Job Title: School Health Practitioner
Location: Underley Garden School, Kirkby Lonsdale LA6 2DZ
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8.00am – 4.00pm
Salary: £25,000 per annum (not pro rata) + Travel allowance
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: September 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available
About the Role
Are you passionate about caring for children and young people? Looking for a rewarding healthcare role that offers a fantastic work-life balance with term-time only working?
At Underley Garden School, we're looking for a compassionate and dedicated School Health Practitioner to join our friendly multidisciplinary team. This is an opportunity to combine your healthcare skills with a rewarding career supporting children and young people with autism, learning disabilities and complex needs.
Every day is different. One moment you'll be supporting a pupil with their healthcare needs, the next you'll be helping a child build confidence and independence or working alongside therapists and education staff to ensure every young person has the best possible school experience.
If you're someone who enjoys building relationships, working as part of a supportive team and making a genuine difference, we'd love to hear from you.
What you will be doing
Provide high-quality healthcare and wellbeing support to children and young people throughout the school day.
Safely administer prescribed medication and maintain accurate medication records.
Support pupils with personal care, feeding and individual healthcare needs with dignity, compassion and respect.
Monitor and review healthcare plans, ensuring pupils receive safe, personalised support.
Promote pupils' health, wellbeing, independence and emotional development.
Deliver or support medication and healthcare training for colleagues where appropriate.
Work closely with therapists, teachers, families and external healthcare professionals to provide joined-up care.
Maintain first aid rooms, medical equipment and supplies to the highest standards.
Respond calmly and confidently to medical situations and emergencies.
Ensure safeguarding, infection prevention and health and safety procedures are always followed.
Who We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who is:
Passionate about improving the lives of children and young people.
Experienced in a healthcare, care, therapy support or clinical support role.
Comfortable providing personal and intimate care with dignity and compassion.
Calm, organised and confident when responding to changing situations.
An excellent communicator who enjoys working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Proactive, flexible and able to manage a varied workload.
Committed to safeguarding and promoting children's wellbeing.
Holds a full UK Driving Licence and is happy to drive school vehicles where required.
Desirable
Level 3 Health & Social Care (or equivalent).
Experience supporting children or young people with autism, learning disabilities, complex medical needs or SEMH.
Previous experience within education, therapy or specialist healthcare settings.
This role could be ideal if you've worked as a:
Healthcare Assistant (HCA)
Children's Support Worker
Therapy Assistant
SEN Teaching Assistant with medical responsibilities
Residential Childcare Worker
Care Assistant
Nursing Assistant
Health & Social Care Practitioner
About Us
Underley Garden School is a large school with small class sizes, focusing on pupils, aged 5-19, who have a range of complex needs associated with autism and learning disabilities, including complex communication, sensory and behavioural needs associated with their disabilities.
Our School adopts a holistic, person-centred approach to the development of our pupils and endeavours to ensure that they achieve as high a standard as possible. We offer a comprehensive portfolio of education, care and therapy to meet the individual requirements of students with complex special educational needs.
At Underley Garden, we aim to make a positive difference to the personal, social and learning lives of the people entrusted to our care.
Located near the market town of Kirkby Lonsdale on the edge of the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales in a commutable distance of Lancaster, Cumbria and surrounding areas.
For over 19 years, Options Autism has provided specialist care and education for children, young people, and adults with autism, complex needs, and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are pioneering innovative, evidence-based approaches that deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes for everyone in our care.
We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.
Why Join Us?
We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
Life Assurance
Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
“Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
Hundreds of UK and international discounts
Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
Critical illness cover
Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
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Salary description
£25000.00 - £25000.00 per year