Senior Occupational Therapist (Mental Health)

The starting salary for this role is £41,127 per annum for working 36 hours per week. Both full-time and part-time applications would be considered.

The Mental Health Service within the Adult Social Care directorate at Surrey County Council is seeking to appoint:

• 1 Senior Occupational Therapists in a newly created team, based at Fairmount House in Leatherhead
• 1 Senior Occupational Therapist in the Enabling Independence team, based at Quadrant Court in Woking

About the Team

Surrey County Council is determined to transform the way it works. As such, a new team has been created in Mental Health, to help us to enable individuals living with mental health conditions to have the choice and control over their support needs. We believe that by exploring people's goals and aspirations, and the strengths they have themselves or around them, we can help people to stay independent for longer and connected to their communities.

Joining us, you will be part of a multi-skilled team which includes: social workers, occupational therapists, AMHPs, social care assistants, reablement colleagues and an occupational therapy assistant team manager. You will also work with colleagues across all sectors to arrange appropriate support in the community including engagement in safe hospital discharge, ensuring a high standard of Occupational Therapy provision.

About the Role

The role will require you to assess and manage the impact of people’s physical and mental health conditions on their occupational performance. You will put into practice the legislation underpinning, and your professional experience of, mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions, specialist mental health assessments, moving and handling risk assessments and intervention, equipment provision, major adaptations and rehabilitation with the aim of supporting and empowering people to live meaningful lives within the community. You may also be required to undertake safeguarding work for those under your care. You’ll utilise a range of skills to lead frontline holistic assessments of occupational therapy needs and planning support across a dedicated caseload of adults with both mental and physical health needs within a mental health social care setting.

As a Senior Occupational Therapist, you will have an influence on the future development of the team and will be responsible for supporting and providing clinical supervision to more junior members of staff.

The Senior Occupational Therapist in the Enabling Independence team will support a new and innovative pathway within the Surrey enablement service for people with mental health difficulties at the GP level to deliver a custom service for those with reablement potential who have mental health and, in some cases, also physical difficulties. This new initiative is to allow enablement/reablement to be inclusive to more residents at the GP level working with mental health services. The post holder will cover the North West area of Surrey.

About You

To be shortlisted to interview for the Senior Occupational Therapist role your application will clearly evidence:

• Substantial post qualification experience of working within a social care and/or mental health setting, including routine experience of complex casework and risk assessment
• Knowledge of social care and mental health policy and legislation is essential, as is a background in working directly with people with variable, unstable or challenging social care and mental health needs
• Proven and excellent supervisory experience and skills
• An ability to undertake moving and handling risk assessments, major adaptations assessments and more specialist cognitive/mental health assessments
• Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle, with the flexibility to work across the County of Surrey. 

This is a rolling advert and we will be reviewing applications and interviewing on an on-going basis.

An Enhanced DBS ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children’s and Adults’ Barred List checks will be required for this role.

Contact Details

For an informal discussion about the Leatherhead roles, please contact Mary Ogunlayi by email at mary.ogunlayi@surreycc.gov.uk. Regarding the Woking role, please contact caroline.hewlett@surreycc.gov.uk. 

We look forward to receiving your CV and personal statement clearly demonstrating how you meet the job criteria. Please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Benefits

We can offer you:

• Induction, mentoring and support from experienced colleagues
• Training to support in your continuing professional development, e.g. senior readiness
• Innovative technology: laptop and mobile phones are provided. Front line staff will get touch screen hybrid devices to allow you to work in an agile way and minimise unnecessary travel
• Work/life balance: flexible working is supported where possible, including working from home or hot desking at several County Council sites
• 26 days annual leave (28 after 2 years' service) plus 8 bank holidays
• Relocation assistance of up to £8,000, subject to meeting eligibility criteria
• Refer a friend scheme: earn up to £1000
• A generous local government salary-related pension
• 24/7 employee assistance programme (EAP)
• Option to join our car lease scheme and many more discounted life-style benefits, please visit MyBenefits for Surrey County Council staff for more information

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer of first choice reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all under represented groups.