Head of Occupational Therapy Services

Essex County Council; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Essex County Council seeks an exceptional Head of Occupational Therapy to provide strategic leadership for Adult Social Care, championing strengths‑based practice and person‑centred services. You will influence policy, develop professional standards, and drive workforce planning, integration with NHS housing pathways and technology‑enabled care.

The role requires extensive leadership experience, HCPC registration and the ability to work across health, housing and social care partners to improve

Qualifications

• Degree in Occupational Therapy with HCPC registration.
• Post-qualification experience in Adult Social Care leadership.
• Experience in governance, quality assurance and professional practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Occupational Therapy across Adult Social Care.
• Lead professional standards, governance and evidence-informed practice.
• Advise senior leaders on practice issues, risk and development.
• Develop policies, guidance, and quality assurance frameworks.
• Ensure compliance with Care Act, Housing Act and related legislation.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment and professional development.
• Oversee equipment services, assistive technology and technology-enabled care.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Leadership

Governance

Quality assurance

HCPC registration

Stakeholder influence

Assistive technology

Organisational change

Professional supervision

Housing Act knowledge

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy

Postgraduate leadership/management qualification

Job description

Occupational Therapy has a critical role to play in transforming Adult Social Care. In Essex, we believe Occupational Therapists are central to helping people remain independent, connected and in control of their lives. We are seeking an exceptional leader who can champion the profession's contribution to Inclusive Essex, driving a strengths-based culture that prevents dependency, enables possibility and delivers simple, person-centred support through trusted professional practice and innovative solutions.

As one of the largest authorities in the country, few organisations can match the scale, diversity and opportunities offered by Essex County Council. Following a positive CQC assessment, we continue to build on our ambition to create an increasingly inclusive, preventative and person-centred system of support. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future contribution of Occupational Therapy within a high-performing service committed to transforming lives and communities.

About the Role

As the Head of Occupational Therapy, you will provide strategic leadership and professional oversight for Occupational Therapy services across Adult Social Care. You'll champion high-quality, strengths-based practice that empowers Essex residents to maintain their independence, improve their wellbeing and achieve the outcomes that matter most to them.

Working at a strategic level, you will drive professional excellence, workforce development and service innovation, ensuring Occupational Therapy remains at the heart of delivering effective, legally compliant and person-centred services. Acting as the lead professional advisor, you will influence strategic priorities, shape best practice and develop strong partnerships across health, housing and social care.

Your leadership will help maximise the impact of Occupational Therapy in key areas including prevention, enablement, safeguarding, hospital discharge, housing adaptations, assistive technology, independent living and integrated care services.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Occupational Therapy Services across Adult Social Care, ensuring delivery of high-quality, legally compliant and outcome-focused services.
• Act as the senior professional lead and Principal Occupational Therapist, establishing and maintaining professional standards, governance arrangements and evidence-informed practice.
• Advise Directors, Heads of Service and senior leaders on Occupational Therapy practice, emerging professional issues, organisational risk and service development.
• Lead the development and implementation of Occupational Therapy policies, practice frameworks, professional guidance and quality assurance arrangements.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulation and professional standards, including the Care Act 2014, Housing Act, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Human Rights Act, safeguarding duties and HCPC requirements.
• Lead strategic service improvement activity, responding to audit findings, complaints, safeguarding reviews, Ombudsman outcomes and inspection recommendations.
• Provide professional oversight and advice in relation to highly complex cases, professional concerns and areas of significant organisational risk.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, retention, professional development and succession planning across employed and independent Occupational Therapy workforce models.
• Provide strategic leadership for Occupational Therapy contributions to equipment services, assistive technology, technology-enabled care, housing pathways and major adaptations.
• Develop and maintain effective partnerships with NHS organisations, housing providers, district and borough councils, higher education institutions and voluntary sector partners to improve outcomes for Essex residents.
• Direct line management and budgetary responsibility.

Who are we looking for?

We welcome interest from individuals who can demonstrate:

• Degree in Occupational Therapy with current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Extensive post-qualification Occupational Therapy experience within Adult Social Care ideally with a postgraduate qualification in leadership, management or a related discipline.
• Significant experience of strategic leadership, service development and organisational change within complex service environments.
• Experience of regional or national professional leadership activity.
• Experience of professional supervision, governance, quality assurance and practice improvement.
• Strong knowledge of Adult Social Care legislation, policy and statutory responsibilities.
• Proven ability to influence strategic decision-making and provide professional advice at senior leadership level.
• Detailed understanding of the Housing Act, Disabled Facilities Grants, housing adaptations and independent living approaches including experience of equipment services, housing adaptations or assistive technology services.
• Experience of regional or national professional leadership activity.
• Knowledge of assistive technology, community equipment services and technology-enabled care.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

To read more about our business area, please visit: Adult Social Care

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email [e-mail]