Visa Note
While this employer offers a Certificate of Sponsorship for eligible international candidates, applicants must verify their visa and work permit eligibility directly with the employer. The availability of sponsorship does not guarantee visa approval. Always confirm specific visa requirements and processes with the employer before applying.
Job Details
Company: Cognus Limited
Location: Cognus Ltd, Railway Approach, Wallington, Surrey SM6 0DZ (Schools within London Borough of Sutton)
Salary: £34,052.35 to £42,744.33 per year inclusive of HCAS (High Cost Area Supplement)
Schedule: Full-time, Term time hours
Employment Type: Permanent
Language: English
Education: Not provided
Experience: Person Specification
Essential Qualification: Not provided
Desirable Qualification: Not provided
Essential Experience: Educated to degree level or equivalent in Occupational Therapy
Application Deadline: 20 October 2025
Employer Website: https://cognus.org.uk/
Certificate of Sponsorship: Certificate of Sponsorship available
About Cognus Therapies
Cognus Therapies is a thriving multidisciplinary team of Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, and Therapy Assistants who support children and young people in schools, colleges, bases, and specialist provisions within the London Borough of Sutton and surrounding boroughs. We work with children and young people aged 4 to 25 years of age across Primary, Secondary, and Post-16 provisions. Our team supports a variety of special educational needs including Autism, Global Developmental Delay, Hearing Impairment, Down Syndrome, PMLD, MLD, and many more.
Job Summary
We have an exciting opportunity to invite applications from Band 5 therapists who wish to develop their knowledge, experience, and expertise within a dedicated and supportive team. Clinical supervision, managerial supervision, and opportunities for Continuing Professional Development are provided. Cognus Therapies forms part of the Cognus Limited provision for special educational needs within the London Borough of Sutton.
Main Duties of the Job
- Work within a multidisciplinary team of occupational therapists and speech and language therapists
- Have the opportunity to work in schools, colleges, bases, and/or specialist provisions across the London Borough of Sutton
- Work with children and young people aged 4 to 25 years (often working within a specific age range, e.g., Primary)
- Support local schools/settings to support children and young people with Occupational Therapy Needs
- Work with children and young people who have a range of special educational needs (e.g., Autism, Hearing Impairment, Developmental Language Disorder, Down Syndrome, PMLD, MLD, SLCN)
- Manage own caseload with support, to ensure intended outcomes are delivered within agreed service standards
Job Responsibilities
To personally undertake a caseload to include visiting children and young people at their educational setting, completing assessments with children and young people, delivering therapy programmes to individuals or small groups, offering advice and support to parents/carers and teaching staff, and maintaining all records to a high standard.
Specific Duties
Specific duties include providing advice and support to school staff, using screening and assessment tools (formal and informal assessments), prioritizing new referrals with support, completing case histories to gather relevant information, writing reports based on assessment information, making onward referrals with support, liaising with all professionals involved, and liaising with parents/carers and school staff to work collaboratively.
Additional Responsibilities
Further responsibilities include contributing to professional advice regarding statutory assessments (Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments), contributing to professional advice for Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) annual reviews, completing duties for both London Borough of Sutton and out of borough (when requested), monitoring and recording the child or young person’s progress towards their outcomes and targets, attending team meetings, attending clinical supervision, and attending managerial supervision.
Training and Development Responsibilities
Training and development responsibilities include promoting Evidence Based Practice and embedding this into professional activities (e.g., delivery of therapy), embedding legislative change and key developments with support from the team, participating in clinical audits, service development activities, and research as and when required, engaging in CPD activities, and complying with the Cognus Limited mandatory training requirements. Additional responsibilities include planning, delivering, and evaluating training sessions for educational provisions, with support.
About Us – Benefits Package
You will give us great commitment and in return we offer an excellent package including: a workplace pension scheme with 4% to 8% matched contributions, 28 days annual leave pro rata (plus Bank Holidays), regular manager support and supervision, hybrid and flexible working subject to agreement, and a staff benefits package currently including Employee Assistance Programme, Perkbox, and (upon completion of probation) Sovereign Healthcare Cashback plan.
Professional Support
We provide exceptional professional support through staff EDI group and Mental Health First Aiders to support wellbeing and inclusion, Cognus Coaching Programmes, and an ambitious culture with friendly and supportive colleagues. For this specific post, we also offer access to highly skilled clinical leads, access to a wide range of clinical resources, access to regular and supportive peer supervision, the opportunity to complete NQP competencies with highly skilled clinical supervisors, and payment of RCOT and HCPC registrations.
Person Specification – Essential Requirements
The essential requirements for this position include being educated to degree level or equivalent in Occupational Therapy, having relevant qualifications including registration with HCPC and RCOT, the ability to prioritise and deliver results to a high standard, knowledge of relevant assessment tools and therapy interventions, excellent organisational skills, excellent ICT skills (e.g., using spreadsheets and recording notes electronically), and the ability to work collaboratively and in partnership with other professionals.
Experience Requirements
Essential experience requirements include experience of working in educational settings, experience as a paediatric occupational therapist, adherence to RCOT and HCPC policies and procedures, commitment to safeguarding and protection of children, and honouring and upholding the Company’s Equal Opportunity Policy, Dignity at Work Policy, Safeguarding and Protection of Children, Health and Safety, and Data Protection Policy at all times.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.
UK Registration Requirements
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website for overseas health professionals. This includes registration with both the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
Contact Information
For questions about the job, please contact Alex Benjamin (Head of Therapies) via email at [email protected]. Phone contact details are not provided.
How to Apply
Apply via NHS Jobs website. International applicants should carefully check visa eligibility requirements before applying. Ensure you have all necessary documents ready including proof of qualifications, professional registration, and criminal record certificates from any countries where you have resided for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Contact the employer directly if you have any questions about the sponsorship process or visa requirements.
Supporting Documents
Supporting documents include the full job advertisement available at https://www.cognus.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Band-5-OT-Sherwood-Hill-September-2025.pdf and the Cognus application form available at https://www.cognus.org.uk/work-with-us/current-vacancies/cognus-application-form/. Please review these documents carefully before submitting your application.
Privacy Notice
Cognus Limited’s privacy notice can be viewed at https://cognus.org.uk/. Please review this document to understand how your personal data will be processed and protected during the recruitment process and throughout your employment with the organisation if successful.
Equal Opportunities
Cognus Limited is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. All appointments are subject to employment checks including references andDisclosure and Barring Service clearance where appropriate.
