Advanced Occupational Therapist in Yate

As an Advanced Occupational Therapist, you will join the Promoting Independence and Reablement team, working within an independence-led approach to ensure the social, health and welfare needs of adults in South Gloucestershire are met, in line with departmental strategic objectives. The team provides timely assessments, support planning and service procurement for individuals referred from the Community and Sirona Pathway 1 discharge from hospital pathway. These integrated social work and occupational therapy teams are responsible for delivering reablement services, long-term care planning, reviews and reassessments, while working towards establishing final personal budgets and, where appropriate, take responsibility for adult safeguarding plans.

It will be your responsibility to complete occupational therapy assessments and reviews, working with adults and carers to identify practical solutions and recommend appropriate support and interventions. Supporting a preventative and reablement-focused approach, you will contribute to timely and effective decision-making through balanced, proportionate recommendations. With access to regular supervision, you will manage your own caseload, prioritising work effectively to meet competing demands. A key aspect of your role will be to provide clear advice and guidance to individuals and carers on available support, while maintaining accurate, timely and high‑quality records in line with professional standards and council procedures. Taking the lead on more complex and high‑risk cases, you will apply advanced professional judgement and play a key role in decision‑making. Acting as a role model for high‑quality, strengths‑based occupational therapy practice, you will promote and develop best practice across the team through advice, mentoring and shared learning, including supporting and supervising students on placement.

We require you to hold a recognised occupational therapy qualification (DipCOT, BSc/MSc OT or equivalent) and maintain current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You will bring significant experience working within a community, hospital, voluntary or agency occupational therapy setting. It is essential that you have a strong working knowledge of relevant legislation relating to social care and occupational therapy services. With experience of managing complex cases, you will be able to demonstrate excellent assessment skills in practice. You will have a minimum of two years’ post‑qualification experience and demonstrate a commitment to Continuous Professional Development (CPD).

You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle or have an alternative means of travel. Business insurance will need to be added to your insurance policy. You can claim back mileage expenses. Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained. This role is hybrid, with a mixture of working at our office in Badminton Road, working from home and working within the community.

As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities. We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities. If you want to develop a specialism, you’ll get the support you need and your cases will be aligned with your areas of expertise. Seniors and managers will genuinely listen at panel and will support you to ensure your service user’s needs are met. What’s special here is the strength of the team ethos. We are a relatively small local authority, so managers know staff well. They can plan their services to ensure teams have manageable caseloads and have effective supervision so feel supported to make decisions which are right for the people they work with. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring all our staff are given the right skills, knowledge and support to recognise and respond effectively to potential abuse or neglect.

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here. We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of. We're working with the most vulnerable in our community to help them achieve what they want in life. We're investing in our schools to ensure every child and young person in South Gloucestershire achieves their full potential. We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference. We’re making a difference, be part of it!