Job summary
Reablement - Empowering Independence
We are looking for a skilled Occupational Therapist to join our Optimising Care Team, part of the Reablement, Therapy and Community Services.
This specialist, therapist-led service focuses on complex moving and handling and improving how care is delivered, using training and specialist equipment.
You will be part of a team that is passionate about promoting independence and delivering high-quality, customer-focused care.
As an Occupational Therapist, you will help people receive care that is dignified, person-centred and tailored to their needs. This includes carrying out moving and handling risk assessments, designing support plans for proportionate care, and offering advice, equipment and training to staff across Wiltshire Council and partner organisations.
You will need to be HCPC registered with a recognised Occupational Therapy qualification and have at least two years post-qualification experience.
We are looking for someone who can bring expert knowledge of complex moving and handling in community settings, a strong understanding of relevant legislation, and experience in training others. You will be confident in professionally challenging practice, writing clear documentation and supporting carers to continue in their role.
This role will primarily be based in the South of the county but may involve travel across Wiltshire and occasional flexible working to meet service needs.
Main duties of the job
Specific duties and responsibilities
Undertake strengths based occupational therapy assessments, focused on moving and
handling, working with customers with complex occupational needs and contentious situations - including assessment of mental capacity where appropriate. You will use your professional
judgement to adapt your approach to the individual needs of the customer.
Undertake complex moving and handling risk assessments, using your expertise to record the
recommendations in a format appropriate to the customers or carers needs.
Demonstrate competence in positive risk taking, evaluating risk and sharing information with
the relevant parties including demonstration of recommended techniques.
Gather sufficient information about customers from a wide range of sources in order to be
able to accurately assess their needs of customers where requests are challenging or
contentious in nature, against duties under the Care Act - 2014, Manual Handling Operations
Regulations 1992 - amended 2002 and housing legislation.
Analyse, research and source equipment solutions including obtaining quotes and
specifications if required, in order to obtain best value and reduce risk.
Build relationships with alliance members, Home first teams and acute and community
hospital staff.
Participate in the recording, collation and analysis of performance related data including
service KPIs and outcomes.
About us
Wiltshire Council is the unitary local authority for the county of Wiltshire, England, established in 2009 to provide both county-level and district-level services. The council's vision is to foster strong communities where residents can achieve their potential through empowerment and inclusion. The council focuses on long-term challenges, community engagement, and delivering services that support independent living, reduce inequalities, and promote overall well-being.
Key Responsibilities and Services
The council provides a range of essential services to residents, including waste management, public planning, and support for vulnerable populations, such as older adults and people with disabilities.
The council consists of elected councillors who form a cabinet to set the council's direction and priorities. A system of overview and scrutiny ensures accountability for the cabinet's decisions.
The council engages in long-term planning, such as its household waste management strategy, focusing on new approaches and opportunities to manage waste over the next decade and beyond.
The council uses Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds to support local infrastructure projects, including roads, schools, and recreational facilities, to manage the impact of development.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Care job family overview
Support and assist the well-being of individuals and groups to assure their protection, security and
development.
- Safeguarding, protection and care
- Community, residential, day or field settings
- Ongoing risk/needs assessment of and advice for individuals/groups
- Specification of any non-council provision
- Individual or small group emphasis
- May involve personal care activities
- Likely to involve immediate response to client
Service and Function Context
The Optimising Care Project sits across the Access and Reablement Directorate. It is a specialist
therapist-led project team aiming to reduce double handed care packages by optimising the way the
care is delivered through training and provision of specialist equipment.
The project supports people to have their care delivered in a person-centred and dignified way and
this may include the provision of information and advice, analysis of needs, provision of equipment
and adaptations and targeted training for Wiltshire Council and partner staff.
The overall responsibilities of the project team are
- To work with customers, carers and families to meet their moving and handling needs and care
needs in the most resource efficient way.
- To work with alliance members and providers to encourage their adoption of moving and
handling techniques and equipment to support single handed care and embed these as
normal practice within the workforce.
- To work with the alliance to promote and publicise the project and its benefits.
- To operate within legal frameworks and defined budgets for social care.
- The team will work closely with colleagues from health, alliance members, the voluntary
sector and others to support the occupational needs of customers.
Job Purpose
- To uphold standards of practice for Occupational Therapists as determined by the regulatory
body, the Health and Care Professions Council and the Professional Standards and Code of
Ethics and Professional Conduct of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
- To undertake moving and handling risk assessments and design support plans to optimising
care and support provision of single handed care.
- To support carers to continue in their role.
- To deliver this service in accordance with the statutory responsibilities as set out within social
care and housing legislation.
- To ensure that the primary responsibility of safeguarding adults is delivered in accordance
with the law and local policy and guidance.
Specific duties and responsibilities
- Undertake strengths based occupational therapy assessments, focused on moving and
handling, working with customers with complex occupational needs and contentious situations
(including assessment of mental capacity where appropriate); using your professional
judgement to adapt your approach to the individual needs of the customer.
- Undertake complex moving and handling risk assessments, using your expertise to record the
recommendations in a format appropriate to the customers and/or carers needs.
Demonstrate competence in positive risk taking, evaluating risk and sharing information with
the relevant parties including demonstration of recommended techniques.
- Gather sufficient information about customers from a wide range of sources in order to be
able to accurately assess their needs of customers where requests are challenging or
contentious in nature, against duties under the Care Act (2014), Manual Handling Operations
Regulations 1992 (amended 2002) and housing legislation.
- Analyse, research and source equipment solutions including obtaining quotes and
specifications if required, in order to obtain best value and reduce risk.
- Build relationships with alliance members, Home first teams and acute and community
hospital staff.
- Participate in the recording, collation and analysis of performance related data including
service KPIs and outcomes.
- Have an understanding of CQC regulations and requirements of a registered service in
regards to moving and handling and the safe delivery of care.
- Actively participate in the development and delivery of moving and handling training for
Alliance staff, adult social care staff and training other partners.
- Identify where adults may be at risk and to act in accordance with the Departments
safeguarding policies and procedures. To undertake the Investigating Officer role when the
reason for investigation would benefit from occupational therapy input, such as, accidents and
incidents from misuse of equipment and moving and handling practice concerns.
- Document progress with agreed outcomes and evidence need for continuing support at all
times in accordance with eligibility criteria; working with customers and care providers to
promote increased independence.
- Record all occupational therapy contacts accurately, and in a timely way, onto the social care
records in accordance with work targets set by the Team Manager and Supervisor.
- Understand and utilise universally available services within the voluntary and community
sector, as well as maintaining knowledge of services commissioned by the Council to support
effective provision of information to customers. Promote the use of universal services with
reablement team members and the wider service.
- Establish and maintain good working relationship and carry out joint visits and assessments
with other professionals e.g. GP's, Consultants and Health Therapists working with the
customer. Seek advice from and refer to other disciplines as appropriate
- Consider the needs of carers in line with Care Act eligibility and make referrals to partner
agencies for assessment and support as required.
- Contribute proactively to the effective working of the team with positive attitude, by sharing
knowledge, offering advice and support and by preparedness to be involved in the
development of services.
- Take active responsibility for your own continuing professional development including
attendance at statutory and non-statutory training and participation in development
opportunities
- Fully engage and prepare for own supervision and appraisal through self-evaluation, ensuring
that continual professional development is evidenced.
- Ensure that Council Policies and Procedures are followed at all times.
- Be an ambassador for the Council and the service at all times, always representing the
Council positively, professionally and appropriately at meetings with customers, external
partners and agencies.
- Attend Civil Emergencies when a rest centre is set up.
Specific requirements for this post
- Ability to travel on a daily basis across Wiltshire and to undertake visits to customers in their
own homes and visit other settings e.g. hospital.
- Flexible working -There may be a requirement to occasionally work outside of standard hours to meet the
needs of the service, for example assessing customers abilities at different times of the day
or provide support to other members of the team. The number of out of hours worked will not
exceed 10% of the total contracted hours per week.
Person Specification
Specific qualifications, knowledge, and skills required for this role
Essential
- Professional Qualification in Occupational Therapy (Diploma or Degree)
- Registered with HCPC as an Occupational Therapist
- Evidenced experience of professional and personal development following achievement of
professional qualification, likely to be a minimum of 2 years post-qualification
- Expert knowledge and experience of complex moving and handling of people in community
settings, with at least two years experience in the field.
- Significant knowledge and understanding of Health, Housing & Social Care legislation and
wider policy context.
- Significant up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance in relation to working
with, and the safeguarding of adults.
- Experience in offering training and support with moving and handling.
- Knowledge of Reablement to support and promote independence.
Significant and up-to-date knowledge and experience of undertaking moving and handling
assessments and writing moving and handling plans.
- Well-developed interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate with people in a
variety of ways and levels.
- Ability to professionally challenge
- Literate, numerate with good computer skills
- Ability to prioritise work and support others to do this.
- A self-starter, well organised person who is passionate about delivery of high quality
customer-centric services.
- Must be able to write clear, accurate and evidence informed documentation.
- Fully fluent in spoken and written English.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a social care setting
- Experience of supervising occupational therapy students on practice placements.
- Detailed knowledge and experience of reablement to support and promote independence.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Care job family overview
Support and assist the well-being of individuals and groups to assure their protection, security and
development.
- Safeguarding, protection and care
- Community, residential, day or field settings
- Ongoing risk/needs assessment of and advice for individuals/groups
- Specification of any non-council provision
- Individual or small group emphasis
- May involve personal care activities
- Likely to involve immediate response to client
Service and Function Context
The Optimising Care Project sits across the Access and Reablement Directorate. It is a specialist
therapist-led project team aiming to reduce double handed care packages by optimising the way the
care is delivered through training and provision of specialist equipment.
The project supports people to have their care delivered in a person-centred and dignified way and
this may include the provision of information and advice, analysis of needs, provision of equipment
and adaptations and targeted training for Wiltshire Council and partner staff.
The overall responsibilities of the project team are
- To work with customers, carers and families to meet their moving and handling needs and care
needs in the most resource efficient way.
- To work with alliance members and providers to encourage their adoption of moving and
handling techniques and equipment to support single handed care and embed these as
normal practice within the workforce.
- To work with the alliance to promote and publicise the project and its benefits.
- To operate within legal frameworks and defined budgets for social care.
- The team will work closely with colleagues from health, alliance members, the voluntary
sector and others to support the occupational needs of customers.
Job Purpose
- To uphold standards of practice for Occupational Therapists as determined by the regulatory
body, the Health and Care Professions Council and the Professional Standards and Code of
Ethics and Professional Conduct of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
- To undertake moving and handling risk assessments and design support plans to optimising
care and support provision of single handed care.
- To support carers to continue in their role.
- To deliver this service in accordance with the statutory responsibilities as set out within social
care and housing legislation.
- To ensure that the primary responsibility of safeguarding adults is delivered in accordance
with the law and local policy and guidance.
Specific duties and responsibilities
- Undertake strengths based occupational therapy assessments, focused on moving and
handling, working with customers with complex occupational needs and contentious situations
(including assessment of mental capacity where appropriate); using your professional
judgement to adapt your approach to the individual needs of the customer.
- Undertake complex moving and handling risk assessments, using your expertise to record the
recommendations in a format appropriate to the customers and/or carers needs.
Demonstrate competence in positive risk taking, evaluating risk and sharing information with
the relevant parties including demonstration of recommended techniques.
- Gather sufficient information about customers from a wide range of sources in order to be
able to accurately assess their needs of customers where requests are challenging or
contentious in nature, against duties under the Care Act (2014), Manual Handling Operations
Regulations 1992 (amended 2002) and housing legislation.
- Analyse, research and source equipment solutions including obtaining quotes and
specifications if required, in order to obtain best value and reduce risk.
- Build relationships with alliance members, Home first teams and acute and community
hospital staff.
- Participate in the recording, collation and analysis of performance related data including
service KPIs and outcomes.
- Have an understanding of CQC regulations and requirements of a registered service in
regards to moving and handling and the safe delivery of care.
- Actively participate in the development and delivery of moving and handling training for
Alliance staff, adult social care staff and training other partners.
- Identify where adults may be at risk and to act in accordance with the Departments
safeguarding policies and procedures. To undertake the Investigating Officer role when the
reason for investigation would benefit from occupational therapy input, such as, accidents and
incidents from misuse of equipment and moving and handling practice concerns.
- Document progress with agreed outcomes and evidence need for continuing support at all
times in accordance with eligibility criteria; working with customers and care providers to
promote increased independence.
- Record all occupational therapy contacts accurately, and in a timely way, onto the social care
records in accordance with work targets set by the Team Manager and Supervisor.
- Understand and utilise universally available services within the voluntary and community
sector, as well as maintaining knowledge of services commissioned by the Council to support
effective provision of information to customers. Promote the use of universal services with
reablement team members and the wider service.
- Establish and maintain good working relationship and carry out joint visits and assessments
with other professionals e.g. GP's, Consultants and Health Therapists working with the
customer. Seek advice from and refer to other disciplines as appropriate
- Consider the needs of carers in line with Care Act eligibility and make referrals to partner
agencies for assessment and support as required.
- Contribute proactively to the effective working of the team with positive attitude, by sharing
knowledge, offering advice and support and by preparedness to be involved in the
development of services.
- Take active responsibility for your own continuing professional development including
attendance at statutory and non-statutory training and participation in development
opportunities
- Fully engage and prepare for own supervision and appraisal through self-evaluation, ensuring
that continual professional development is evidenced.
- Ensure that Council Policies and Procedures are followed at all times.
- Be an ambassador for the Council and the service at all times, always representing the
Council positively, professionally and appropriately at meetings with customers, external
partners and agencies.
- Attend Civil Emergencies when a rest centre is set up.
Specific requirements for this post
- Ability to travel on a daily basis across Wiltshire and to undertake visits to customers in their
own homes and visit other settings e.g. hospital.
- Flexible working -There may be a requirement to occasionally work outside of standard hours to meet the
needs of the service, for example assessing customers abilities at different times of the day
or provide support to other members of the team. The number of out of hours worked will not
exceed 10% of the total contracted hours per week.
Person Specification
Specific qualifications, knowledge, and skills required for this role
Essential
- Professional Qualification in Occupational Therapy (Diploma or Degree)
- Registered with HCPC as an Occupational Therapist
- Evidenced experience of professional and personal development following achievement of
professional qualification, likely to be a minimum of 2 years post-qualification
- Expert knowledge and experience of complex moving and handling of people in community
settings, with at least two years experience in the field.
- Significant knowledge and understanding of Health, Housing & Social Care legislation and
wider policy context.
- Significant up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance in relation to working
with, and the safeguarding of adults.
- Experience in offering training and support with moving and handling.
- Knowledge of Reablement to support and promote independence.
Significant and up-to-date knowledge and experience of undertaking moving and handling
assessments and writing moving and handling plans.
- Well-developed interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate with people in a
variety of ways and levels.
- Ability to professionally challenge
- Literate, numerate with good computer skills
- Ability to prioritise work and support others to do this.
- A self-starter, well organised person who is passionate about delivery of high quality
customer-centric services.
- Must be able to write clear, accurate and evidence informed documentation.
- Fully fluent in spoken and written English.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a social care setting
- Experience of supervising occupational therapy students on practice placements.
- Detailed knowledge and experience of reablement to support and promote independence.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional Qualification in Occupational Therapy - Diploma or Degree.
- Registered with HCPC as an Occupational Therapist.
- Evidenced experience of professional and personal development following achievement of professional qualification, likely to be a minimum of 2 years post-qualification.
- Expert knowledge and experience of complex moving and handling of people in community settings, with at least two years experience in the field.
- Significant knowledge and understanding of Health, Housing and Social Care legislation and wider policy context.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a social care setting.
- Experience of supervising occupational therapy students on practice placements.
- Detailed knowledge and experience of reablement to support and promote independence.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional Qualification in Occupational Therapy - Diploma or Degree.
- Registered with HCPC as an Occupational Therapist.
- Evidenced experience of professional and personal development following achievement of professional qualification, likely to be a minimum of 2 years post-qualification.
- Expert knowledge and experience of complex moving and handling of people in community settings, with at least two years experience in the field.
- Significant knowledge and understanding of Health, Housing and Social Care legislation and wider policy context.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a social care setting.
- Experience of supervising occupational therapy students on practice placements.
- Detailed knowledge and experience of reablement to support and promote independence.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
