REQ002594

Job title: Senior Occupational Therapist
Salary: £41,511 to £44,711
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Leeds citywide
As a Senior Occupational Therapist, you’ll thrive on improving inclusion for people with disabilities, using your skills and experience to ensure they receive the care and support they need.
We are looking for a highly experienced Senior Occupational Therapist to join our Integrated Reviewing Team. The team works closely alongside social work colleagues on assessments and reviews, so we can gain a full picture of an individual’s eligible care needs and provide considered interventions for maximum impact.
In this senior role your caseload will involve higher levels of complexity, and you will offer casework advice and guidance to other team members.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

LEEDS CITY COUNCIL TAKES PRIDE IN OFFERING THE BEST EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE, WITH BENEFITS INCLUDING:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

ABOUT THE ROLE

You’ll be joining our Integrated Reviewing Team at an exciting time of expansion for the team, reflecting the positive impact of our work on those we care for.
What sets our team apart is our multi-disciplinary approach; by coordinating closely with social work colleagues we can conduct a truly joined-up review of an individual’s care and support needs. This streamlines our processes to provide a better experience for people we support and deliver efficiencies within the service. We work primarily with people newly discharged from hospital with a package of care and people identified by a social worker as requiring a full functional assessment.
We’re a closeknit inclusive team with a culture of peer support for everyone, from students to senior occupational therapists and managers. Our supportive Team Manager, an experienced occupational therapist, is always on hand for advice or just to talk and will provide your professional supervision. As a Senior Occupational Therapist, you will have a key role yourself in mentoring less experienced team members.
There is a wealth of opportunity for you in Leeds. You’ll further develop competencies in complex moving and handling, standardised adaptations, assessments involving care providers and referrals to other services. You’ll also gain in-depth knowledge of the Care Act and the role of the local authority and will have opportunities internally and with partner agencies for involvement in service improvement initiatives.
We encourage our staff to grow their career with us, with clear progression pathways evidenced by our management team. Continuing professional development (CPD) is central to our practice, with protected CPD time every month for all team members.
Everyone has a say in their own learning journey. Occupational therapy team members take the initiative in their own development, recognising where there are training needs and convening a quarterly series of peer-led training events for colleagues from across the council.

THIS ROLE IS BASED IN THE UK. HOME OFFICE GUIDANCE STATES THAT CANDIDATES MUST EVIDENCE THEIR RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK PRIOR TO COMMENCING EMPLOYMENT, EITHER AS A UK OR IRISH CITIZEN, UNDER THE EU SETTLEMENT SCHEME OR HAVING SECURED ANY OTHER RELEVANT WORK VISA.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you’ll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

JOB PURPOSE

Under the general direction of a Team Manager to provide a high quality and comprehensive Occupational Therapy service to disabled adults, children and young people, carers and community in accordance with the organisational needs, policy and practices of the Directorate and within statutory guidelines.
The post holder must at all times carry out his/her responsibilities within the City Council’s Policies and Procedures, in particular the Council Policies on Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety, and also within the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Code of Practice.
This is an experienced Occupational Therapy role with specific responsibilities for managing a caseload of higher levels of challenge and complexity, which will include assessment and management of risk and to provide casework advice, support and guidance to other team members

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• To undertake a range of complex Occupational Therapy assessments. Assessments should have an occupational focus and aim to reduce barriers to inclusion.
• To undertake reablement assessments which have an occupational emphasis. To be responsible for the care planning for the whole process.
• To manage and monitor a workload of complex and diverse cases within the parameters of agreed policies and practices together with professional guidance and support from team managers to safeguard and promote the welfare of individuals, families and carers.
• To develop, implement and review outcome focussed Occupational Therapy intervention to meet assessed needs and promote independent well-being and inclusion within delegated levels of responsibility.
• To identify specialist housing needs of disabled people and their families and support them in accessing suitable housing/adaptations
• To organise work activities taking account of the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities ensuring statutory legislation and service priorities are met.
• To provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative and based on analysis of complex evidence, for example, recommendations for major adaptations and specialist/bespoke equipment.
• To complete moving and handling and hoist training, and then carry out complex moving and handling assessments, and provide subsequent advice and training to disabled people, carers and staff as appropriate.
• To carry out complex moving and handling assessments, make appropriate recommendations for specific equipment, to reduce the risk for carers.
• To deliver, fit and collect equipment as appropriate, including necessary moving and handling of equipment.
• Following assessment provide/recommend complex and bespoke services to disabled adults, older people, children and young people which remove barriers to social inclusion, to improve quality of life for disabled people and their carers.
• To obtain the views of the disabled person during the assessment process and take into account their views when making recommendations for service provision.
• To take a lead for the enhanced screening of new referrals and people already in receipt of services.
• To provide comprehensive knowledge of specialist equipment and complex adaptations to users, carers and less experienced members of the team.
• To provide expert advice, support and guidance on casework to less experienced team members, both registered and unregistered.
• To provide support and professional supervision to new graduate OT’s, OT’s and unregistered staff and to ensure the person achieves the appropriate skills and competencies.
• To attend regular personal and professional Supervision with identified Supervisor.
• To provide practice education for OT students, including student placements and other student related activities.
• To maintain up to date accurate case notes and other records, write reports as required.
• To assist with recruitment and selection of new graduate OT’s, Community OTs and unregistered staff.
• To contribute to the promotion of improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities.
• To use management information systems, keep them up to date and be able to provide concise and accurate information about circumstances and plans within the requirements of data protection.
• To be responsible for analysing information to support the ongoing needs of service users, their families and carers.
• To work with other services within the council to deliver efficient and effective solutions to barriers faced by disabled people.
• To work to the prescribed standards for service provision and maintain performance and develop practice and experience in line with personal targets as agreed with line manager through supervision and appraisal
• To disseminate knowledge and contribute to the delivery of a high standard of service.
• To develop and maintain effective relationships with disabled people, their families and carers: provide advice and support, promote independence and early intervention, as necessary; help resolve conflict, where appropriate.
• To work with individuals, families, carers and communities to help them make informed choices and decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning.
• To develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals within the directorate and partner agencies to ensure integrated, holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the care management and safeguarding of disabled adults, older people, children and young people.
• To contribute to safeguarding investigations, of disabled adults, older people, children and young people., in accordance with legislative requirements and Multi-agency Safeguarding procedures.
• Undertake risk assessments, identify needs and options.
• To identify and implement strategies for responding appropriately to concerns about practice or procedures seeking guidance if required.
• To appropriately participate in meetings and relevant forums.
• To work to and within the prescribed standards of the College of Occupational Therapists and be responsible for promoting awareness of these.
• To promote Occupational Therapy to colleagues both within and outside the Council.
• Be responsible for the development of practice by maintaining a knowledge of related theories and legislation and using evidence on which to base professional practice.
• To participate in training and development activities that ensures up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development.
• To be responsible for understanding and applying all relevant practice standards, policies and procedures. Maintain an awareness of related theories and legislation
• Maintain up to date personal CPD folder in order to retain registration with the HCPC.
• Under the direction of the team manager undertake specific pieces of work in relation to customer feedback, representations, complaints, multi-agency projects or service developments and make recommendations or action plans to implement these to improve service delivery.
• To deputise for the Disability Team Manager as and when required.
• To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council and Directorate policies and procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under Health and Safety policy and procedures.
• To actively promote and support Leeds City Council’s and Directorate policies on Equality and Diversity.
• To undertake and other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the grade and purpose of the job as may be determined by the directorate.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES FOR INTEGRATED REVIEWING TEAM

• To be part of a citywide integrated reviewing team to customers who have 2 paid carers and large packages of care.
• To undertake complex moving and handling risk assessments with customers and carers – both paid and unpaid, and make recommendations to reduce the packages of care either by change in process or equipment.
• To provide detailed moving and handling plans to care providers and provide expert advice, support and guidance.
• To work with care agencies to ensure staff are competent to undertake single handed care.

As a Senior Occupational Therapist you will bring to the role:

• degree or diploma in Occupational Therapy, with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration on commencement in post
• significant clinical experience in a physical health setting, including assessing of people with complex needs, devising interventions and care plans and managing risk
• ability to plan, prioritise and manage a challenging caseload autonomously
• high level communication and engagement with colleagues and partners, service users, their families and carers, with ability to negotiate and manage conflict
• driving licence (citywide travel required

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Lauren Kemp, Occupational Therapy Team Manager, Enhanced Reviewing Team:

• Tel: 07545 604163/ 0113 5351889
• Email: kemp@leeds.gov.u