Occupational Therapy Assistant

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); Hempstalls; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid and flexible working

Local authority pension

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking dedicated Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA) for fixed-term contracts to assess needs and recommend equipment and adaptations, supporting independence for service users. Role includes collaboration with Health and Housing teams and providing professional support from Senior OTs.

Offers hybrid/flexible working, a competitive local authority pension, and opportunities for professional development. Pre-employment checks apply.

Qualifications

• Experience of, or interest in, working in a social care field.
• Ability to use IT for concise and accurate recording.
• Basic understanding of the principles of assessment and risk assessment.

Responsibilities

• Assessment of people’s daily living abilities in their own homes.
• Demonstration of and provision of community equipment where cost-effective.
• Arrangement of minor adaptations (costing less than £1000) to homes.
• Recommendation of major adaptations (costing more than £1000) to homes.
• Accurate and timely recording on case management system.

Skills

Social care experience

IT literacy

Assessment knowledge

Organisation & planning

Travel to assessments

Job description

Directorate: Adult Social Care and All Age Commissioning

Section: Social Care Occupational Therapy Service

Location: Civic Centre

Grade: Level 7

Salary: £31,022 - £33,699 per annum pro rata

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract type: x5 full-time fixed term roles and x1 part-time fixed term role until 31/03/2027.

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us:

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that's where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on the Council and our directorates

The Role:

We are looking for dedicated, enthusiastic and self-motivated Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA) to join our strong team of Occupational Therapists, OTAs and Support Staff for a fixed term contract. With good communication and IT skills and a commitment towards Continued Professional Development, you will be responsible (with the support of your Senior OT) for assessing the needs of people with disabilities and making recommendations for the provision of specialist equipment and minor/major adaptations to enable disabled people to live independent lifestyles.

You will work closely with other Social Care colleagues and professionals from other partner agencies such as Health and Housing. With experience in social care, an understanding of assessment and care planning, and good interpersonal skills, you will carry an active caseload of service users with eligible needs. Professional support, advice and supervision will be readily available from Senior OTs, and you will contribute to promoting the Occupational Therapy service.

Key Responsibilities:

Assessment of people's daily living abilities in their own homes

Demonstration of, and provision of, community equipment where this is the most cost-effective way to meet needs

Arrangement of minor adaptations (costing less than £1000) to people's homes

Recommendation of major adaptations (costing more than £1000) to people's homes

Accurate and timely recording on case management system

About You:

Experience of, or interest in, working in a social care field

Ability to use IT for concise and accurate recording

Basic understanding of the principles of assessment and risk assessment

Flexible and well organised

Able to travel around the city to carry out assessments in people's homes

What we offer:

A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent

Hybrid and flexible working options

An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme

Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

Pre-Employment Checks:

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

Right to Work in the UK

Proof of address

Satisfactory references

Occupational Health Clearance

Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations

DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

The Council will not accept any speculative CVs from employment agencies.

No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council.

Any unsolicited information sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all our employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don't meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.