Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Katie Hobson

Manchester,Lancashire

Summary

I am a school-based Occupational Therapy Apprentice with extensive experience supporting children and young people with autism and complex additional needs within specialist education settings. I have a strong understanding of the impact of sensory processing, emotional regulation, and functional skills on access to learning, and I deliver interventions using a tiered model across whole-school, targeted, and individual levels. I have experience carrying a supervised caseload, contributing to EHCP processes, annual reviews, and MDT working, and providing specialist equipment and environmental adaptations to support independence. I regularly deliver whole-staff training on sensory regulation, co-regulation, and behaviour support, and I hold PROACT-SCIPr-UK Instructor status, enabling me to promote safe, trauma-informed practice across school teams. I also act as the OT representative within work experience pathways, supporting vocational skill development and environmental adaptations. Through my degree apprenticeship, I combine strong theoretical knowledge with hands-on clinical practice, demonstrating effective communication, reflective practice, and a commitment to inclusive, person-centred care within specialist school environments

Overview

24
24
years of professional experience
4067
4067
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Occupational Therapy Apprentice

Together Trust
Stockport, Lancashire
2023.09 - Current

Supported qualified occupational therapists in implementing tailored interventions for children with autism.

Contributed to tiered intervention strategies, enhancing student participation across the school.

Participated in annual reviews and MDT meetings, providing therapy updates and observations.

Assisted with assessments and recommendations for specialist equipment, ensuring effective use and adaptations.

Implemented sensory integration strategies and programmes for fine motor, gross motor, and daily living skills.

Collaborated with teachers to modify classroom environments, promoting inclusivity and safety.

Maintained accurate session records and monitored student progress against personalised plans.

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Together Trust
Stockport, Lancashire
2022.02 - 2023.09

Supported children with autism by delivering tailored interventions under occupational therapist supervision.

Implemented universal, targeted, and individual strategies to enhance learning engagement.

Collaborated with educators, therapists, and families during MDT meetings and annual reviews.

Contributed to the review and implementation of EHCP outcomes for improved student support.

Facilitated completion of an Occupational Therapy Degree Apprenticeship, merging academic study with clinical practice.
Developed professional competencies in accordance with HCPC and RCOT standards.

Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner

Together Trust
Stockport, Lancashire
2016.06 - 2022.02

As a Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner within a specialist school for children with autism, supporting students to develop functional communication, emotional regulation, and positive behaviour through evidence-based, person-centred approaches. Implemented Positive Behaviour Support plans informed by functional behaviour assessments, promoting proactive and preventative strategies across classroom and whole-school environments. Collaborated closely with teachers, therapists, and families, contributing to MDT meetings, annual reviews, and the review of EHCP outcomes. Provided staff guidance and modelling to ensure consistent implementation of strategies, monitored behavioural data to evaluate effectiveness, and supported the creation of safe, inclusive learning environments that prioritised dignity, choice, and student wellbeing

Senior Educational Assistant

Together Trust
Stockport, Lancashire
2014.09 - 2016.06

Worked as a Senior Educational Assistant in a specialist school for children with autism, supporting learning and development across the classroom and whole-school environment. Took a lead role in promoting positive behaviour, implementing and monitoring individual behaviour support plans, and using evidence-based strategies to manage challenging behaviour effectively and safely. Provided guidance and mentoring to other support staff, collaborated closely with teachers, therapists, and families, and contributed to MDT meetings, annual reviews, and the review of EHCP outcomes. Supported students to develop social, communication, and emotional regulation skills, while maintaining a safe, structured, and inclusive learning environment.

Educational Assistant

Together Trust
Stockport, Lancashire
2012.09 - 2014.09

Worked as an Educational Assistant in a specialist school for children with autism, supporting students’ learning, social development, and daily routines. Assisted with implementing behaviour support strategies and individual learning plans under the guidance of teachers and therapists, helping students manage challenging behaviour and develop communication and emotional regulation skills. Collaborated with staff, therapists, and families to adapt classroom activities and environments to meet students’ needs, contributed to monitoring progress, and supported a safe, structured, and inclusive learning environment.

Keyworker

David Lewis
Alderley Edge, Cheshire East
2009.09 - 2012.09

Worked as a Key Worker at David Lewis College, supporting students with a wide range of special educational needs, from mild to complex learning difficulties. Provided both group and one-to-one support tailored to individual student needs, assisting with academic tasks, social development, and daily routines. Collaborated with teaching staff and support teams to implement personalised learning strategies, promote independence, and ensure a safe, inclusive, and supportive college environment.

Job Coach

HSBC UK
Manchester, Lancashire
2003.12 - 2009.09

Worked as a Job Coach at HSBC, providing training and guidance to new staff on their roles and operational processes to ensure confidence and competence in their work. Delivered training and support to existing employees across different job roles, helping develop skills, improve performance, and maintain high standards of service. Collaborated with team leaders and colleagues to identify training needs, tailor support, and contribute to a positive and productive workplace environment.

Cashier

Sainsbury's
Salford, Lancashire
2002.08 - 2003.12

Worked as a part-time Cashier, providing excellent customer service in a busy retail environment. Served customers efficiently, handled cash and card transactions accurately, and maintained till balances through regular cashing-up procedures. Assisted with stock management, kept the work area tidy, and contributed to a positive and welcoming experience for all customers while developing strong teamwork and communication skills.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Occupational Therapy

University of Huddersfield
Huddersfield
2023.09 - 2026.08

Diploma of Higher Education - Health Science Professions

Academy Online Learning ltd
Manchester
2023.05 - 2023.06

BTEC Level 4 - Positive Behaviour Support

CADSG Assessment Centre
Wales
2018.03 - 2019.04

Professional certification - Floortime

Greenspan Floortime approach
UK
2017.09 - 2018.02

Diploma of Higher Education - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Centre of Excellence
UK
2015.11 - 2018.08

NVQ Level 3 - speech and language support for verbal children with ASD

ELKLAN
Stockport
2014.06 - 2015.06

NVQ Level 3 - Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools

National Schools Training
UK
2015.12 - 2016.12

NVQ Level 3 - Business Administration

Edexcel
UK
2008.05 - 2010.09

NVQ Level 1 - Administration

Edexcel
UK
2000.09 - 2002.08

Intermediate GNVQ - Health and Social Care

Edexcel
UK
2000.09 - 2002.08

GCSEs -

AQA
UK
1997.09 - 2002.08

Introduction to Sensory Difficulties for Schools

Sensory Integration Education
UK

PROACT SCIPr-UK Instructor

Lodden
UK
2019.06 -

Nurture Attachment

Together Trust
UK

Aspiring Leaders Programme

Together Trust
UK

Skills

  • Whole-School Staff Training – Designing and delivering training for teaching and support staff on sensory processing, co-regulation strategies, and the Zones of Regulation to support consistent, trauma-informed practice across the school
  • PROACT-SCIPr-UK Instructor (Whole Staff Teams) – Delivering PROACT-SCIPr-UK training to whole staff teams, focusing on positive behaviour support, de-escalation, crisis prevention, and safe, least-restrictive physical interventions
  • Whole-School Sensory Circuits – Planning, delivering, and reviewing whole-school sensory circuits twice weekly to support regulation, readiness for learning, and participation
  • Tiered Model of OT Intervention – Implementing universal, targeted, and individualized interventions to support access to education and inclusion
  • Sensory Integration & Emotional Regulation – Applying evidence-based sensory and regulation strategies to support engagement, behaviour, and emotional wellbeing
  • EHCP Implementation & Review – Contributing to statutory processes, outcome setting, progress monitoring, and annual reviews
  • Work Experience Pathway – OT Representative – Acting as the OT representative within the school’s work experience pathway, liaising with training providers, adapting environments, and supporting students to develop functional and vocational skills
  • Environmental Adaptation & Skill Development – Assessing and adapting learning and work environments and teaching students new functional, life, and work-related skills to promote independence

Timeline

Occupational Therapy Apprentice

Together Trust
2023.09 - Current

Bachelor of Science - Occupational Therapy

University of Huddersfield
2023.09 - 2026.08

Diploma of Higher Education - Health Science Professions

Academy Online Learning ltd
2023.05 - 2023.06

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Together Trust
2022.02 - 2023.09

PROACT SCIPr-UK Instructor

Lodden
2019.06 -

BTEC Level 4 - Positive Behaviour Support

CADSG Assessment Centre
2018.03 - 2019.04

Professional certification - Floortime

Greenspan Floortime approach
2017.09 - 2018.02

Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner

Together Trust
2016.06 - 2022.02

NVQ Level 3 - Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools

National Schools Training
2015.12 - 2016.12

Diploma of Higher Education - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Centre of Excellence
2015.11 - 2018.08

Senior Educational Assistant

Together Trust
2014.09 - 2016.06

NVQ Level 3 - speech and language support for verbal children with ASD

ELKLAN
2014.06 - 2015.06

Educational Assistant

Together Trust
2012.09 - 2014.09

Keyworker

David Lewis
2009.09 - 2012.09

NVQ Level 3 - Business Administration

Edexcel
2008.05 - 2010.09

Job Coach

HSBC UK
2003.12 - 2009.09

Cashier

Sainsbury's
2002.08 - 2003.12

NVQ Level 1 - Administration

Edexcel
2000.09 - 2002.08

Intermediate GNVQ - Health and Social Care

Edexcel
2000.09 - 2002.08

GCSEs -

AQA
1997.09 - 2002.08

Introduction to Sensory Difficulties for Schools

Sensory Integration Education

Nurture Attachment

Together Trust

Aspiring Leaders Programme

Together Trust
Katie Hobson