Occupational Therapist

Dorset Council; Wareham; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Supportive team environment

CPD opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Dorset Council is seeking several Occupational Therapists to join our Community Paediatric team on a permanent full‑time basis. You will work with children and young people aged 0–25 with developmental and physical conditions, including neurodivergent individuals, to support daily activities and independence.

Responsibilities include home assessments, moving and handling planning, collaborative therapy planning with families and schools, and maintaining records.

Qualifications

• Degree in Occupational Therapy and HCPC registration.
• Levels 2 and 3: post qualifying experience.
• Experience with children and young people in community/paediatric settings and with moving and handling.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a supportive team.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessment and intervention for children with functional difficulties in home setting, including equipment and adaptation work.
• Carry out moving and handling assessments and care plans.
• Carry out moving and handling risk and environmental assessments.
• Collaborate with families, schools, and other professionals to develop/implement therapy plans.
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary team meetings and service development initiatives.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical records.

Skills

Moving and handling experience

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Independent working

Team collaboration

Community/paediatric experience

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy

HCPC registration

Job description

We are seeking several passionate and skilled Occupational Therapists to join our Community Paediatric team on a permanent and full‑time basis. This is an exciting opportunity to join our Birth to Settled Adulthood team, working with children and young people aged 0–25 with a range of developmental and physical conditions and those who are neuro divergent, supporting them to achieve their full potential in everyday activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide assessment and intervention for children with functional difficulties in home setting. This includes the provision of specialist equipment and adaptation work where appropriate.
• To carry out moving and handling assessments and complete moving and handling care plans.
• To carry out moving and handling risk assessments and environmental assessments where appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with families, schools, and other professionals to develop and implement therapy plans.
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary team meetings and service development initiatives.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical records in line with professional standards.

About You

• Degree in Occupational Therapy and HCPC registration.
• There are 3 levels of OT within Dorset Council and these positions are being advertised as a level 2 and level 3. Therefore, we are looking for an OT with post qualifying experience.
• Experience working with children and young people, ideally in a community or paediatric setting and with some moving and handling experience.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a supportive team.

What We Offer

• Supportive team environment with regular supervision and CPD opportunities.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families.

Further Information

For informal enquiries, contact Karen Long Team Manager on 01305 216632

This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed.

This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders.

See our policy on safeguarding children and young people.

See our adult safeguarding policy.

You Must

• have a degree in social work/Occupational Therapy or equivalent
• be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• be able to fulfil the travel requirements of the post

See the children’s social worker framework.

About Us

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video: Unable to show this video due to your cookie preferences At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You Will

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.