Job summary
This is what our team members say about working inThe Regaining Independence Service:
"I think we work well as a team. I feel well supported by the manager and the senior practitioner, who listen to the teams needs and react. I like the fact that as a service WSCC and RIS are extremely flexible and adjust my working to help my work life balance"
"The team are very supportive with everyone being very generous in terms of sharing knowledge, experience and availability for joint visits. I feel as though the team is passionate about delivering person centred therapy and believe in the core principles of reablement"
RIS is a thriving service: hard working and committed, passionate about achieving excellent outcomes for people, and excited about becoming bigger and better. Come and be part of the future!
Main duties of the job
- As a Senior Practitioner Occupational Therapist, you will:
- Undertake complex strength-based assessment.
- Provide expertise to residents of West Sussex and other social care professionals.
- Use evidence-based practice to deliver positive outcomes.
- Focus on preventing, reducing and delaying the need for care and support
- Provide advice, information, equipment and adaptation to promote wellbeing and independence
- Work alongside the Community Occupational Therapy Team Manager, you will provide Occupational Therapy expertise, professional supervision and support to colleagues
We are looking for a Senior Practitioner Occupational Therapist to support and deputise for the Team Manager in terms of day-to-day management, team development and performance. As an expert in the RIS team you will manage, and support colleagues to manage, a varied and complex caseload collaborating with people and family or friend carers.
You will have a role in improving the practice of unregistered and registered social care practitioners and developing, leading, and championing best practice and professional standards. As a senior team member you will be a lead professional, responsible for delivering an occupational therapy service to people who access it.
You will have undertaken clinical/fieldworkeducators training and Fieldwork Educators accreditation and you will need to beenthusiastic about supporting and developing others.
About us
Reablement is a key strategic priority for West Sussex in 2025, so now is a great time to join the service. The council is investing in growing the service, to reach more people and to support more residents to live as independently as possible for longer.
The Regaining Independence Service (RIS) is a therapy led service working with people to help them keep or re-learn skills to manage living independently at home or to get out and about in their local community. Using a strengths-based approach, RIS work over a short and focused period with people who may have had a period of ill health or difficulties caring for themselves to maintain or regain the skills needed to enjoy their every day life. RIS work in partnership with our reablement provider ECL to deliver the Community Reablement Service, and work closely with colleagues in the NHS and other parts of the council.
To help us create a reablement workforce that reflects the communities we serve, and to ensure we have diverse perspectives and insights, we would particularly welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds and those with a disability.
Take a look at our Regaining Independence Service campaign page for further information on the work of the reablement teams -https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/jobs/featured-jobs/careers-in-social-care-occupational-therapy/our-teams/careers-in-our-regaining-independence-service/
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will work as part of a strong and dynamic Occupational
therapy service. In this role you will
be required to undertake strengths-based assessments in highly complex
situations maintaining a sophisticated understanding and application of relevant
legislation, advanced Occupational therapy skills and knowledge. You will utilise these skills to develop and
implement plans of support, aimed at improving wellbeing and delivering
outcomes for people.
You will manage, and support others to manage, a varied and complex caseload collaborating
with people and family or friend carers. You will draw on a wide range of
highly developed skills to make sophisticated professional judgements, and
support others to make judgements aimed at improving wellbeing and professional
supervision and a workload that is appropriate to your level of professional
development.
You will work effectively in collaboration with staff and other agencies and
have an excellent understanding of all the relevant health, voluntary and
private services in the area. You will remain up-to-date and compliant with all
relevant legislation and adhere to organisational procedures, policies, and
codes of conduct as well as Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
professional standards and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists
(Professional standards for occupational therapy practice, conduct and ethics)
to uphold a high-quality, seamless service.
You will apply highly developed and sophisticated knowledge and experience to provide
constructive and critical reflection and challenge, influencing others to enhance
Occupational therapy practice. You will
engage with, inform and adapt to challenging organisational contexts and
contribute to the development of innovations, systems, policies and procedures
that are fit for purpose, support organisational priorities and enhance best
practice that contribute to better outcomes. You will be a lead professional,
responsible for delivering an occupational therapy service to people who access
it. You will be responsible for leading on one or more specialist areas of
service delivery, ensuring that key developments are embedded working with
colleagues and teams and that business change is successfully implemented. We
are looking for a candidate who will be able to support and deputise for the
Team Manager in terms of day-to-day management, team development and
performance.
What youll need to succeed
For this role you are expected to be working at Senior Occupational Therapist level
or above, and demonstrate a breath of advanced Occupational therapy theories,
methods, and concepts. You will hold detailed organisational knowledge relating
to the provision of a professional Occupational Therapy service dealing with
very complex issues. An advanced understanding of interventions and approaches
that can be used e.g., strengths-based and solution focused practice, systemic
and evidence-based decision-making and an excellent understanding of
organisational contexts including partner agencies such as health, housing, education,
statutory, voluntary and independent sector. You will have knowledge of
management strategies required to confidently manage internal and external issues.
You will model, and develop in others, coaching, influencing and supervisory
skills to enhance best practice, standards, and better outcomes.
You will have sound and accurate IT and keyboard skills and will need to be
able to work autonomously and flexibly.
You will have undertaken clinical/fieldwork educators training and
Fieldwork Educators accreditation and you will need to be enthusiastic about
supporting and developing others, including students.
There is a requirement to be able to travel across the
county and work from various locations. The role may occasionally involve
complex physical interventions, including transporting, demonstrating, and
using community equipment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will work as part of a strong and dynamic Occupational
therapy service. In this role you will
be required to undertake strengths-based assessments in highly complex
situations maintaining a sophisticated understanding and application of relevant
legislation, advanced Occupational therapy skills and knowledge. You will utilise these skills to develop and
implement plans of support, aimed at improving wellbeing and delivering
outcomes for people.
You will manage, and support others to manage, a varied and complex caseload collaborating
with people and family or friend carers. You will draw on a wide range of
highly developed skills to make sophisticated professional judgements, and
support others to make judgements aimed at improving wellbeing and professional
supervision and a workload that is appropriate to your level of professional
development.
You will work effectively in collaboration with staff and other agencies and
have an excellent understanding of all the relevant health, voluntary and
private services in the area. You will remain up-to-date and compliant with all
relevant legislation and adhere to organisational procedures, policies, and
codes of conduct as well as Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
professional standards and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists
(Professional standards for occupational therapy practice, conduct and ethics)
to uphold a high-quality, seamless service.
You will apply highly developed and sophisticated knowledge and experience to provide
constructive and critical reflection and challenge, influencing others to enhance
Occupational therapy practice. You will
engage with, inform and adapt to challenging organisational contexts and
contribute to the development of innovations, systems, policies and procedures
that are fit for purpose, support organisational priorities and enhance best
practice that contribute to better outcomes. You will be a lead professional,
responsible for delivering an occupational therapy service to people who access
it. You will be responsible for leading on one or more specialist areas of
service delivery, ensuring that key developments are embedded working with
colleagues and teams and that business change is successfully implemented. We
are looking for a candidate who will be able to support and deputise for the
Team Manager in terms of day-to-day management, team development and
performance.
What youll need to succeed
For this role you are expected to be working at Senior Occupational Therapist level
or above, and demonstrate a breath of advanced Occupational therapy theories,
methods, and concepts. You will hold detailed organisational knowledge relating
to the provision of a professional Occupational Therapy service dealing with
very complex issues. An advanced understanding of interventions and approaches
that can be used e.g., strengths-based and solution focused practice, systemic
and evidence-based decision-making and an excellent understanding of
organisational contexts including partner agencies such as health, housing, education,
statutory, voluntary and independent sector. You will have knowledge of
management strategies required to confidently manage internal and external issues.
You will model, and develop in others, coaching, influencing and supervisory
skills to enhance best practice, standards, and better outcomes.
You will have sound and accurate IT and keyboard skills and will need to be
able to work autonomously and flexibly.
You will have undertaken clinical/fieldwork educators training and
Fieldwork Educators accreditation and you will need to be enthusiastic about
supporting and developing others, including students.
There is a requirement to be able to travel across the
county and work from various locations. The role may occasionally involve
complex physical interventions, including transporting, demonstrating, and
using community equipment.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/BSc Occupational Therapy or recognised equivalent Occupational Therapy qualification.
- Registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Desirable
- Current clinical/fieldwork educators training and Fieldwork Educators
- accreditation.
- Valid, full driving licence.
Key Skills
Essential
- Ability to work proactively as a member of the team to make an accurate assessment of needs and negotiate and implement effective plans and outcomes, whilst prioritising workload and meeting deadlines.
- Demonstrable evidence of leadership skills when working in partnership with people, carers, colleagues and a variety of external agencies in complex situations to meet peoples outcomes.
- Expertise of managing situations with complex and competing risks, utilising a risk enablement approach and using evidence-based practice. Solution focussed with the ability to analyse complex situations and provide forward thinking strategies and solutions that consider a variety of possible strength-based solutions, balancing risks, resources and desired outcomes.
- Experience of contributing to or undertaking safeguarding enquiries.
- Highly developed communication skills to influence in a multi-disciplinary setting and communicate clearly and effectively to explain complicated information to a wide range of people and negotiate and persuade others to adopt a particular course of action that they may not otherwise wish to take.
- Able to model and use occupational therapy skills in practice, supervision, mentoring and leadership to develop and maintain an environment in which professionally curiosity, critical reflection and analysis is valued, staff are supported their find own solutions and practice capability is developed.
- Able to employ a range of occupational therapy approaches and interventions based on theory, research evidence and evaluation, linking theory to practice including acting as a subject matter expert in one or more specialist areas of intervention.
- Working autonomously with a highly complex, varied caseload often
- involving managing high levels of risk, prioritising and organising own work and work of others to meet agreed performance expectations. Able to diagnose, research, analyse and interpret highly complex or technical information to make or support effective and robust judgements; and write reports and implement recommendations. Using evidence gained to inform good practice and maintain a focus on positive outcomes for service users, families, carers and communities. Ability to think creatively, innovatively and adapt to changing situations in a measured and flexible manner to tailor the advice.
- Ability to be proactive in maintaining up-to-date knowledge and
- understanding of changes in legislation and effectively lead and supervise others to enhance and support legally compliant practice.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of undertaking assessments in complex situations and occupational therapy intervention planning, implementation and review by means of creative and pragmatic solutions.
- Extensive experience of working in partnership with those who access the service and maintaining a focus on the needs and strengths of the people, and the outcomes they want to achieve, whilst handling conflict and disagreement.
- Experience of managing risk within a risk enablement approach. Excellent, up-to-date working knowledge of relevant legislation e.g. Care Act (2014), Mental Capacity Act (2005) etc.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/BSc Occupational Therapy or recognised equivalent Occupational Therapy qualification.
- Registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Desirable
- Current clinical/fieldwork educators training and Fieldwork Educators
- accreditation.
- Valid, full driving licence.
Key Skills
Essential
- Ability to work proactively as a member of the team to make an accurate assessment of needs and negotiate and implement effective plans and outcomes, whilst prioritising workload and meeting deadlines.
- Demonstrable evidence of leadership skills when working in partnership with people, carers, colleagues and a variety of external agencies in complex situations to meet peoples outcomes.
- Expertise of managing situations with complex and competing risks, utilising a risk enablement approach and using evidence-based practice. Solution focussed with the ability to analyse complex situations and provide forward thinking strategies and solutions that consider a variety of possible strength-based solutions, balancing risks, resources and desired outcomes.
- Experience of contributing to or undertaking safeguarding enquiries.
- Highly developed communication skills to influence in a multi-disciplinary setting and communicate clearly and effectively to explain complicated information to a wide range of people and negotiate and persuade others to adopt a particular course of action that they may not otherwise wish to take.
- Able to model and use occupational therapy skills in practice, supervision, mentoring and leadership to develop and maintain an environment in which professionally curiosity, critical reflection and analysis is valued, staff are supported their find own solutions and practice capability is developed.
- Able to employ a range of occupational therapy approaches and interventions based on theory, research evidence and evaluation, linking theory to practice including acting as a subject matter expert in one or more specialist areas of intervention.
- Working autonomously with a highly complex, varied caseload often
- involving managing high levels of risk, prioritising and organising own work and work of others to meet agreed performance expectations. Able to diagnose, research, analyse and interpret highly complex or technical information to make or support effective and robust judgements; and write reports and implement recommendations. Using evidence gained to inform good practice and maintain a focus on positive outcomes for service users, families, carers and communities. Ability to think creatively, innovatively and adapt to changing situations in a measured and flexible manner to tailor the advice.
- Ability to be proactive in maintaining up-to-date knowledge and
- understanding of changes in legislation and effectively lead and supervise others to enhance and support legally compliant practice.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of undertaking assessments in complex situations and occupational therapy intervention planning, implementation and review by means of creative and pragmatic solutions.
- Extensive experience of working in partnership with those who access the service and maintaining a focus on the needs and strengths of the people, and the outcomes they want to achieve, whilst handling conflict and disagreement.
- Experience of managing risk within a risk enablement approach. Excellent, up-to-date working knowledge of relevant legislation e.g. Care Act (2014), Mental Capacity Act (2005) etc.
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).
