Therapy Assistant - #193550

Salary: Scale 4/5 £25,927-£29,099 per annum (FTE £30,279-£33,983)

Location: Unified Academy, Chart Lane South, Dorking, RH5 4DB

Working Pattern: 36 hours per week, Term Time Only

Unified Academy, located in Dorking, is a special school students 9 to 16, who have social, emotional, and mental health needs. Many of our students also face moderate learning and attachment difficulties.

The school takes a highly personalised approach to education, with small class sizes and carefully tailored lessons that consider the individual needs, interests, and abilities of each student. This ensures that their learning is purposeful, engaging, and relevant.

The team at Unified Academy are driven to secure the best possible outcomes for their students by nurturing them to become well-rounded, confident adults with high aspirations for their future. To find out more about us visit our school website.

Unified Academy are seeking a highly professional and passionate Therapy Assistant to join our team. The aim of the role is to support the delivery of therapeutic interventions across the school in collaboration with therapists, the SENCO and wider pastoral team. The Therapy Assistant will help students access social, emotional and therapeutic support which enables them to engage safely and successfully in education.

The role involves supporting both universal and targeted therapeutic provision for students with SEMH, neurodiverse and trauma-related needs, including students with EHCPs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the implementation of therapy programmes designed by therapists and/or the SENCO.

• Deliver agreed therapeutic activities and interventions under supervision.

• Assist students to regulate emotions and access learning throughout the school day.

• Support interventions such as emotional regulation work, social skills programmes, therapeutic mentoring, sensory regulation activities, creative therapeutic activities and Canine Assisted Learning where applicable.

• Reinforce therapeutic strategies consistently across school routines.

Key Requirements:

• Experience of working with young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties and/or challenging behaviour

• Understanding of trauma informed practice.

• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures.

• Highly adaptable and flexible.

• Have a genuine passion for supporting vulnerable learners.

Rewards & Benefits:

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment

• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family

• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)

• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme and Free Virtual GP Appointments

• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)

• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

Our Trust:

Unified Academy is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre-school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our website.

We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.

Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.

As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities.

It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.

If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the School directly. Visits to the School in advance of applications are encouraged.

Closing Date: Friday 17 July 2026

Interviews will take place on: w/c Monday 20 July 2026

To help us manage applications effectively, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient suitable applications are received.

Safeguarding Statement

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.