Occupational Therapist/Physiotherapist Level 2 in Manchester

About The Role

Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Additional Payments: Essential Car Allowance

Closing Date: 28 January 2026

Closing Time: 11.59pm

Interview Method: In Person

This role is subject to:

• Legal right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy.
• References: Where possible we require 3 years' history.
• Medical Clearance: Pre-placement health assessment (PPHA).
• Qualification: BSc Hons Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy and registration with HCPC.
• Essential Car Documentation: This post is a designated Essential Car User. Therefore, you must always hold a full valid driving licence and provide your own car for use at work.
• DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Clearance: This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

This is an exciting role for any Occupational Therapist who has a passion for children's assessments. They will work city wide completing functional assessments for children under 18 who have physical or hidden disabilities, identifying solutions to improve their quality of life, increase their independence and reduce risks relating to moving and handling, lack of equipment provision and need for major adaptations.

The post holder will carry a case load and work closely with children's services both internally and externally to ensure the needs of the child and their family are met. They will work with housing providers and other stakeholders around rehousing to more suitable properties. The post holder will produce comprehensive written reports on Liquid Logic and present cases to MEAP Majors panel for adaptations to meet long term needs. They will liaise and work with reps who provide children's equipment and support the seating clinic with the other children's OTs in the service. They will provide support and advice to colleagues within MEAP who are less experienced working with children and support with training where needed.

The key functions of the role will be:

• To carry out functional assessments for complex seating to promote postural support and prevent deformities.
• To carry out bathing and toileting assessments to assess for specialist, bespoke equipment.
• To carry out safety assessments for children with hidden disabilities such as safe spaces, padded rooms, garden adaptations.
• To complete assessments for major adaptations to provide safe access to sleeping, bathing and toileting facilities.
• To complete moving and handling risk assessments, producing moving and handling plans and facilitating training for family and paid carers.
• To support level 1 OTs and Assessment officers, providing advice and guidance.

Why choose us:

• We offer Monday – Friday working, with no working on bank holidays or weekends, and a 35-hour working week, supporting a positive work/life balance.
• A Principal Occupational Therapist in post, leading the way and shining a light on what we do as Occupational Therapists.
• Access to a state-of-the-art equipment & adaptation demonstration facility - Smart Suite - Manchester Local Care Organisation.
• Access to a Padlet providing a one stop platform for all things OT in Manchester City Council.
• Manchester is a large bustling vibrant city with great transport links, concerts, events, festivals, restaurants and unique and independent businesses.

What our OTs say:

• “There is no doubt about the vibrance, spirit and sheer potential that defines Manchester. Working in a city that is bold, dynamic and not afraid to do things differently has been an exciting opportunity and experience as an occupational therapist.”
• “I love Manchester as a City and working with the citizens of Manchester is amazingly rewarding. The community OT role offers the opportunity to work with a diverse range of citizens with a range of conditions, this means that after 23 years of working as an OT I am continuing to learn every day and every day is different. The flexible working means that I can establish a good work life/balance.”

For further information about this role, please contact Gail Hunter.

About the Candidate

We are looking for a passionate and dedicated individual who shares Manchester's values putting our disabled children at the heart of what they do. We want someone who shares our commitment to meeting the needs and improving the lives of children and their families/carers. We need someone who has the skills to manage a case load and can manage their time effectively. We need someone who can travel across Manchester and can work flexibly to meet the service demands.

About Us

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities. Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand.
• We work together and trust each other.
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly.
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things.
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester.

Benefits we offer:

• Generous holiday allowance – Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension – You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave – Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks – Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow – We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member – We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave – Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview adjustments – Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats – Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the Accessibility tools button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirement for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

What we will need from you if you're successful:

• In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy.
• Proof of Right to Work – You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK.
• References – We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
• Proof of Qualifications – Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check – A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.
• Driving Licence – If the role requires driving, we’ll need evidence of your valid driving licence.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.