Job summary
This role has a starting salary of £43,633 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week.

We are hiring a new Occupational Therapist (OT) to join our fantastic Learning Disability & Autism Team in the West of Surrey. The role is hybrid, with a mixture of working in the office and from home, aiming for full time staff to be in the office twice a week and part time staff once a week. The office base for this role is our Millmead House office in Guildford.

We are looking for individuals who share our values and are motivated to make a significant and positive difference to the lives of our residents.

Our Offer

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• Hybrid working, including the ability to work from home
• A fantastic Adults Academy which will help you to progress in your career.
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Refer a friend scheme
• Professional registration fees paid
• Induction programme for those OTs who are new to Social Care

Main duties of the job
Using a strength-based approach, you will work alongside a variety of clients who have differing and/or complex needs. Our client group are adults over the age of 18 living with learning disabilities and / or Autism and may also have other conditions impacting their physical or mental health. This diverse role will facilitate your development and equip you with a large range of skills to enable you to undertake frontline holistic occupational therapy practice within a social care setting.

You'll work with individuals and develop your practice skills across a wide range of specialist practice areas, including:

• Moving and handling assessments
• Functional skills development and independence planning
• Environmental assessments
• Minor and major adaptations
• Specialist equipment provision
• Sensory assessment approaches
• Postural seating assessments

About us
You'll be seeing clients functioning in their own homes or in community or supported living settings. Our aim is to support and empower our clients to live meaningful lives within the community.

Joining us you will work closely with your team members, as well as with other organisations and agencies, to provide an integrated service to support vulnerable adults and their carers.

Your Application
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills, experience and align with our behaviours:

• Professional qualification in Occupational Therapy and current registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Lived or worked experience with individuals with learning disabilities, autism and / or sensory impairments.
• Experience of working within a social care, health or community focused multi-disciplinary setting
• Ability to complete person-centred and proportionate OT assessments
• Familiarity with moving and handling equipment such as hoists and stand aids
• Knowledge of medical conditions and the likely impact on the individual, carer and family
• Knowledge of current legislation, including the Care Act and the Mental Capacity Act and its application to practice in a social care setting

Application Process
To help us better understand your experience and suitability for this role, you will be asked to answer two application questions as part of your application.

• Using an example, how do your experience and skills make you suitable for our Learning Disability & Autism OT Team?
• Tell us about a situation where you successfully promoted the occupational performance of a resident. What did you do and what were the outcomes?

These questions will form an important part of our shortlisting process. We encourage you to give clear, concise responses that demonstrate your experience, skills, and approach to practice.

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and locality based social care workers will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK and access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.

Our Commitment
We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.

Essential Qualifications

• A degree, diploma or equivalent qualification in Occupational Therapy
• Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area

An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.