Occupational Therapist (NHS Band 5 equivalent)

North Northamptonshire Council; Burton Latimer; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Generous leave 28–33 days + BHs

Hybrid/flexible working where practic

Employee Assistance Programme

Wellbeing support

Job summary

North Northamptonshire Council is seeking an Occupational Therapist (NHS Band 5 equivalent) to deliver community-based OT assessments and develop safe interventions. The role covers North Northamptonshire with the ability to support carers and work within multi-disciplinary teams.

You will provide expert advice on equipment, minor and major adaptations, while maintaining high professional standards and compliance with relevant legislation. A flexible approach and CPD are encouraged.

Qualifications

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy and HCPC registration are essential.
• Experience with adult/community OT assessments and home visits is expected.
• Knowledge of Care Act, housing legislation and community OT practice is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Carry out a range of OT assessments and implement safe interventions to promote independence.
• Carry out moving and handling assessments and develop safe care plans.
• Provide expert advice on equipment, adaptations and assistive technology.
• Collaborate with carers and other agencies to ensure appropriate care and therapy.
• Maintain timely clinical records and contribute to service development.

Skills

Disciplinary knowledge

Manual handling knowledge

CPD and reflective practice

Interpersonal skills

Car driver with license

Education

Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy

HCPC Registration

Enhanced DBS clearance

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Haylock house

Occupational Therapist (NHS Band 5 equivalent)

Job Reference Ref/178923/9508

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Full Time

Salary Range:

Working Hours:

37

Location:

Haylock house

Closing Date:

15/11/2026

Job Category:

Occupational Therapy

Organisation:

North Northamptonshire Council

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.

You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

We offer a vibrant working environment with:

• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28days, rising to 33days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

About the role

Occupational Therapist

Salarygrade:

Hours:

37hours

Location:

Haylock House, Kettering Venture Park, Kettering NN15 6EY

This will be a community role covering North Northamptonshire

Reportsto:

Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist

Service area:

Therapy North, Adult Social Care

What will you be doing?

1. To complete Occupational Therapy assessments with the implementation of safe interventions which promote independence, choice and support people to live well for longer whilst reducing where possible the need for hospitalization or long-term residential care.

2. To gain skills and knowledge in one or more Occupational Therapy discipline such as community, dementia, reablement, manual handling and any other developing professional area.

3. To undertake a person-centred assessment of moving and handling needs and support carers with expert advice and guidance on manual handing cases to improve the quality of care within North Northamptonshire.

4. To take a collaborative approach to care, working with the person and their carers to ensure they receive the right amount of care and therapy in the correct environment, at the right time.

5. To assist with the development and reviews of the Community Occupational Therapy services in North Northamptonshire. Support the growth of an effective Community based Therapy service with a focus on quality and ensuring professional standards are met.

1 To carry out detailed functional assessments of daily living skills, identify

deficits and make appropriate recommendations to address them.

2 Undertake and complete moving and handling assessments for people with a wide range of complex medical conditions, in accordance with all relevant legislation and eligibility criteria.

3 To produce and implement appropriate and safe moving and handling care plans, to achieve outcomes based on the single care approach. This includes making decisions to reduce care packages where it is safe and appropriate to do so.

4 To offer specialist advice on lifestyle changes, coping strategies, to maximise independence and maintain function e.g. grading tasks to manage fatigue in COPD, joint protection for RA.

5 To prescribe standard equipment and minor adaptation work and delegate to Support Staff where appropriate for follow up and ensure at that equipment and adaptations provided are fit for purpose and the individual is safely able to use them.

6 To prescribe major adaptations e.g. level access showers, stair lifts, under the supervision and guidance of a Senior OT or Clinical Lead.

7 Assess for and prescribe equipment and adaptations, applying the legislative framework underpinning Community Occupational Therapy practice and local eligibility criteria to ensure recommendations are safe, proportionate, person-centred and cost-effective

8 To assess for, trial and prescribe non-stock items of equipment from

specialist suppliers and prepare clinically reasoned reports for non-stock specialist equipment under supervision and guidance of Senior OT.

9 To alter and revise planned interventions as a result of changes in an individual’s levels of function or circumstances.

10 To educate and advise clients, families and carers on aspects relevant to the Occupational Therapy intervention.

11 Work as a lone practitioner in client’s homes under indirect supervision and adhering to Therapy lone working policy

12 To demonstrate an awareness of complex issues relating to equality, diversity and individual rights and sensitive information relating to clients. To agree management of such cases in consultation with Senior OT Staff.

13 To gain consent or to persuade/motivate individuals to comply with

recommendations even where there is significant barrier to understanding e.g. deafness, depression, memory loss.

14 To refer individuals with consent, on to other appropriate agencies.

15 To work collaboratively with other agencies and provide factual and professionally presented reports to other agencies as required.

16 To ensure all communication is delivered in a timely and appropriate way using available media of e-mail, telephone, written and face-to-face

17 To develop skills in the management of a screened and allocated caseload,

prioritising tasks, collaborating with colleagues, coordinating leave and covering for sickness to ensure a fair delivery of service across the area.

18 To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.

19 To be familiar with and practice within the relevant national legislation, professional standards of practice and organisational policies and procedures.

20 To contribute to the delivery of the clinical governance agenda and promotion of continuous improvement.

21 To maintain timely clinical records which are organised, factual, clear and accessible to any authorised person.

22 To contribute to service development by implementing agreed change within own practice.

23 To assist in measuring/evaluating the service and contribute towards continuous improvement e.g. by assisting in reviews/audits.

24 To supervise and support other staff members and colleagues. To give, receive and engage in an annual appraisal and a personal development plan which will improve your performance.

25 To maintain a portfolio of CPD evidence which demonstrates the development and maintaining of OT skills relevant to the post.

26 To effectively use clinical supervision to reflect on practice, examine significant events and improve performance.

27 To be aware of own responsibility for self and others under the Health and

Safety at Work Act. To always operate within the organisational and

service health and safety rules.

28 To report all incidents and near misses to senior members of the team.

To also carry out any other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope and purpose of this job description and which are commensurate with the grade of the post.

Safeguarding commitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults. We require you to understand and demonstrate this commitment.

About you

Qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience

Minimum level of qualifications required for this job;

Qualification Required

Essential/Desirable

Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy.

HCPC Registration.

Enhanced DBS clearance

Basic computer skills-the ability to use e-mail, search for data from a database etc.

Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development – CPD Portfolio.

Minimum levels of knowledge, skills and experience required for this job

Knowledge Required

Essential/Desirable

Relevant experience of assessment and treatment of adults with chronic and deteriorating physical conditions. Gained through student placement or previous work experience.

Knowledge of the symptoms, disease process and likely prognosis of a basic range of physical conditions including

arthritis, problems associated with ageing etc.

Awareness of a basic range of assistive equipment and minor adaptation work. e.g. bathing equipment, grab rails etc.

Experience of problems associated with more specialist physical conditions e.g. MS, MND.

Knowledge of manual handling techniques and safe systems of work for people moving and handling

Knowledge of the legislative framework which informs Community OT practice. e.g. Care Act 2014, Housing legislation etc.

Skills Required

Essential/Desirable

Ability to prioritise and manage a screened caseload under direct and regular supervision from a Senior/Lead OT.

interpersonal skills and an awareness of complex and sensitive issues with consideration for equality/diversity/rights etc.

Ability to recognise gaps in own knowledge and skills and to negotiate ways to address these via appraisal and CPD.

Evidence of relevant CPD activity.

Car driver with a full drivers licence, access to a vehicle or suitable transport during working hours.

Awareness of collaborative working across/between agencies to achieve outcomes for individuals. e.g. discharge, rehousing etc.

Knowledge of the roles within the Adult Social Care team and collaborating organisations.

Experience Required

Essential/Desirable

Proven experience and knowledge of the customer group sufficient to lead, direct and train staff

Student placement or previous work experience of working with individuals with physical need.

Including recent experience of OT delivered within an adult/community setting.

Experience of working with and

delegating to OT Support staff.

Safeguarding

Essential/Desirable

Demonstrate an understanding of the safe working practices that apply to this role.

Ability to work in a way that promotes the safety and well-being of children and young people/vulnerable adults.

What disclosure level is required for this post?

None

Standard

Enhanced with barred list checks

About us

Our Values and Behaviours

Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:

Customer-focused
Respectful
Efficient
Supportive
Trustworthy

Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

Disability Confident Employer

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

The council obtained the Gold status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).

Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)