Senior Practitioner Occupational Therapist

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Job Description

• Suffolk County Council - Countywide - Hybrid
• £42,367 - £45,595 per annum (pro rata if part time)
• 37 hours per week - Flexible working options available
• Permanent

A great opportunity to join the Suffolk County Council's Learning Disability and Autism Service as a Senior Practitioner - Occupational Therapist.

• Are you looking for an exciting new challenge?
• Do you want to join a thriving, enthusiastic and creative service?

You will help us develop the OT (Occupational Therapy) offer for people with a Learning Disability and/or Autism living in Suffolk.

Due to the nature of the role and geographical demand, we are anticipating that this will be a countywide role therefore you will need to be willing and able to work flexibly and to travel across the county as required. Whilst we are currently offering a hybrid model, which includes working from home, there will also be the opportunity for you to negotiate your preferred work base from the five offices across the county, to support your work life balance.

Your role and responsibilities

This is an exciting time to join the service as an Occupational Therapist as we are looking to develop the OT offer to ensure Occupational Therapy plays a key role in progression planning and the development of enablement and longer-term care and support plans that maximise meaningful occupation, activity, and independence.

In this role you will work closely with all the teams, the digital lead, care providers, and colleagues to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities who are amongst the most socially isolated and vulnerable groups in society. We are moving towards integration with our health colleagues and you will be required to attend multidisciplinary meetings and represent the profession in forums to assist with this.

• have a passion for improving the lives of adults with learning disabilities and for developing your own skills and those of your colleagues
• undertake supervision of Occupational Therapists working within the Learning Disability and Autism Service and provide senior oversight of their case work
• be co-located with social work colleagues and work closely in partnership with them, as well as with families, paid carers and the wider systems that support people
• use your specialist skills and understanding of the relationship between the individual, their environment and their occupations to support people with complex health needs to live well
• provide specialist occupational therapy assessments of physical, psychological and environmental needs within the statutory obligations of the Directorate (undertaking mental capacity assessments where relevant) for people referred to the service, as well as contributing to the core tasks of the team. This will happen in a variety of community settings including family homes, residential and supported living services, day services and community facilities. We have an advanced digital care offer and will be keen that you explore this support alongside other technology
• collaborate with other Occupational Therapists across the service and help develop the service offer, especially in the area of sensory assessment and support.
• Contribute to building and developing a strong Occupational Therapy offer for people with learning disabilities and autism within Suffolk.

We promote personalisation through our practice models and people at the heart of care programme and have adopted the Signs of Safety model throughout ACS (Adult and Community Services). Partnership working is strong and through joint care planning, we strive for a person-centred approach that supports people to be independent, resilient, and having choice and control.

You will need

We would want you to use your knowledge to offer interventions to those whose behaviour is described as challenging or distressed. In addition, your input will be particularly valued during times of transition, for example moving from one environment to another or moving from child to adult services. Specifically, we would welcome applications from candidates with a qualification in Sensory Integration or an interest in Sensory Integration Theory and Practice.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (docx). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

We have a stable and experienced senior management team and the Learning Disability and Autism service is currently set up as a corporate transformation programme to ensure delivery of transformation, in line with both national and local objectives. Colleagues within Service Development and Contract Management sit alongside our operational service and helps us to create a joined-up programme of work and innovative thinking. The service is closely aligned with Mental Health; integration with Health is a key priority, as is Transforming Care and the development of a Housing strategy. Signs of Safety has been adopted as our practice model.

Empowering Everyone

We're big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We're always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report

For more information

Please contact James Boutle/ Catherine Score for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 07355 029332 (JB) or 07547714331(CS) or emailing Catherine.Score@suffolk.gov.uk / james.boutle@suffolk.gov.uk

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (docx).

Step 2 - Click 'Apply Now' to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload asupporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the 'Person Profile' section of theJPP.

• You should use the Supporting Statement template.
• Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4.

Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailingrecruitment@suffolk.gov.ukor calling 03456 014412.If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 19 November 2024.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

About Us

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you'll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).