Principal Occupational Therapist

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Job reference VAC008800 Date posted 01/09/2026 Application closing date 20/09/2026 Location City Hall College Green City Centre Bristol BS1 5TR Salary BG15: £57,361 - £59,794 Package Blank Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time Job category/type Management, Other, Social Care Attachments Person Specification.pdf Job Description.pdf

Are you an Occupational Therapist looking for an opportunity to develop your leadership career and make a positive impact across services? If you value collaboration, professional growth, and high-quality practice, we would welcome your application.

We are seeking a Principal Occupational Therapist to provide professional leadership and oversight of Occupational Therapy practice across Adult Social Care and Children's Services. This is a key role, offering the opportunity to influence service development, contribute to strategic priorities, and support the continued growth and development of Occupational Therapy services across the organisation.

About the Role

As Principal Occupational Therapist, you will be a key member of our leadership team, contributing to the delivery of our transformation programme and supporting the implementation of our operating model in line with Bristol's vision for Adult Social Care and Children's Services.

What We're Looking For

• Provide professional leadership and strategic oversight for Occupational Therapy services and carers' practice.
• Support the wider leadership team in delivering service priorities and organisational objectives.
• Promote and maintain high standards of Occupational Therapy practice across adult and children's services.
• Provide expert advice, guidance and support to Occupational Therapists, social care practitioners and partner organisations.
• Contribute to service development and workforce planning, helping to build an inclusive, skilled and culturally responsive workforce.
• Champion strengths-based, person-centred approaches that promote independence, wellbeing and positive outcomes.

What We Offer

• A supportive, inclusive and collaborative working environment.
• Opportunities for learning, professional development and career progression.
• Flexible working arrangements and a strong commitment to employee wellbeing.
• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of people and communities across Bristol.
• Access to a wide range of employee benefits, networks and training opportunities.

This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check. We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.