Occupational Therapist

Care Dorset Ltd; Southmoor; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Enhanced Maternity Pay

Occupational Sick pay from day one

Blue Light discount package

Employee Assistance Programme

Induction and development programmes

Litmos online learning

Refer a Friend Bonus £300

Job summary

Care Dorset Ltd. seeks an experienced Occupational Therapist to deliver person-centred assessments and evidence-based plans in community-based reablement services. You will focus on enabling independence, improving quality of life, and contributing to a strengths-based service aligned with the Care Act (2014).

You will work with multidisciplinary teams, set SMART goals, manage diverse caseloads, and promote reablement through equipment and adaptations. An HCPC registration is essential.

Qualifications

• Be registered with the Health and Social Care Professions Council as an Occupational Therapist.
• Experience working with adults, especially older adults or those with physical disabilities, in hospital discharge, community or intermediate care settings.
• Experience delivering short-term, goal-focused interventions to promote independence.
• Familiarity with digital systems for recording interventions and outcomes, including Nourish.

Responsibilities

• Deliver timely, person-centred Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions in bedded reablement settings.
• Set, monitor and review SMART goals in partnership with individuals.
• Manage varied and complex caseloads with strong clinical reasoning for safe outcomes.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to address holistic needs and promote integrated care planning.
• Provide a high‑quality OT service aligned with legislation, policies and standards.
• Support and mentor Reablement Officers and Reablement Assistants through coaching and guidance.

Skills

Clinical reasoning

Goal setting

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Independence promotion

Tools

Nourish system

Job description

Job summary

As an Occupational Therapist working with Care Dorset you have the opportunity of working with the people we support to truly enhance their lives, increase their confidence and improve their wellbeing. As Care Dorsets Occupational Therapist you will play a vital role in the delivery of therapy input to the people we support in our community-based services. Your focus will be on enabling independence and improving quality of life through tailored occupational therapy interventions. You will provide outcome-focused assessments, deliver evidence-based therapeutic plans, and contribute to the ongoing development of a person-centred, strengths-based service aligned with the Care Act (2014).

Care Dorset offers fantastic benefits:

• Generous Annual leave entitlement - starting at 27 days, rising to 31 after 5 years (exc. Bank holidays) pro rata
• Enhanced Maternity Pay
• Occupational Sick pay entitlement from day one
• Funded Blue Light discount package (superb discounts on travel, leisure, entertainment and more)
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Comprehensive induction
• Excellent training & development opportunities supporting career progression.
• Access to Litmos online learning platform our one stop shop for learning & development
• Refer a Friend Bonus - up to £300 per person you refer (uncapped and paid on successful appointment)
• Celebrated success through annual awards ceremony

Main duties of the job

Assessment & Intervention

• Deliver person-centred Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions for adults with physical disabilities and age-related conditions in bedded reablement services.
• Set, monitor and review SMART goals to maximise independence.

Case Management

• Manage varied and complex caseloads, using clinical reasoning to achieve safe, effective outcomes.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to provide integrated care planning.

Service Delivery

• Deliver a high-quality OT service in line with legislation, policies and professional standards.
• Promote reablement through equipment, adaptations and assistive techniques.

Team Support & Development

• Support and mentor Reablement Officers and Reablement Assistants through coaching, joint working and guidance on goals, interventions and reviews.
• Promote a positive learning culture.

Consultation & Advocacy

• Provide specialist advice on equipment and adaptations to maximise independence and reduce reliance on care services.
• Support colleagues, individuals, carers and partner organisations.

Communication & Record Keeping

• Maintain accurate records using the Nourish system.
• Communicate effectively with individuals, families, carers & partner agencies.

Professional & Operational Contribution

• Participate in CPD, supervision, team meetings, case reviews & MDT meetings.
• Contribute to the development of Care Dorset's reablement services.
• Attend caseload reviews, represent Care Dorset at external meetings and undertake duties delegated by the Home Manager.

About us

About Us

We are people focused. We are genuine. We have integrity. We will develop. We are a team.

These values define our personality.

They are our statement about what we stand for and what we believe in, and they are the basis behind the decisions we make every single day. They are the Care Dorset way.

Care Dorset

is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and

children and expects colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment. We are

inclusive. We celebrate multiple approaches and points of view. We are an equal

opportunities employer and expect staff to respect the personal choice and

lifestyles of colleagues, carers, and people with care needs.

This role

offers an exciting opportunity to be part of an innovative and supportive

service that makes a real difference to peoples lives. If you are a motivated

Occupational Therapist with a commitment to reablement and integrated working,

we would love to hear from you.

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose: As Care Dorsets Occupational Therapist you will play a vital role in the delivery of therapy input to the people we support in our community-based services. Your focus will be on enabling independence and improving quality of life through tailored occupational therapy interventions. You will provide outcome-focused assessments, deliver evidence-based therapeutic plans, and contribute to the ongoing development of a person-centred, strengths-based service aligned with the Care Act (2014).

Key Responsibilities

Assessment and Intervention

• Deliver timely, person-centred Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions to adults with physical disabilities and age-related conditions within the bedded reablement settings.
• Set, monitor, and review SMART goals in partnership with individuals, focusing on regaining or maintaining independence.

Case Management

• Manage a diverse caseload, including complex cases requiring advanced clinical reasoning, while ensuring safe, effective, and goal-oriented outcomes.
• Collaborate closely with multi-disciplinary teams to address holistic needs and promote integrated care planning.

Service Delivery

• Provide a high-quality Occupational Therapy service in accordance with national legislation, local policies, and professional standards.
• Champion a reablement approach through the provision of specialist equipment, functional adaptations, and assistive techniques.

Team Support and Development

• Support and mentor our Reablement Officer (ROs) through hands‑on coaching, informal training, and joint interventions.
• Guide and collaborate with Reablement Assistants (RAs) in goal-setting, intervention planning, and progress reviews, promoting a learning culture.

Consultation and Advocacy

• Act as a specialist resource to promote the effective use of equipment and adaptations to maximise independence, reduce reliance on care services, and prevent hospital admissions.
• Provide consultative input to colleagues, individuals, carers, and external partners as needed.

Communication and Documentation

• Maintain accurate, timely, and professional records using the Nourish electronic recording system.
• Engage in clear and effective communication with individuals, families, carers, and partner organisations to ensure coordinated support.

Professional Development and Team Contribution

• Participate in continuous professional development, including training, reflective supervision, and practice improvement initiatives.
• Actively contribute to team meetings, case reviews, and multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings.
• Play a key role in shaping and developing the reablement support Care Dorset provides.

Operational Contribution

• Attend and engage in weekly full caseload reviews.
• Represent Care Dorset in inter‑agency forums and external meetings as required.
• Undertake other responsibilities as delegated by the Home Manager to support service delivery.

Essential Skills and Qualities

• Strong clinical reasoning and goal-setting abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaborative working skills.
• Proactive, flexible, and solution-focused approach to care.
• Passion for promoting independence and enhancing quality of life.

Qualifications and experience

• Experience working with adults, particularly older adults or individuals with physical disabilities, in hospital discharge, community, or intermediate care settings.
• Direct experience delivering short-term, goal-focused interventions aimed at promoting independence and preventing or delaying long-term care needs.
• Proven ability to carry out functional, person-centred assessments and develop SMART goals that support recovery and independence.
• Experience in prescribing equipment and recommending minor/major adaptations to support safe mobility, transfers, and activities of daily living.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a range of professionals, such as physiotherapists, social workers, nurses, and care staff in a team environment.
• Skilled in risk management and knowledgeable about safe moving and handling practices, including risk reduction strategies in home and care settings
• Experience managing a varied and sometimes complex caseload independently, balancing competing demands within service timelines.
• Knowledge of the Care Act 2014 and Relevant Legislation
• Practical understanding of legal frameworks guiding Occupational Therapy in adult social care, especially relating to assessment, eligibility, and care planning.
• Familiarity with digital systems for recording interventions and outcomes.
• Experience providing informal training, coaching, or support to junior staff, support workers, or reablement assistants is highly valued.
• Be registered with the Health and Social Care Professions Council as an Occupational Therapist.
• Valid UK driving licence and use of own vehicle.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Essential Skills and Qualities:
• Strong clinical reasoning and goal-setting abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaborative working skills.
• Proactive, flexible, and solution-focused approach to care.
• Passion for promoting independence and enhancing quality of life.
• Qualifications and experience
• Experience working with adults, particularly older adults or individuals with physical disabilities, in hospital discharge, community, or intermediate care settings.
• Direct experience delivering short-term, goal-focused interventions aimed at promoting independence and preventing or delaying long-term care needs.
• Proven ability to carry out functional, person-centred assessments and develop SMART goals that support recovery and independence.
• Experience in prescribing equipment and recommending minor/major adaptations to support safe mobility, transfers, and activities of daily living.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a range of professionals, such as physiotherapists, social workers, nurses, and care staff in a team environment.
• Skilled in risk management and knowledgeable about safe moving and handling practices, including risk reduction strategies in home and care settings
• Experience managing a varied and sometimes complex caseload independently, balancing competing demands within service timelines.
• Knowledge of the Care Act 2014 and Relevant Legislation
• Practical understanding of legal frameworks guiding Occupational Therapy in adult social care, especially relating to assessment, eligibility, and care planning.
• Familiarity with digital systems for recording interventions and outcomes.
• Experience providing informal training, coaching, or support to junior staff, support workers, or reablement assistants is highly valued.
• Be registered with the Health and Social Care Professions Council as an Occupational Therapist.
• Valid UK driving licence and use of own vehicle.

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).

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.