Occupational Therapist - Physical Disability and Older Peoples Team
| Posting date: | 28 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £35,412 to £46,075 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 22 February 2026 |
| Location: | Reading, Berkshire |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Reading Borough Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic and qualified Occupational Therapist to join our Physical Disability and Older Peoples (PDOP) Team. Whether you are newly qualified, returning to practice, or bring significant community experience, we are committed to supporting your development and helping you thrive in your OT career.
We support hybrid working, it’s important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you’ll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.
About the Role:
As an Occupational Therapist within PDOP, you will play a key role in supporting residents who:
Require unplanned reviews of existing care and support plans, or
Have been identified by the Advice and Wellbeing Hub as needing ongoing assessment and support.
You will practice within relevant legislation and professional standards, including:
Care Act 2014
Mental Capacity Act 2005 and DoLS
Mental Health Act (where appropriate)
Moving and Handling guidance
Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) Code of Ethics
We pride ourselves in working with people in a strengths-based way to; promote wellbeing, rights and independence, prevent the need for care and bring about timely interventions with positive outcomes.
Our aim is to be a high performing, efficient, multidisciplinary team focusing on TEAM Reading values that supports and values staff and the skills and diversity they bring to the team.
You will hold a varied caseload and contribute to the team performance and positive outcomes for our residents of Reading.
Using a strengths-based approach and your unique OT skill set you will support individuals with long term physical disabilities and the elderly population of Reading, to find solutions, promote wellbeing and healthy occupations through a variety of interventions including provision of equipment, adaptations, moving and handling, goal planning, risk assessments. You will work closely with care providers, Housing Services and Health colleagues.
You will need to:
Have a degree in Occupational Therapy
Be Registered with HCPC
Community experience is helpful but not essential
About the Team:
The PDOP Team sits within the Living Well Service of Adult Social Care, alongside our Mental Health and Learning Disability & Neurodiversity teams. The service is overseen by a Head of Service and promotes strong professional leadership and clear practice standards.
PDOP is a multi‑disciplinary team made up of Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and Social Care Coordinators. We support adults aged 18+ with long‑term physical disabilities and people aged 65+ who have Care Act eligible needs.
We offer excellent support, supervision, and induction. You will have access to our Learning and Development programme and be supported in your career and personal growth with opportunities to learn and develop new professional skills, helping you to build your Continuing Professional Development portfolio and supporting you to grow as an Occupational Therapist.
You will work closely with care providers, Housing Services, health colleagues and voluntary sector partners to deliver timely and effective interventions.
Team Vision:
‘To maximise the quality of life of Reading residents who have a long-term physical disability or are over 65 years of age and have care act eligible needs using a strength based and problem solving approach.’
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
Our offer:
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
Maternity, adoption, parental and sick pay
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Access to a range of training and learning opportunities to help you develop
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Closing date: Sunday 22nd February 2026
Interview date: To be confirmed
Interview setup: In person at the Civic Offices
If you would like to find out more about this role and the team, please contact Pip Durant (PDOP Team Manager) on 07815 701 876 or pippa.durant@reading.gov.uk
Visit: www.moretoreading.co.uk to find out more about Reading’s Community & Adult Social Care Services. It’s a chance to hear from the people who already work here and why they have chosen Reading as their professional destination.
We support hybrid working, it’s important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you’ll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.
About the Role:
As an Occupational Therapist within PDOP, you will play a key role in supporting residents who:
Require unplanned reviews of existing care and support plans, or
Have been identified by the Advice and Wellbeing Hub as needing ongoing assessment and support.
You will practice within relevant legislation and professional standards, including:
Care Act 2014
Mental Capacity Act 2005 and DoLS
Mental Health Act (where appropriate)
Moving and Handling guidance
Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) Code of Ethics
We pride ourselves in working with people in a strengths-based way to; promote wellbeing, rights and independence, prevent the need for care and bring about timely interventions with positive outcomes.
Our aim is to be a high performing, efficient, multidisciplinary team focusing on TEAM Reading values that supports and values staff and the skills and diversity they bring to the team.
You will hold a varied caseload and contribute to the team performance and positive outcomes for our residents of Reading.
Using a strengths-based approach and your unique OT skill set you will support individuals with long term physical disabilities and the elderly population of Reading, to find solutions, promote wellbeing and healthy occupations through a variety of interventions including provision of equipment, adaptations, moving and handling, goal planning, risk assessments. You will work closely with care providers, Housing Services and Health colleagues.
You will need to:
Have a degree in Occupational Therapy
Be Registered with HCPC
Community experience is helpful but not essential
About the Team:
The PDOP Team sits within the Living Well Service of Adult Social Care, alongside our Mental Health and Learning Disability & Neurodiversity teams. The service is overseen by a Head of Service and promotes strong professional leadership and clear practice standards.
PDOP is a multi‑disciplinary team made up of Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and Social Care Coordinators. We support adults aged 18+ with long‑term physical disabilities and people aged 65+ who have Care Act eligible needs.
We offer excellent support, supervision, and induction. You will have access to our Learning and Development programme and be supported in your career and personal growth with opportunities to learn and develop new professional skills, helping you to build your Continuing Professional Development portfolio and supporting you to grow as an Occupational Therapist.
You will work closely with care providers, Housing Services, health colleagues and voluntary sector partners to deliver timely and effective interventions.
Team Vision:
‘To maximise the quality of life of Reading residents who have a long-term physical disability or are over 65 years of age and have care act eligible needs using a strength based and problem solving approach.’
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
Our offer:
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
Maternity, adoption, parental and sick pay
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Access to a range of training and learning opportunities to help you develop
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Closing date: Sunday 22nd February 2026
Interview date: To be confirmed
Interview setup: In person at the Civic Offices
If you would like to find out more about this role and the team, please contact Pip Durant (PDOP Team Manager) on 07815 701 876 or pippa.durant@reading.gov.uk
Visit: www.moretoreading.co.uk to find out more about Reading’s Community & Adult Social Care Services. It’s a chance to hear from the people who already work here and why they have chosen Reading as their professional destination.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.