Graduate Occupational Therapist Leeds

Job summary

We are looking for a graduate Occupational Therapist to gain experience in Social Care on our Leeds City Council rotation.

This is an exciting opportunity to work as an Occupational Therapist across the different rotations on offer.

Each rotation is for nine months and offers a great start to a career in Occupational Therapy, with opportunities to work with various groups of service users in both community and inpatient environments.

You will be supported in your personal and professional development via clinical supervision, training and other Continuing Professional Development opportunities.

Each of the partner organisations offers an established programme for new graduates, providing specific support and development throughout your first year.

Leeds Adults and Health has an Assessed year of supported employment (similar to Preceptorship) to support you as you move into employment.

About us

• We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

Job description

Job title

Occupational Therapist Graduate Band 5 equivalent

Salary

Hours

37 hours, full time

Contract

Various

Location

Citywide

About you

We are looking for a graduate Occupational Therapist who is looking for experience of working in Social Care on our Leeds City Council rotation.

This is an exciting opportunity to work across the different rotations on offer.

You are passionate about occupation and its role in mental and physical health, able and willing to work flexibly—including shifts and weekends depending on the placement—able to work in various teams and on different sites across Leeds.

What we offer you

• We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

Responsibilities

• To undertake Occupational Therapy assessments, deemed suitable for allocation to an OT in line with experience post qualification.

Assessments should have an occupational focus and aim to reduce barriers to inclusion.

• To undertake re‑enablement assessments with an occupational emphasis and be responsible for the care planning for the whole process.
• To organise work activities, taking account of the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities ensuring statutory legislation and service priorities are met.
• To manage an allocated caseload of disabled people and, with supervision, regularly monitor, review and evaluate changes in a disabled person’s needs, ensuring services contribute effectively to the support plan and remain an effective use of resources.
• To complete moving and handling and hoist training, and then, with appropriate guidance from senior staff, carry out appropriate moving and handling assessments.
• To contribute to the enhanced screening of new referrals and people already in receipt of services under clear supervision.
• On the basis of assessed needs and risks and, using a person‑centred approach, provide/recommend services to disabled people which remove barriers to social inclusion.
• To develop, implement and review outcome‑focused Occupational Therapy intervention to meet assessed needs and promote independent well‑being and inclusion.
• To identify specialist housing needs of disabled people and their families and support them in accessing suitable housing/adaptations.
• To deliver, fit and collect equipment as appropriate, including necessary moving and handling of equipment.
• To provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative and based on an analysis of complex information.
• To work to and within the prescribed standards of the College of Occupational Therapists.
• To maintain accurate and up to date case notes and other records, and write reports as required.
• To use management information systems, keep them up to date and be able to provide concise and accurate information about circumstances and plans within the limits of data protection.
• To appropriately participate in meetings and relevant forums.
• To develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals within the council and partner agencies, to ensure an integrated, holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the care management and safeguarding of disabled people.
• To work closely with other services in the council to deliver effective and efficient solutions to barriers faced by disabled people.
• To obtain the views of the disabled person during the assessment process and take into account their views when making recommendations for service provision.
• To contribute to the promotion of improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities.
• With supervision, work with individuals, families and carers and communities to help them make informed decisions enabling them to clarify and express their needs to promote meaningful activity in their lives and social inclusion.
• To actively promote and support Leeds City Councils and Directorate policies on Equality and Diversity.
• To be responsible for understanding and applying all relevant practice standards, policies and procedures.
• To be compliant with relevant governance, policy and procedures.
• To work within the safeguarding framework to raise concerns and assist with the management of risks where individuals have experienced or are likely to experience significant harm.
• To work to the prescribed standards for service provision and maintain performance and develop practice and experience in line with personal targets as agreed with line manager through supervision and appraisal.
• To disseminate knowledge and contribute to the delivery of a high standard of service.
• To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council and Directorate Policies and procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under Health and Safety policy and procedures.
• To provide support and professional supervision to support staff and to ensure the person achieves the appropriate skills and competencies.
• To attend regular personal and professional Supervision with identified Supervisor.
• To assist with the practice education of undergraduate OT students, including student placements and other student related activity.
• To find and use evidence on which to base professional practice.
• With supervision identify and implement strategies for responding appropriately to concerns about practice or procedures seeking guidance if required.
• To promote Occupational Therapy to colleagues both within and outside the council.
• To participate in training and development activities that ensures up to date knowledge and skills to retain registration with the HCPC and maintain an up to date CPD portfolio.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Person Specification

Essential Skills

• Ability to effectively plan, prioritise, time‑manage and evaluate own workload.
• Able to communicate and pass information effectively, accurately and concisely with a range of partners and service users, carers and colleagues.
• Able to engage individuals, families, carers and workers from other agencies.
• Able to identify appropriate Occupational Therapy interventions in order to promote positive change.
• Ability to carry out safe functional assessments and give physical assistance where necessary.
• Ability to move and handle equipment for assessment and provision.
• Ability to assess the needs of and work with individuals and groups using a person‑centred approach.
• Be competent in the use of IT, including Microsoft Office, Internet and Email.
• Ability to maintain accurate service‑user records, assessments and follow policy and procedure.
• Able to record, evidence and communicate using technology.
• Able to exercise individual judgement, assess risk and consult where and when appropriate.
• Ability to make proactive use of Supervision to reflect critically on practice and explore different approaches to work and understand the boundaries of professional accountability.
• Car driver.

Desirable Skills

• Ability to devise, implement, review and evaluate service and support plans.

Essential Qualifications

• Appropriate professional qualification Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy, Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) upon commencement of the post and maintain yearly registration.

Experience

Essential Experience

• Experience of implementing a person‑centred focused approach.
• Demonstrated creativity in tackling and solving problems.
• Experience of using initiative and a commitment to developing services.
• Use of reflective practice techniques to critically analyse information to inform decision making and planning.
• Producing written records and reports to a high standard for a variety of purposes with language suited to function.
• Application of information gathering skills to make and contribute to assessments.
• Experience of using supervision effectively.

Desirable Experience

• Experience of advocacy and user involvement.
• Experience of using initiative.
• Knowledge

Essential Knowledge

• Qualified as an Occupational Therapist.
• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Knowledge of the range of models of Occupational Therapy and their use in a community setting.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation appropriate to the needs of disabled people from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Awareness of the broad range of factors that impact on disabled people and families e. g. range of physical and mental health conditions.
• Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Basic awareness of IT systems including Microsoft Office, internet and email.
• Knowledge of current trends, policies, legislation and regulatory bodies in relation to vulnerable people within a social care setting.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families and carers as appropriate.
• Demonstrate an awareness of needs and safeguarding issues associated with vulnerable people.
• Demonstrate an understanding of diversity issues within local communities.
• Report writing and Communications Skills.

Desirable Knowledge

• Understanding of the role and function of the Local Authority in providing services to older and disabled people.
• Understanding of equipment and adaptations available and their application.

How to apply

Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form.

For more information or an informal chat about the role please contact Richard Smith 07595216486 Richard.

Smith2@leeds. gov. uk or Kirsty Ricketts 01135350926 Kirsty.

Ricketts@leeds. gov. uk.

Equal Opportunities

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates.

Read our recruitment of ex‑offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures.

We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans and LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK.

Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying.

To be eligible for sponsorship you’ll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria.

Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

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