Occupational Therapy Assistant

This is a Full Time, Permanent position. Are you passionate about making a positive and lasting difference for the people of Hull? Care and support in Hull is transforming and Hull City Council are looking for exceptional individuals like you to join the Adult Social Care team. If you like to work with us and gain new skills then we have an exciting opportunity for you.

Due to internal progression, we are looking for office based Occupational Therapy Assistants. This role is primarily based in See Solve, which is an office-based role supporting people referred to Occupational Therapy services through telephone triage, signposting and supporting the wider Occupational Therapy Team. This requires skills across multiple IT systems and an excellent telephone manner. You will have empathy and understanding of the challenges faced by people who are experiencing barriers to their independence.

The hours are Monday- Friday (37), with Duty days to be completed from Wilberforce Health Centre, and potential to work from home on the other days. Flexible and smart working available. Occasionally you may also be required to support with community visits.

The Core elements of the role are:

• To enable people to improve their health, wellbeing, and independence under our duties under the Care Act and Disabled Facilities Grant legislation.
• To complete telephone triage, signposting, duty, and other desk based tasks.
• To assess for and prescribe equipment, adaptations, alternative housing and other interventions in person or via telephone/video call.
• To undertake decision making based on clinical reasoning appropriate to level of training and competency, including assessment and management of risk.
• To support in managing a busy email box and IT referral system.
• To use a number of different computer systems and programs to maintain accurate records, and ordering of equipment, including Liquid Logic, TCES, Humber and Yorkshire Care Record and Granicus.
• To support with maintaining a safe Peripheral Store by putting away equipment and raising any concerns about incorrect deliveries (at Pennine Resource Centre).
• To occasionally support Occupational Therapists with Moving and Handling of Adults, or to provide a second person for community visits where required.
• Occasional delivery and fitting of equipment which may be heavy or bulky across the city.
• To engage in supervision, personal development and service improvement as required.

The successful candidate for occupational therapy assistant will have the following:

• You will have excellent interpersonal skills, a caring approach and be willing to undertake training as necessary.
• Ability to manage difficult conversations with people.
• NVQ Level 2 in health and social care or equivalent experience.
• Previous experience of occupational therapy or a related field through work, volunteering or lived experience would be advantageous.
• Awareness of relevant legislation.
• Good standard of computer skills.
• Empathetic and professional telephone manner, experience of interacting with vulnerable people by telephone is advantageous.
• Organised and able to keep accurate professional records.

Successful candidates may work across the following teams to support business needs including community visits:

• Localities - Community based with people who have long term Care and Support needs.
• See and Solve - Completing initial screening of referrals, signposting and assessing, primarily through the telephone.
• Active Recovery - Community based with people who have short term goals.
• Home Independence OT Team - Community based supporting home adaptations and rehousing to prevent or delay long term care and support needs.

This role is not available for sponsorship therefore is only open to applicants who have the right to work in the UK. This Advert may close early if the maximum number of applications is reached, we are expecting a high volume of applications. Please note the job will close at 23.59 on the day prior to the closing date. Interviews will be held 15th / 16th / 17th September 2026.

ROLE AND PURPOSE

The Adult Social Care vision in Hull is of ‘a life not a service’. Adult Social Care is person centred and focuses on individuals’ strengths to support them to take control of improving their own health, resilience and wellbeing. We want to maximise people’s independence so individuals can achieve their goals and aspirations and live life to the fullest. We work creatively with individuals, local communities and our partners, empowering them to deliver the best possible outcomes for people and to create a positive Adult Social Care culture. Our work is solution focussed, ensuring that those who most need support receive it and that we can continue supporting people in the future.

Occupational Therapy is a vital function of Adult Social Care, ensuring that individuals can maintain their independence and live life to the fullest in their own homes. Occupational Therapy input is available across Adult Social Care, working closely with Social Care colleagues and with health professionals to support individuals to help themselves through realising their own goals and improving their wellbeing.

To work in conjunction with the Practice Lead, or Occupational Therapists to enable people to improve their health, wellbeing, and independence. Undertaking joint assessments and reviews with Social Work and Telecare staff where a joint approach would be appropriate and beneficial.

To assess for equipment/adaptations and alternative housing to maintain a person’s independence and ability to remain in their own home. The post-holder will deliver strengths-based, person-centred and solution focused interventions which respect the person as the expert in their life. They will have conversations enabling people to shape their own lives, identify their own goals and provide interventions to sustain their independence and wellbeing as part of a proportionate assessment process.

To work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team within adult social care, using the principles of personalisation. The post holder will be skilled in actively listening and undertaking solution focussed conversations, and able to support people to shape their own lives and have the confidence to sustain independence. This means assisting people to develop connections to communities, family members and local organisations and community groups, using technology and local information and advice services as applicable.

To provide information, advice and enable people to:

• Develop their own skills knowledge and abilities to self-care.
• Develop supportive relationships with families, friends and neighbours.
• Support people to access community groups and voluntary organisations.
• Support people to use universal services such as culture and leisure services, as far as possible.

To use and assist people with access to use Connect to Support for information and advice about community groups and voluntary organisations that can help the individual remain independent, and support their own wellbeing. To help people access Connect to Support if they wish to purchase goods and services themselves as someone who pays for part or all of their own care and support.

Where there are significant complexities in someone’s life the post holder will exercise initiative, creativity, innovation and judgement seeking support from their line manager and wider team. The post holder will enable suitable risk taking led by the individual with capacity, and promote independence. The post holder will apply the principles of Making Safeguarding Personal, and maintain and enhance the welfare of vulnerable adults.

The post holder will enable access to independent advocacy at all appropriate times. The post holder will use Connect to Support as a way of discussing information and advice with people who use services and the support options that are available. The post holder will make recommendations to the Information Officer regarding the need for changed or updated material on Connect to Support.

The post holder will be committed to empowering customers to shape their own lives, using key pieces of legislation to guide their practice, such as the Care Act, MCA Dols and The Human Rights Act. They will seek guidance from senior workers as appropriate. The post holder will coproduce solutions with people who use services, and their carers, using resources in flexible and person centred ways.

The post holder will, following training, undertake the role as a Trusted Assessor. This role will contribute to the assessment, identification and resourcing of OT equipment where this could support an individual to live independently or as part of a wider package of care. The work will include undertaking joint work with surveyors etc. assessing for such things as over-bath showers, and level access showers, ramps, stair lifts, adapted kitchens etc.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. Statutory Obligations - To have knowledge of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Human Rights Act 1998 able to apply them to practice to enable people’s independence. Be fully cognisant of Making Safeguarding Personal.
2. The post holder will enable people to maintain their independence, wellbeing and access to community organisations. They will also support the individual to develop relationships with friends and family members and, where appropriate, undertake assessments for provision of equipment and adaptations. The post holder will also make recommendations for rehousing where that meets the need of the person, promoting their independence. The post holder will also carry out reviews of rehabilitation plans under direction of an Occupational Therapist. Assessments and reviews will be done jointly with the person, their carer, social work colleagues where a holistic approach would be beneficial and appropriate.
3. When equipment is assessed as being necessary to support independence and wellbeing, it must be provided in a timely and responsive way, particularly for the provision of equipment and adaptations that help prevent further decline in independence and/or inappropriate delay in hospital discharge, or inappropriate admission into hospital. To do this the post holder will order and demonstrate, in a timely way (including fitting), appropriate equipment using departmental and Nottingham Rehab Supplies electronic recording systems. This includes completion of a risk assessment to ensure suitability, safety and effectiveness of equipment. They will engage and instruct the person and carers in the safe use of equipment and adaptations.
4. Manage and prioritise case load activity on a regular and agreed basis with their line manager. The post holder must seek advice and support from Occupational Therapists and Senior Occupational Therapists/other members of multi-disciplinary teams and line manager wherever needed. The post holder must operate at all times in a person-centred way, coproducing solutions as far as possible face-to-face with the person who will use the services.
5. To protect the safety and welfare of vulnerable adults, families and their carers, within the ‘Making Safeguarding Personal’ principles. Recognise risk indicators of different forms of abuse and neglect. Demonstrate an outcome focused, person centred approach to safeguarding practice. Through formal supervision escape complex case management for progression to appropriate allocation.
6. The post holder will need to be resourceful, enthusiastic and instrumental in leading a fundamental shift in enabling people to maintain control of independent as many times. They should encourage support for carers, the use of self-assessment and through confident, dynamic provision of information.
7. To refer, liaise, consult and work effectively with other professionals in a complex multi-agency environment.
8. Provides information, training and advice within the directorate/Council and to other agencies on the appropriate use of equipment and adaptations.
9. Actively participate in the learning and development of the team, sharing ideas, reflecting on practice and fostering a culture which supports the philosophy and vision of the team and the wider directorate.
10. Communicates both orally and in writing, including the formulation of written reports for the department and other agencies. Maintains records in compliance with Council policy and procedures. Complete housing/re-housing reports and undertakes joint visits with housing officers and surveyors to void properties and identify suitability.
11. Makes full use of supervision by preparing effectively, contributing fully and carrying out actions agreed. To include training and professional development.
12. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated legislation places responsibilities for health and safety on Hull City Council, as your employer and you as an employee of the council. In addition to the Councils overall duties, the post holder has personal responsibility for their own health safety and that of other employees; additional and more specific security responsibilities identified in the Council’s Corporate HS policy.

Benefits of Working of Hull City Council:

• An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period.
• Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods.
• Supportive and forward-thinking culture.

Please ensure that you complete and submit your application by midnight prior to the closing date. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria against the person specification as listed in the job description.

We are committed to increasing the diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and build an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

We adopt a ‘name blind’ approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage.

We reserve the right to amend the dates associated with this advert, which may include closing the advert early where required. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

Online searches, including social media, may be carried out as part of the recruitment process.