Community Occupational Therapist - Req24562

Internal vacancy. Applications will only be considered from existing Leeds City Council employees.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is looking to further their skills and  experience in Adults and Health supporting people to remain in their own homes. You will gain experience in assessing for specialist equipment, minor and major adaptations

About the role

This is a small citywide team who work with the area Disability Services Teams to ensure that there is an equitable wait for assessments across the city.  The OTs in this team are based with the DST in the West of the city.

You will need to bring to the role an ability to take a person centred approach to creative problem solving, assessment and support planning so that people can achieve their desired outcomes.  You will need to be a car driver and have access to a car.

Professional supervision and line management are provided by a Disability Team Manager, who is a registered Occupational Therapist.  Senior OTs are responsible for supervising less experienced members of the team.  CPD is supported including through peer groups.

Occupational Therapists have a role in shaping and developing the service and there will also be other opportunities to be involved in development work within the Disability Services Teams.  We provide opportunities for all our registered Occupational Therapists to support student education and to gain skills in the supervision and support of new graduate Occupational Therapists.  Occupational Therapists are given half a day a month for their CPD.

All posts need to hold a degree/diploma in Occupational Therapy and be registered with the HCPC.

We encourage our staff to grow their career with us, from students and newly qualified Occupational Therapists through to senior and experienced managers. Continued Professional Development (CPD) is at the heart of our practice and staff are given half a day a month to develop this. There is a clear career progression pathways and work to ensure that there is the right balance between support and challenge in all roles.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form

For more information or an informal chat about the role please contact Ruth Whittaker  (0113)3780174, ruth.whittaker@leeds.gov.uk

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. 

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Adults’ barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is an Inclusive employer, ranked 70 on the Stonewall top 100 employers 2023 list. We are also an Age friendly employer, a Mindful employer and a Disability Confident leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period. 

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK  - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description

Job purpose

Under the general direction of a Team Manager, and with support from Senior Occupational Therapists, provide a high quality and comprehensive Occupational Therapy service to adults, children and young people, carers and the community in accordance with the organisational needs, policy and practices of the Directorate and within statutory guidelines.

The post holder must at all times carry out responsibilities within the City Council’s Policies and Procedures, in particular the Council Policies on Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety, and also within the Health and Care Professions Council Code of Practice.

Responsibilities

To undertake a range of complex Occupational Therapy assessments.

Assessments should have an occupational focus and aim to reduce barriers to inclusion.

To undertake reablement assessments which have an occupational emphasis. To be responsible for the care planning for the whole process.

To manage an allocated caseload of disabled people and, with supervision, regularly monitor, review and evaluate changes in a disabled persons needs and ensure that all services contribute effectively to the support plan and remain an effective use of resources.

To organise work activities taking account of the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities ensuring statutory legislation and service priorities are met.

To manage an allocated caseload of service users, regularly monitor, review and evaluate changes in service user needs and ensure that all services contribute effectively to the support plan and remain an effective use of resources.

To complete moving and handling and hoist training, and then carry out moving and handling assessments, and provide subsequent advice and training to disabled people, carers and staff as appropriate.

To carry out moving and handling risk assessments, make appropriate recommendations for specific equipment, to reduce the risks for carers.

Following assessment provide/recommend specialist services to disabled people which remove barriers to social inclusion.

To work within legislative framework to make recommendations for complex adaptations that are necessary and appropriate to reduce environmental barriers, to improve quality of life for adults and older people and their carers

To carry out the enhanced screening of new referrals, and people already in receipt of services.

To develop, implement and review outcome focussed Occupational Therapy intervention to meet assessed needs and promote independent well-being and inclusion.

To identify specialist housing needs of disabled people and their families and support them in accessing suitable housing/adaptations

To deliver, fit and collect equipment as appropriate, including necessary moving and handling of equipment.

To provide general advice, support and guidance on casework to less experienced and unregistered members of the team.

To provide practice education for OT students, including annual placements, or other student related activities.

To provide support and professional supervision to OT’s and unregistered staff and to ensure the person achieves the appropriate skills and competencies.

To obtain the views of the disabled person during the assessment process and take into account their views when making recommendations for service provision.

To attend regular personal and professional Supervision with identified Supervisor.

To provide in depth knowledge of specialist equipment and major adaptations to users, carers and less experienced members of the team.

Co-working more challenging casework alongside Senior OTs/Manager.

To maintain accurate and up to date case notes and other records, write reports as required.

To appropriately participate in meetings and relevant forums.

To assist in the planning and developing of future service and policies.

To assist with recruitment and selection of unregistered staff.

To be responsible for analysing information to support the ongoing needs of service users, their families and carers.

To comply with LCC safeguarding framework to contribute to investigations, and manage risks where individuals have experienced or likely to experience significant harm.

To contribute to safeguarding investigations in accordance with legislative requirements and Multi-agency Safeguarding procedures.

Undertake risk assessments, identify needs and options.

To use management information systems, keep them up to date and be able to provide concise and accurate information about circumstances and plans within the requirements of data protection.

To provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative and based on analysis of complex evidence, for example, recommendations for major adaptations and specialist/bespoke equipment.

To work to and within the prescribed standards of the College of Occupational Therapists.

To promote Occupational Therapy to colleagues both within and outside the Council.

To participate in training and development activities that ensures up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development.

To maintain up to date personal CPD folder in order to retain registration with the HCPC.

To contribute to the development of practice by finding and using evidence on which to base professional practice.

To be responsible for understanding and applying all relevant practice standards, policies and procedures.

Maintain knowledge of related theories and legislation.

To work to the prescribed standards for service provision and maintain performance and develop practice and experience in line with personal targets as agreed with line manager through supervision and appraisal.

To disseminate knowledge and contribute to the delivery of a high standard of service.

To identify and implement strategies for responding appropriately to concerns about practice or procedures seeking guidance if required.

To contribute to the promotion of improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities.

To actively promote and support Leeds City Council’s and Directorate policies on Equality and Diversity.

To promote Occupational Therapy to colleagues both within and outside the council.

To develop and maintain effective relationships with disabled people, their families and carers: provide advice and support, promote independence and early intervention, as necessary; help resolve conflict, where appropriate.

To work with individuals, families, carers and communities to help them make informed choices and decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning.

To develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals within the directorate and partner agencies to ensure integrated, holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the care management and safeguarding of children, adults and older people.

To work with other services within the council to deliver efficient and effective solutions to barriers faced by disabled people.

To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council and Directorate policies and procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under Health and Safety policy and procedures.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Specific Responsibilities with the Independent Mobility Assessment Team

To carry out standard in- clinic assessments of service users applying for a Blue Badge using the guidelines determined by the Department for Transport.

To carry out telescreen assessment as directed by senior staff.

Specific Responsibilities within Children and Young Peoples Services

To consider the development of the Child or Young Person and the needs of the Family/Carer when making recommendations for service provision.

To obtain the views of the Child or Young Person as well as the family/carer during the assessment process and to take account of these views when making recommendations for service provision.

Specific Responsibilities within Environment and Housing

To understand and contribute to the annual service plans of the Health & Housing service that creates opportunities for all disabled people and their families to live independently in quality, affordable, safe and stable housing of their choice across all tenures.

To have a knowledge of the various cross tenure funding streams and the scope of the adaptations and re-housing services within Council.

Specific Responsibilities with the OT Resources Team

To have a knowledge of the Council’s Residential and Nursing Care Services (Framework Arrangement) 2012-2017.

To understand funding streams for bespoke specialist equipment.

Specific Responsibilities with the Occupational Therapy Recovery Team

To work on a rota pattern between 8am and 8pm 7 days a week – to include some weekend working.

To provide Occupational Therapy advice and support to the SkILS Reablement team outside of Office Hours (5pm-8pm Monday to Friday and 8am-8pm at weekends).

To take a lead in the discharge planning for customers in the Recovery Hubs.

Specific Responsibilities with the Community Wellbeing Teams

To use a Person-Environment-Occupation Performance model to consider the person and their environment and what tasks they need to do, and how the structure of those tasks needs to be adapted.

To provide Occupational Therapy assessments with people when they first join the Community Wellbeing Teams, and review them as necessary, during their involvement.

To embed reablement principles within the Community Wellbeing Teams and establish a strengths-based approach, with a focus on promoting independence.

To design reablement focussed support plans to work towards a customers independence and to promote and support reablement as a core function of the service.

Specific Responsibilities for Enhanced Reviewing Team

To be part of a citywide enhanced reviewing team to customers who have 2 paid carers and large packages of care.

To undertake moving and handling risk assessments with customers and carers – both paid and unpaid, and make recommendations to reduce the packages of care either by change in process or equipment.

To provide detailed moving and handling plans to care providers and provide expert advice, support and guidance.

To work with care agencies to ensure staff are competent to undertake single handed care.

Priorities will be:

people who have been discharged from hospital, with a new package of care, where there are two carer staff members.

people who, have a large package of care, would benefit from a full functional assessment, with an aim to reduce the package of care where:

They have not seen an Occupational Therapist before.

Where the person has no equipment to support them.

The Occupational Therapists will work closely with social workers in the Enhanced Reviewing Team

To work to agreed KPIs for numbers of assessments to be completed on a weekly basis

To provide detailed performance information on a weekly basis to evidence savings made, and any expenditure spent on equipment.

Qualifications

Qualification in Occupational Therapy – Degree/diploma.

Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) upon commencement in post and maintain yearly registration. 

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Ability to effectively plan, prioritise and time manage own workload.

Able to communicate and pass information effectively, accurately and concisely with a range of partners and services users, carers and colleagues.

Able to engage individuals, families, carers and workers from other agencies.

Able to identify appropriate Occupational Therapy interventions in order to promote positive change.

Ability to carry out Occupational Therapy assessments of disabled people and develop and implement recommended interventions.

Ability to assess the needs of and work with individuals and groups using a person centred approach.

Ability to devise, implement, review and evaluate service and support plans.

Ability to maintain accurate service user records, assessments and follow policy and procedure.

Able to record, evidence and communicate using technology.

Able to exercise individual judgement, assess risk and consult where and when appropriate.

Ability to carry out safe functional assessment and give physical assistance where necessary.

Ability to move and handle equipment for assessment and provision.

Ability to contribute to the education of students, OTs and OTA’s.

Ability to provide day to day supervision to OTs and OTA’s.

Ability to make proactive use of Supervision to reflect critically on practice and explore different approaches to work and understand the boundaries of professional accountability.

Report Writing and Communications Skills.

Car driver.

Appropriate Occupational Therapy Qualification Degree/Diploma.

Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Knowledge and understanding of a range of physical and mental health conditions.

Knowledge of the range of specialist equipment and major adaptations to meet assessed need.

Knowledge off relevant legislation appropriate to the needs of service users from a wide range of backgrounds.

Awareness of the broad range of factors that impact on service users and families e.g. drugs, alcohol domestic violence.

Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.

Be competent in the use of IT systems, including Microsoft Officer, Internet and Email.

Of current, trends, policies, legislation and regulatory bodies in relation to vulnerable people within a social care setting.

Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families and carers as appropriate.

Demonstrate an awareness of needs and safeguarding issues associated with vulnerable people.

Demonstrate an understanding of diversity issues within local communities.

Experience of practicing as an Occupational Therapist.

Experience of being a fieldwork educator.

Demonstrated creativity in tackling and solving problems.

Of advocacy and user involvement.

Of using initiative.

Of developing services to meet customer needs.

Use of reflective practice techniques to critically analyse information to inform decision making and planning.

Producing written records and reports to a high standard for a variety of purposes with language suited to function.

Application of information gathering skills to make and contribute to assessments.

Of using supervision effectively.

Of assessment and service provision to disabled people in a range of settings.

Of working within and implementing a person centred focused approach.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Identify and take account of the significance of diversity on the lives of people and show application of this understanding in practice.

Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) upon commencement in post and maintain yearly registration.

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behavioursand codes of conduct. 

Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.

Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.

Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.

Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.

Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.

Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.

Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.

Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.

Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.

The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post.  Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Skills

Ability to contribute to service planning.

Knowledge

Of the range of services available to users, families and carers.

Of a range of equipment and adaptations and their application.

Experience

Of working with a wide range of user groups.

Of supervision of other staff.

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