assist the Occupational Therapist with report writing and other administrative requirements.
*Assist with and facilitate Occupational Therapy group activities and the delivery of sensory diets, sensory circuits, fine and gross motor and other occupational therapy programmes designed by the Occupational Therapists.
*Assist the Occupational Therapy Team to promote and develop activities of daily living, working in conjunction with class teams, parents and the wider education team to support students with any areas of deficit which are impacting on their occupational performance.
*Produce timely, accurate and concise clinical records; maintain confidentiality and ensure safe storage of written and digital data.
*Provide or support training to colleagues as directed by the Occupational Therapists, where appropriate.
*Recognise and work within professional boundaries, seeking supervision or guidance where required to ensure safe, effective practice.
*Undertake regular supervision with Occupational Therapists to support safe, effective practice and professional guidance, reflective learning, and to provide ongoing support.
*While working within the class, the Occupational Therapy Assistant may undertake reasonable day-to-day tasks as requested by the teacher, where this is appropriate and manageable alongside their primary responsibilities.
Please note that duties will vary and you will be expected to contribute to the overall aims of the school when required. Please see the link below for our full job description:
Job Description - Occupational Therapy Assistant
Skills and Qualifications
Qualifications
*GCSE Maths and English Language qualification minimum Grade 4 or equivalent is essential.
Essential
*Demonstrated interest in developing children’s functional capabilities, including daily living skills and sensory needs.
*Proven commitment to and experience working with children and young people with a range of Special Educational Needs.
*Strong communication skills with confidence in guiding and motivating staff members.
*Flexibility and the ability to work adaptively within a dynamic team environment.
*Fluent in written and spoken English, with capability to convey complex information clearly to diverse audiences including students, parents, and professionals.
*Excellent interpersonal abilities and aptitude for building positive working relationships.
*Strong time-management and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage workload effectively.
*Proficiency in maintaining legible and accurate documentation.
*Resilience and adaptability when working in unpredictable environments.
*Confident IT skills for administration, presentations and record-keeping systems.
*Creative and positive approach to addressing individual student needs.
*Patient, caring, encouraging, and tactful demeanour.
*Understanding of the role and purpose of Occupational Therapy within SEND environments.
*Excellent observational and active listening abilities.
Due to the rural location of the school, candidates are strongly advised to hold a full UK driving licence and have access to their own vehicle.
Benefits and Additional Information
What’s on Offer at Aurora?
We believe in supporting you as much as we support the children and young people in our care. Here’s a snapshot of the fantastic benefits waiting for you:
Grow with Us – Training & Development
Learning never stops at Aurora! We offer a wide range of training programmes and career development opportunities to help you build your skills and reach your goals.
Save Money on Everyday Essentials
With the rising cost of living, our Perkbox app helps you stretch your money further:
*Discounts on groceries, phone plans, internet, dining out, gym memberships & more
*Access to our Cycle to Work and Car Scheme
Access Wagestream – a financial wellbeing app that helps you track earnings, save, get expert money advice, and even access part of your pay early when needed
Competitive Pay & Reward
We regularly benchmark our pay and benefits to stay ahead of the curve. You’ll enjoy:
*Enhanced Annual Leave
*Company Sick Pay
*Enhanced Pension
*Life Assurance
24/7 GP Access – For You & Your Household
Need a doctor? No problem. Book a phone or video appointment anytime, day or night. This service covers everyone in your household.
UK Health Cash Plan
Cover everyday healthcare costs like dental and optician bills. You and your children are included in the scheme, and you