Principal Occupational Therapist

Liquid Personnel; West of England; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free DBS and compliance service

Twice weekly payroll and Faster Pay

Exclusive social work training and CPD

Refer a Friend bonus – £500

Find your own job bonus – £250

Job summary

Liquid Personnel is seeking an experienced Principal Occupational Therapist for a client based in Bristol. This leadership role shapes Adult Social Care practice and drives service transformation.

You’ll lead OT across adults and children’s services, influence strategic direction, and champion high-quality, person-centred care across the city. As part of a forward-thinking leadership team, you’ll oversee workforce development, support professional growth, and ensure excellence in OT practice.

Qualifications

• Recognised OT qualification (DipCOT, BSc or equivalent).
• Current HCPC registration.
• Significant social care OT experience including supervisory/management roles.
• Strong project management capability.
• Ability to manage budgets, resources and competing priorities effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic oversight of OT, Carers Services and Workforce Development.
• Support senior leadership to meet operational and strategic priorities.
• Champion high standards of OT across adult and children’s services.
• Provide professional leadership to OTs, social care practitioners and partner agencies.
• Drive service improvement and build a high-performing workforce.
• Oversee the Workforce Development Team and staff training.
• Promote strengths-based, person-centred approaches.
• Foster a supportive, inclusive leadership environment.
• Enable professional development and career progression.
• Support flexible working and staff wellbeing.
• Make a city-wide impact on adults, children and families.

Skills

Project management

Budget management

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Education

DipCOT / BSc or equivalent

Job description

Liquid Personnel is seeking an experienced Occupational Therapist for its client based in Bristol.

Step into a leadership role where your expertise shapes the future of Adult Social Care.

Our client is looking for an exceptional Principal Occupational Therapist to join their forward‑thinking leadership team. If you’re an experienced OT ready to influence practice at a strategic level, drive service transformation and champion high‑quality, person‑centred care across Bristol, this is your opportunity.

About the role:

As Principal OT, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering our transformation plan and embedding our target operating model. You’ll provide professional leadership acrossAdult Social CareandChildren’s Services, ensuring excellence in OT practice and supporting the development of a skilled, confident and culturally responsive workforce.

This is a high‑impact position where your decisions shape service delivery, professional standards and long‑term outcomes for Bristol’s residents.

What will your responsibilities be?

• Lead strategic oversight ofOccupational Therapy,Carers Services, andWorkforce Development.
• Support the senior leadership team in meeting operational and strategic priorities.
• Champion high standards of OT practice across adult and children’s services.
• Provide expert professional leadership to OTs, social care practitioners and partner agencies.
• Drive service improvement and contribute to a cohesive, high‑performing workforce.
• Oversee the Workforce Development Team, ensuring robust training and professional growth.
• Promote strengths‑based, person‑centred approaches that empower individuals and maximise independence.
• A supportive, inclusive leadership environment.
• Genuine opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• Flexible working arrangements and a strong commitment to staff wellbeing.
• The chance to make a meaningful, city‑wide impact on the lives of adults, children and families.
• Access to extensive staff benefits, training and development resources.

Qualifications & Experience:

A confident, forward‑thinking leader with:

• A recognised OT qualification (DipCOT, BSc or equivalent).
• CurrentHCPC registration.
• Significant experience in social care OT, including supervisory or management responsibilities.
• Strong project management capability.
• The ability to manage budgets, resources and competing priorities effectively.
• A passion for driving high‑quality, strengths‑based practice.
• Free DBS and compliance service
• Twice weekly payroll and ‘Faster Pay’ service, getting you paid more quickly
• Access to exclusive roles thataren’tavailable from other agencies
• Free access to Liquid’s exclusive social work training and CPD portal
• Your own dedicated consultant with extensive social work knowledge
• Access to a wide selection of social work positions across the UK
• “Refer a Friend” bonus – get £500 for each social worker you refer who we successfully place*
• “Find your own job” bonus – get £250 for bringing your own position to us *

Liquid Personnel is an equal opportunities employer. Liquid Personnel Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. * Terms and conditions apply to our bonus schemes.

Reasonable Adjustments:

If you consider yourself to have a disability or require any reasonable adjustment during the recruitment process or within the workplace, please highlight this at the earliest opportunity by contacting our team. With this information, we will provideappropriate supportto you throughout the process and into your work placement.

We are unable to support or accept applications from candidates who are residents within the Red or Amber list of the Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England, based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) Workforce Support and Safeguard List.