Sport for Confidence

Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 31 August 2025

Job summary

Purpose

Lead the Westminster Community Model as the Occupational Therapist based within the local leisure centre & community working alongside our coaching team, Everyone Active and London Borough of Westminster Council to provide therapeutic and meaningful opportunities to those who face barriers to participation.

The Community Model in Westminster

The Westminster Community Model is an innovative Community Health Model which brings together Occupational Therapy (OT), community-based physical activity, and the voice of lived experience to create inclusive, empowering, and sustainable opportunities for people. Our vision is for a future where fairer access to physical activity and sport narrows the gap in occupational, health and social outcomes. We recognise and value the unique contributions of people, occupation and participation when using physical activity to promote good health and prevent ill health. We are working in partnership to play our part in ensuring systems and services can meet the needs of everyone in our community.

Main duties of the job

The Occupational Therapist will provide at least 12 weeks of tailored support, using physical activity as a therapeutic tool to improve health, confidence, and participation. Duties include initial assessment, co-producing personalised goals, delivering 1:1 interventions, completing outcome measures, and reviewing progress. Where required, individuals will be supported for medium or long-term interventions.

The role focuses on enabling people to overcome barriers, adapt activities, and build independence, while promoting inclusion and belonging. The therapist will develop opportunities for disabled people and those with long-term conditions to access services, working closely with GPs, Primary Care Networks, the Integrated Care Board, and community partners.

Non-clinical responsibilities include promoting the service, maintaining accurate records, contributing to audits and service development, leading projects, and supporting funding opportunities. The postholder will also provide supervision for coaches, students, and volunteers, ensure professional standards are met, and engage in supervision and CPD.

This role requires strong partnership working, innovation, and a person-centred approach to embed occupational therapy and physical activity within health and social care.

About us

Sport for Confidence (CIC) places occupational therapists and sports coaches into community settings to support those furthest away from sport and physical activity. Working locally and nationally, we combine professional expertise with lived experience to address barriers, tackle inequalities, and ensure services meet the needs of diverse communities.

Our approach recognises the importance of people, their environments, and meaningful occupations in promoting health and preventing ill health. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience physical activity that offers empowerment, choice, and belonging.

Occupational Therapists provide practical support to empower individuals, enabling recovery and participation in meaningful activities that improve daily living skills, physical health, and wellbeing. By embedding occupational therapy in non-traditional spaces, we expand access to person-centred support earlier in peoples journeys, reducing occupational deprivation and preventing decline in health and quality of life.

This innovative model is increasingly recognised for its impact, offering a proactive, holistic approach that goes beyond medical care to promote independence, inclusion, and long-term wellbeing.

Date posted

19 August 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience £27,777.50 - £38,950 FTE + 15% inner London (3 days a week)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

B0429-25-0000

Job locations

Patch Places, 5-6 Grays Brewery Yard

Springfield Road

Chelmsford

Essex

CM2 6QR

Park Cafe

Randolph Avenue

London

W9 1PD

Moberly Sports Centre

25 Chamberlayne Road

London

NW10 3NB

Queen Mother Sports Centre

223 Vauxhall Bridge Road

London

SW1V 1EL

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

All participants appropriate for engagement with SFC to receive 12-week minimum support and intervention from the Occupational Therapist.

The Occupational Therapist to utilise physical activity within their scope of practice to provide a number of support interventions to participants, these range from 1:1 interventions (EG Anxiety management), external referrals, sharing resources, use of an assessment tool (EQ5D as an example) and anything additional for individual need.

Once an individual has been part of an initial assessment, a collaborative action planning process begins. Occupational Therapists work closely with the person to co-produce goals that are meaningful and relevant to them. These goals are rooted in enabling participation, enhancing wellbeing, and building confidence, with physical activity promoted as a key enabler

Individuals are added to the occupational therapists caseload for a minimum of 12 weeks, during which time, progress is regularly reviewed and adapted as necessary.

If participants require additional support from the Occupational Therapist, they will be supported into the medium (greater than 12 weeks) and or long-term caseload (greater than 24 weeks).

All participants will complete a PRE and POST outcome measure suitable for their location

Enable people to function at an optimal level, despite barriers

Assessing how activities which the person needs or wants to do can be modified or adapted to make them easier

Assessing how clients feel about themselves and their ability to tackle problems

Understanding how the physical and social environment can be altered so that restrictions are reduced

To develop system led opportunities for disabled people and those with long term health conditions, to enable them to access primary care services and foster a sense of belonging and inclusion, that challenges assumptions and supports social transformation.

Build strong and professional relationships and work collaboratively with GP Surgeries, Primary Care Networks and the Integrated Care Board.

To liaise and build meaningful partnerships with external agencies including health care professionals, charities, community groups and other health and social care organisations.

Support and enable genuine co-productive practice.

Promote person-centred practice which seeks to enable people to have control, choice, participation, and a sense of belonging.

Connect people to their community to enable and empower them to engage in meaningful occupations.

Deliver evidence based and best practice, which is Occupation focused.

Use therapeutic use of self to support individuals to have a positive experience of physical activity.

Non-Clinical Duties

To build positive working relationships with Everyone Active, the leisure provider and the London Borough of Westminster city council

Promote service within the local area through networking.

Complete participation numbers for statistical purposes.

Participate in audits, data collection, research and evidence-based practice.

Promote the occupational therapy role to external agencies.

Contribute to service development through innovative ideas and creation of resources.

Initiate and lead projects to meet identified service needs.

Seek out funding opportunities and complete funding applications where appropriate.

Be involved/supportive when presented opportunities through our specialist provision.

To ensure that up to date written and electronic records of own patient interventions and observations are completed in accordance with Sport for Confidence and professional standards.

To ensure that required activity data is recorded and that relevant personal and departmental records are maintained.

To be responsible for the quality of data recorded. The data should be accurate, legible (if handwritten), recorded in a timely manner, kept up to date and appropriately filed.

To comply with [relevant professional standards i.e. the College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional conduct, Health Professions Council guidelines for professional practice].

Professional Duties

Attend professional meetings as required.

Attend appropriate training events as required.

Maintain a continuing professional development portfolio.

Engage in regular supervision.

Supervise and support students when appropriate.

Provide day to day operational management of coaches and volunteers.

Comply with policies and procedures regarding annual leave, sickness absence and time owing.

Support with upskilling coaches to understand the therapeutic value of physical activity.

Additional Responsibilities

Complete all mandatory training.

Keep updated on all matters relating to company policies and guidelines.

Outlook calendar to be kept up to date.

Provide cover as and when necessary

Participate in the employee appraisal process.

Attend peer supervision and CPD opportunities.