Occupational Therapist ( Project )
| Posting date: | 28 May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £22.83 per hour |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 27 June 2025 |
| Location: | Southwark, South East London |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Nations Recruitment |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Job Category : Social & Health Care Qualified
Location : Southwark Council
Hours Per Week : 36.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £22.83
PURPOSE OF THE JOB
Working within a multi-disciplinary team the occupational therapist will carry out assessments for older people, adults with disabilities and disabled children to meet the principles of the Care Act 2014. You will assess the needs of people living with a disability and give advice or make recommendations that improve wellbeing and quality of life, maximising independence and supporting carers.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
Responsibilities
To
1. To visit people with disabilities at home or in their permanent residence carrying out an occupational therapy assessment incorporating daily living skills, carer support, social situation and environmental barriers.
2. To maintain a comprehensive knowledge of commercially available products in order to appropriately recommend the provision of suitable equipment, assistive technology and telecare solutions for disabled people.
3. To follow through the provision of equipment, assistive technology and telecare, fitting this where necessary, and teaching techniques of use to client, carers and other relevant professionals.
4. To research and analyse the suitability, cost, safety and effectiveness of equipment and adaptations.
5. To ensure that family and paid carers can offer personal care safely through assessing manual handling, use of equipment to improve safety and giving advice and guidance to family carers and paid care supervisors.
6. To determine necessary adaptations to clients homes and arrange for these to be carried out in liaison with professionals from a range of disciplines. To advise clients who are having alterations done privately.
7. To monitor and respond to clients’ needs in changing circumstances, including anticipating and responding to the effects of certain degenerative medical conditions.
Knowledge, including educational qualifications:
1. HCPC registered Occupational Therapist with at least one recognised OT qualification
2. Knowledge of current and proposed legislation, policy and guidance in relation to community care in general
3. Knowledge of OT theory, specialist assessments and interventions
4. Knowledge and understanding of wellbeing principles, strengths based- and rehabilitative practice
5. Knowledge of the principles of equal opportunities, anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice in assessment and the provision of services
6. Qualified Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) / Approved Mental Capacity Professional (AMCP) or Best Interest Assessor (BIA) or willingness to train
Experience:
7. Experience of working with people with disabilities, including 1:1 work, the identification of needs and planning and implementing treatment
8. Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team and with multiple agencies to facilities holistic assessments and working collaboratively to support people to achieve their goals and maximise their independence
9. Experience of using OT specific assessments and/or strategies to support independence
10. Experience of undertaking or supporting safeguarding adult’s investigations and person centred safeguarding plans
11. Experience of supervising and supporting other staff members and students
Aptitudes, Skills & Competencies:
12. Assessment skills, including OT specific assessment, along with risk assessment, to support independence and promoting strengths within adults with complex needs
13. Ability to assess and review needs with reference to the Care Act 2014, including current care support and care plans and make changes to reflect needs
14. Skilled in establishing and maintaining working relationships with complex clients and their carers in an open, empathetic and professional manner.
15. Ability to consider and value all aspects of a situation and to make appropriate recommendations, demonstrating a full understanding of high quality customer care
16. Ability to communicate effectively and clearly in writing, verbally and through reports. This includes the production of high quality reports with clear recommendations.
17. Computer literacy skills at a level to maintain case records within information management systems and produce high quality assessments, reviews and reports
18. Proven organisational and time management skills; including the ability to balance and prioritise a workload, responding to changing priorities and deadlines
19. Ability to understand and use the supervisory process and reflective practice
JOB CONTEXT
This post is in the Older People and People with Disabilities Service. The post reports to a senior member of the team with clinical support available from a senior OT or OT team manager.
Southwark council is committed to supporting vulnerable adults to achieve independence and social inclusion via personal budgets and professional OT support including recommendations for suitable accommodation, equipment, assistive technology, and housing adaptations. The post holder is expected to provide leadership and expert practice across the team to achieve these aims.
The post holder will be expected to expand and develop their skills relating to:
• Assessment of children and adults with complex disability
• Disability equipment and moving and handling techniques and equipment
• Housing adaptations
• Assistive technologies
• Safeguarding
Location : Southwark Council
Hours Per Week : 36.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £22.83
PURPOSE OF THE JOB
Working within a multi-disciplinary team the occupational therapist will carry out assessments for older people, adults with disabilities and disabled children to meet the principles of the Care Act 2014. You will assess the needs of people living with a disability and give advice or make recommendations that improve wellbeing and quality of life, maximising independence and supporting carers.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
Responsibilities
To
1. To visit people with disabilities at home or in their permanent residence carrying out an occupational therapy assessment incorporating daily living skills, carer support, social situation and environmental barriers.
2. To maintain a comprehensive knowledge of commercially available products in order to appropriately recommend the provision of suitable equipment, assistive technology and telecare solutions for disabled people.
3. To follow through the provision of equipment, assistive technology and telecare, fitting this where necessary, and teaching techniques of use to client, carers and other relevant professionals.
4. To research and analyse the suitability, cost, safety and effectiveness of equipment and adaptations.
5. To ensure that family and paid carers can offer personal care safely through assessing manual handling, use of equipment to improve safety and giving advice and guidance to family carers and paid care supervisors.
6. To determine necessary adaptations to clients homes and arrange for these to be carried out in liaison with professionals from a range of disciplines. To advise clients who are having alterations done privately.
7. To monitor and respond to clients’ needs in changing circumstances, including anticipating and responding to the effects of certain degenerative medical conditions.
Knowledge, including educational qualifications:
1. HCPC registered Occupational Therapist with at least one recognised OT qualification
2. Knowledge of current and proposed legislation, policy and guidance in relation to community care in general
3. Knowledge of OT theory, specialist assessments and interventions
4. Knowledge and understanding of wellbeing principles, strengths based- and rehabilitative practice
5. Knowledge of the principles of equal opportunities, anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice in assessment and the provision of services
6. Qualified Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) / Approved Mental Capacity Professional (AMCP) or Best Interest Assessor (BIA) or willingness to train
Experience:
7. Experience of working with people with disabilities, including 1:1 work, the identification of needs and planning and implementing treatment
8. Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team and with multiple agencies to facilities holistic assessments and working collaboratively to support people to achieve their goals and maximise their independence
9. Experience of using OT specific assessments and/or strategies to support independence
10. Experience of undertaking or supporting safeguarding adult’s investigations and person centred safeguarding plans
11. Experience of supervising and supporting other staff members and students
Aptitudes, Skills & Competencies:
12. Assessment skills, including OT specific assessment, along with risk assessment, to support independence and promoting strengths within adults with complex needs
13. Ability to assess and review needs with reference to the Care Act 2014, including current care support and care plans and make changes to reflect needs
14. Skilled in establishing and maintaining working relationships with complex clients and their carers in an open, empathetic and professional manner.
15. Ability to consider and value all aspects of a situation and to make appropriate recommendations, demonstrating a full understanding of high quality customer care
16. Ability to communicate effectively and clearly in writing, verbally and through reports. This includes the production of high quality reports with clear recommendations.
17. Computer literacy skills at a level to maintain case records within information management systems and produce high quality assessments, reviews and reports
18. Proven organisational and time management skills; including the ability to balance and prioritise a workload, responding to changing priorities and deadlines
19. Ability to understand and use the supervisory process and reflective practice
JOB CONTEXT
This post is in the Older People and People with Disabilities Service. The post reports to a senior member of the team with clinical support available from a senior OT or OT team manager.
Southwark council is committed to supporting vulnerable adults to achieve independence and social inclusion via personal budgets and professional OT support including recommendations for suitable accommodation, equipment, assistive technology, and housing adaptations. The post holder is expected to provide leadership and expert practice across the team to achieve these aims.
The post holder will be expected to expand and develop their skills relating to:
• Assessment of children and adults with complex disability
• Disability equipment and moving and handling techniques and equipment
• Housing adaptations
• Assistive technologies
• Safeguarding