Occupational Therapist Reablement Service

5 Month Contract With A local Authority

To deliver specialist Occupational Therapy interventions within the Reablement at Home Service, supporting adults to regain, retain and maximise their independence following hospital discharge or deterioration in daily functioning.

The postholder will undertake comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessments, develop and oversee therapy-led reablement plans, and work closely with service users, carers, reablement providers and multidisciplinary professionals to reduce dependency on long-term care services. The role will promote a strengths-based, preventative approach, enabling individuals to achieve person-centred goals and improve their quality of life within their own homes.

As part of Hackney's "Reablement First" approach, the Occupational Therapist will play a key role in supporting hospital discharge pathways, preventing unnecessary care dependency and reducing demand for ongoing social care services.

Key Responsibilities

Reablement & Occupational Therapy Practice

• Undertake comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessments for adults with complex physical, functional and environmental needs.
  
• Develop personalised Reablement Therapy Plans focused on achieving agreed outcomes and goals.
  
• Support individuals to obtain, regain or retain skills required for independent living.
  
• Promote a "doing with, not doing for" approach to maximise independence and confidence.
  
• Complete functional assessments relating to:
  • Personal care
    
  • Mobility
    
  • Meal preparation
    
  • Medication management
    
  • Daily living activities
    
  • Community access
    
• Monitor and review reablement outcomes throughout the intervention period.
  
• Identify opportunities to reduce or prevent long-term care needs.
  
• Support timely and effective hospital discharge arrangements.
  
• Apply strengths-based and preventative practice principles to all interventions.
  

Assessment, Equipment & Adaptations

• Assess the need for specialist equipment and adaptations.
  
• Recommend and prescribe appropriate equipment to maximise independence.
  
• Develop specifications for minor and major adaptations.
  
• Assess moving and handling requirements.
  
• Identify and manage risks associated with equipment and environmental adaptations.
  
• Complete assessments under:
  • Care Act 2014
    
  • Mental Capacity Act
    
  • Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996
    
• Assess and prescribe Telecare and Assistive Technology solutions.
  

Reablement Service Delivery

• Work collaboratively with commissioned reablement providers.
  
• Review progress against agreed therapy goals.
  
• Reduce levels of support as service users achieve greater independence.
  
• Provide advice, consultation and guidance to reablement teams.
  
• Support service users to access community resources and local support networks.
  
• Promote wellbeing, independence and social inclusion.
  

Safeguarding & Risk Management

• Identify safeguarding concerns and take appropriate action.
  
• Participate in safeguarding enquiries where required.
  
• Undertake complex risk assessments and risk management planning.
  
• Ensure interventions promote safe independence and positive risk-taking.
  
• Escalate concerns appropriately in line with policy and procedures.
  

Leadership & Supervision

• Supervise and support Occupational Therapy Assistants.
  
• Support Occupational Therapy students and junior practitioners where required.
  
• Monitor performance, standards and quality of practice within the team.
  
• Contribute to workforce development and professional learning.
  

Multi-Disciplinary Working

• Work within integrated neighbourhood teams.
  
• Collaborate with:
  • Adult Social Care
    
  • Health Services
    
  • Community Rehabilitation Teams
    
  • Hospital Discharge Teams
    
  • Voluntary Sector Organisations
    
  • Housing Services
    
  • Reablement Providers
    
• Contribute to multidisciplinary assessments, care planning and reviews.
  

Documentation & Professional Practice

• Maintain accurate, timely and legally compliant records.
  
• Produce detailed assessment reports and recommendations.
  
• Ensure all documentation is outcome-focused and person-centred.
  
• Comply with RCOT standards and professional registration requirements.
  
• Participate in continued professional development and reflective practice.
  

Requirements

Essential

• Degree in Occupational Therapy.
  
• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
  
• Enhanced DBS clearance.
  
• Significant experience undertaking Occupational Therapy assessments within Adult Social Care or Community Services.
  
• Experience working within reablement, rehabilitation or discharge-to-assess services.
  
• Strong understanding of:
  • Care Act 2014
    
  • Mental Capacity Act
    
  • Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996
    
  • Safeguarding Adults Procedures
    
  • Strengths-Based Practice
    
  • Reablement and Rehabilitation Models
    
• Experience recommending specialist equipment and adaptations.
  
• Experience undertaking moving and handling assessments.
  
• Experience working within multidisciplinary teams.
  
• Strong report writing, assessment and analytical skills.
  
• Ability to manage a complex caseload.
  
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
  
• Good IT and case recording skills.
  

Desirable

• Experience within hospital discharge or integrated discharge services.
  
• Experience supervising Occupational Therapy Assistants.
  
• Experience prescribing Telecare and Assistive Technology.
  
• Experience within local authority Adult Social Care services.
  
• Knowledge of neighbourhood working and integrated care models.
  
• Experience supporting reablement providers and commissioned services.
  

Additional Information

• Location: Hackney Service Centre, London (Community-Based Visits Required)
  
• Hours Per Week: 36 Hours
  
• Payment Frequency: Bi-Weekly Payments