Senior Occupational Therapist - Mental Health Social Care Team

Reading Borough Council; England; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK is seeking a motivated Senior Occupational Therapist to join the Mental Health Team in Adult Social Care. This role allows for innovative working methods and the chance to support service users in regaining skills. The position includes mentoring other team members and recording client progress while maintaining a positive impact on team outcomes. Flexible hybrid working options are available, along with generous benefits including holidays and pension schemes.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working opportunities

Local Government Pension Scheme

On-site nursery

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car salary sacrifice scheme

Qualifications

• Senior Occupational Therapist with a keen interest in mental health.
• Experience in SMART goal setting and a reablement approach.
• Ability to work closely with other agencies for positive outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Hold a varied caseload and contribute to team performance.
• Support and mentor other team members.
• Record client progress on Mosaic and contribute to project data.

Skills

Interest in mental health

SMART goal setting

Reablement approach

Strength-based outcomes

Positive risk taking

Negotiation skills

Good communication skills

Job description

About the Role

As a Local Authority working for the community, we are looking for a motivated and talented Senior Occupational Therapist to join our Mental Health Team within Adult Social Care. This represents an opportunity for an OT to use their skills in the development of new and creative ways of working, in a role that is different from a “standard” OT role.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We support hybrid working, it’s important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you’ll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.

The Mental Health Social Care Team is an Adult Social Care Service made up of Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, AMHPs and Social Care Coordinators.

We work with service users who have a diagnosed mental health condition who have social care needs.

Responsibilities

Hold a varied caseload and contribute to the team performance and positive outcomes for our residents. As a Senior you will be supporting and mentoring other members within the team.

As part of the reablement model you will stand back, observe, encourage and prompt individuals to learn new skills or re‑learn skills they may have lost after a period of mental ill health or crisis/hospital stay.

Record progress of clients, mostly on Mosaic, in line with project deliverables and contribute to project management data and information held by the Transformation Team.

Key Characteristics of the Service

• Helping people to do things for themselves, rather than doing things to or for them
• Outcomes‑focused structured work
• Setting and working towards specific goals agreed with the client
• Building on what people can do and their personal aspirations, supporting them to engage in meaningful activities and gain skills to increase confidence and independence
• Reducing the level of ongoing support needed after the period of reablement

Qualifications and Experience

• Senior Occupational Therapist with a keen interest in mental health
• Knowledge or experience of one or more of the following:
  • SMART goal setting
  • Reablement approach
  • Strength‑based outcomes
  • Positive risk taking
  • Working closely with other agencies to achieve positive outcomes for clients
  • Negotiation skills
  • Good communication skills

Our Vision and Values

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

• Work Together as one team – work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
• Drive Efficiency – show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
• Be Ambitious – be demanding of our own performance, striving to be even better, and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
• Make a Difference to Reading – maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

Our Offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

Benefits

• Generous holiday entitlement – 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays – rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On‑site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan – a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

Contact

If you would like more information or an informal discussion, please contact Ruvimbo Katsholo, Team Manager at [e-mail].

Recruitment Details

Closing date: Sunday 8th February 2026
Interview date: To be confirmed
Interview setup: In person at the Civic Offices, Reading

Find Out More

Visit: www.moretoreading.co.uk to find out more about Reading’s Community & Adult Social Care Services. It’s a chance to hear from the people who already work here and why they have chosen Reading as their professional destination.