Senior Occupational Therapist in Housing in Chelmsford

This is a full time (37 hours per week) fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 2 years.

We’re an adult social care service that wants to see citizens of Essex have as much choice and control over the way they live their lives as possible.

We think everyone should have the chance to live a full and fulfilling life with people they love and care about, doing things that matter to them and living in a place they can call home.

This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate and experienced housing Occupational Therapist with experience in major adaptations to develop and support local district and borough councils.

You'll be working alongside Environmental Health and Housing Officers across North or South Essex to facilitate the safe and early discharge of people from hospital, residential/nursing placements and hospices.

This post will provide the opportunity to work with adults and children with life‑limiting conditions and life‑altering injuries to prevent formal care placements where their home environment is not currently suited to their assessed needs.

This work is essential to ensure discharges are not delayed because of the need for adaptations and issues related to housing needs.

Your role will involve

• Completing holistic assessments that include all housing factors impacting on the individual and their household.
• Working alongside Health colleagues to assist with processing referrals to achieve safe, early discharge and prevent delays.
• Referring to universal services where appropriate and liaising with other colleagues, including Family Operations, to meet the needs of the individual.
• Seeking to resolve needs associated with specific impairments by the provision of equipment, support and signposting to alternative services where appropriate.
• Making recommendations based on assessed need, for the provision of certain property types, adaptations and equipment, taking account of both Health and Housing policy and legislation.
• Progressing and supporting recommendations where specialist input is required.
• Monitoring progress of the referral pathway and providing data to support the project and predicted cost savings.
• Working alongside Housing Officers to support Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funded recommendations.
• Ensuring referrals are reviewed and progressed effectively so that adaptations are completed efficiently.
• Supporting Case Options Panels (COP) when solutions to meet assessed needs are not easily identifiable and options need to be explored through a multi-disciplinary approach including adults, children and families.
• Mentoring Health and Community OTs involved with complex adaptations to ensure the best possible solutions are achieved for the adult or child.
• Providing training where required to ensure Health colleagues understand the DFG process and adaptations that would enable effective and efficient discharge home for adults and children.
• Being creative in developing the services provided by Housing by working with local and district councils to provide the best possible solutions for those adults and children who have the greatest need thereby reducing the length of time spent in hospital, hospice of residential/ nursing care.
• Managing a small number of allocated cases and cases that have been assessed by a Health or Social Care OT to support the Housing Officers.
• These responsibilities will support your professional registration and CPD.

About You

• Qualified Occupational Therapist or equivalent qualification, with current Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration.
• Significant experience in a social care setting, demonstrating a comprehensive and up to date understanding of all relevant legislation, regulation and guidance including the Care Act, Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty and Court of Protection procedures, Housing and Regeneration Act.
• Demonstrable experience of delivering major adaptations.
• Experience of mentoring both newly qualified and experienced staff and being a subject matter expert in professional practice.
• Experience of chairing meetings involving clients, family members and/or carers and other multi-agency professionals.
• Ability to develop strong relationships with partners, other agencies and the local community.
• Understanding of the financial implications of care packages commissioned.
• Proven track record of clear decision making in order to highlight and limit the potential risks associated with intervention.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

This role involves travelling around Essex and beyond. A driving licence and car – or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means – is essential.

What We Offer

• Ongoing opportunities for continuing professional development
• Flexible working options
• Employee wellbeing and counselling
• Lease Car scheme
• Life assurance of three times annual salary
• Local Government Pension Scheme. View Key Facts and FAQ's about the LGPS.
• Volunteering leave
• 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising with service
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - access to free and confidential information, support, and guidance from a team of highly qualified professionals.
• Employee Networks – communities to support you, connect you and help influence change at ECC

• Payment of your HCPC registration fees!

We welcome diversity because it makes us grow and we're determined to become a fully inclusive and an anti‑racist organisation.

We are a Disability Confident Leader.

We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job.

Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service.

The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate.

This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.

For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www. gov. uk/dbs-update-service.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour.

We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process.

Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

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