Specialist Therapy and Education assistant
SW11, Battersea, London | Full-time or Part-time | Permanent | In person
The role
This is a unique and genuinely exciting opportunity for a highly experienced teaching or therapy assistant — or a qualified physiotherapist, occupational therapist or speech and language therapist — to work in a specialist home education setting alongside a leading multidisciplinary team.
You will work under the guidance of a full-time lead Conductive Educator, supporting every aspect of a 7-year-old boy’s day — therapy sessions, education, personal care, meals and daily routine.
We are looking for people who understand that every interaction is a learning opportunity. He cannot learn incidentally — everything must be deliberately and skilfully used. The right person will instinctively turn every moment of the day into something meaningful and will actively create opportunities for him to engage with and interact with the world around him, whether at home or out and about in the community.
Being a genuine friend to him is a really important part of this role. He loves company, he loves to laugh and he wants to be part of everything going on around him. We need people who enjoy being around him as much as he enjoys being around them.
Full training will be provided on all programmes, equipment, AAC and protocols.
Who you will work with
- Full-time lead Conductive Educator — your day-to-day supervisor and partner
- A second Conductive Educator, weekly
- A specialist home education teacher, twice a week
- An AAC specialist — Smartbox Grid and CandLE
- The very best physiotherapist, occupational therapist and speech and language therapist — all visiting regularly
What you will be doing
- Delivering physiotherapy and OT programmes under the direction of our specialist therapists
- Supporting the lead CE with the daily sensory regulation and CE programme
- Assisting during all specialist visits — positioning, equipment, session support
- Creating and facilitating learning opportunities throughout the day — both structured and spontaneous
- Safe moving and handling — advanced skills essential, training provided
- Full personal care — nappy changes, dressing, hygiene
- Mealtime support — dysphagia feeding
- Modelling AAC vocabulary throughout the day
- Health observation logging using our digital Team Hub
Who we are looking for
We are looking for someone with one of the following backgrounds:
- Qualified physiotherapist, occupational therapist or speech and language therapist — looking for a unique hands-on role outside a traditional clinical setting
- Very senior teaching or therapy assistant with significant experience delivering physiotherapy and OT programmes with children with complex physical needs
- Highly qualified SEN professional with demonstrable experience in neurodisability and complex physical needs
Essential:
- Advanced manual handling skills — confident moving and positioning a child with complex tone and postural needs
- Experience delivering physiotherapy and/or OT programmes
- Experience with children with complex physical needs and non-verbal communication
- Very proactive and energetic — someone who is always one step ahead, sees what needs doing before being asked and brings real energy and initiative to every part of the day
- Warm, playful and genuinely connecting — someone who sees the person, not just the needs
- Physically fit, reliable and computer literate
Desirable:
- Experience with AAC, epilepsy or dysphagia
- Conductive Education background or training
- Driving licence
About the family
We are a warm, vibrant family based in SW11, Battersea. Our son is a bright, magical child with complex physical, medical and communication needs, and mainstream intelligence. You will be exposed to a wide range of therapy modalities including conductive education, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, rebound, yoga, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and AAC — working alongside leading specialists at the highest level of neurodevelopmental practice.
People who work with our son tend to stay. He has that effect on people.
To apply
Please answer the following questions — applications without answers will not be considered:
1. What drew you to this role?
2. Do you have experience working with children with complex physical needs, non-verbal communication or medical complexity? Please tell us a little about it.
3. Do you have any experience with AAC systems — specifically Smartbox Grid, auditory scanning or switch access?
4. Do you have experience with dysphagia feeding, epilepsy management or complex mealtime support?
5. What are your salary expectations and what is your current notice period?
Please also send your CV and a short covering letter telling us about your background, your experience with children with complex needs and why this role appeals to you.
Job type: Full-time / Part-time / Permanent | Work location: In person | Location: SW11, Battersea, London
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
Work Location: In person
