Occupational Therapy Assistant (reference: SCC/TP/287938/3053)

Surrey County Council; Guildford; On-site; GBP 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Surrey County Council is seeking an Occupational Therapy Assistant to join their Guildford team. This role involves supporting individuals through assessments and providing equipment recommendations, with a focus on personal development and peer support. The position offers a competitive salary and extensive benefits, including holiday leave and training opportunities.

Benefits

26 days' holiday, increasing with service

Employee Assistance Programme for health and wellbeing

Pension scheme

Discounts on gym, travel, shopping

Paid volunteering days

Qualifications

• Empathy and compassion towards individuals needing social care.
• Knowledge of adult social care needs and challenges.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks effectively.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial assessments and visit clients at home or care settings.
• Assess and recommend basic daily living equipment.
• Demonstrate safe use and consider major home adaptations.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

IT skills

Job description

Description

This role has a starting salary of £29,697 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week.

We are hiring a new Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) to join our Guildford Locality team. The team is based in the town centre at Guildford Borough Council's offices, endorsing Surrey's agile working approach, which aims for a minimum of 2 days in the office per week for full-time staff.

If you join us, you'll be part of a friendly, supportive team that values peer support and career development. You will help support individuals to achieve positive outcomes through a personalised and strengths-based approach.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part-time staff), increasing to 28 days after 2 years and 31 days after 5 years
• Option to purchase up to 10 additional days of annual leave
• Extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave annually
• Paternity, adoption, and dependents leave
• Salary-related local government pension
• Discounts on gym, travel, shopping, and more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Access to a learning and development hub
• Role-specific training such as adaptations

About the Team

You will join a skilled, creative occupational therapy team that values honesty, reliability, and sound clinical reasoning to provide quality services.

About the Role

As an OTA, you will have direct contact with the public, including initial assessments, signposting, and visiting clients at home or care settings. You may be trained to work within the Smart Working Occupational Therapy (SWOT) service for efficient client contact.

You will assess and recommend basic daily living equipment, demonstrate safe use, and consider major home adaptations when necessary. Training, support, and supervision will be provided to help you develop confidence and competence in your role.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be shortlisted, your application should clearly demonstrate:

• Empathy and compassion towards individuals needing social care
• Knowledge of adult social care needs and challenges
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks effectively
• Proficiency in basic IT skills and willingness to learn new systems
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written

Application Process

Please upload your CV and answer the following questions:

• What motivates you to apply for this role, considering Surrey County Council's commitment to inclusivity?
• Describe your relevant experience or transferable skills for this role.
• What three qualities make you a good OTA, and how do they support Surrey's values of collaboration, inclusivity, and adaptability?

Contact and Application Details

For questions, contact us to discuss flexible working, transferable skills, or barriers to employment. The application deadline is 23:59 on 01/06/2025, with interviews to follow. Please click the 'apply online' button to submit your application.

Additional Information

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation, which will create new unitary councils by April 2027, transferring this role with existing terms. Our values are central to our identity; learn more about them and our 'Life at Surrey' handbook for insights into our culture.

We are committed to being a Disability Confident Employer. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria and disclose their disability will be guaranteed an interview. Adjustments can be requested during the application and onboarding process. We welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.