Occupational Therapists - Learning Disability and Autism Team

The starting salary is £36,282 per annum based on a 36-hour working week. This is equivalent to that of a band 6 OT in a health care setting. We have both full-time (36 hours per week) and a part time (18 hours per week) positions available.

Could you help someone with a learning disability live their best life?

If yes, we have the perfect opportunity for you in our Learning Disability and Autism team!

The Learning Disability and Autism team in Adult Social Care at Surrey County Council is looking for Occupational Therapists to work across the West of Surrey (office base in Guildford) and the East of Surrey (office base in Leatherhead).

Surrey County Council is determined to transform the way it works, this includes how it provides support to people with a learning disability and/or autism. As such, the Learning Disability and Autism Occupational Therapy Service has been created and we are looking for Occupational Therapists who are passionate about working with clients with learning disabilities and/or autism, and who wish to make a difference to our clients’ lives. 

Your input will be paramount in helping to shape the team to achieve its vision as well as delivering a high-quality service to the residents of Surrey.

By being part of this specialist team, you will be given the opportunity to either learn, re-learn and/or develop your skills, knowledge and experience working with this client group.

About the Role

Our client group range from younger to older adults and have a variety of needs which include sensory processing difficulties, anxiety and emotional regulation difficulties, motor and perpetual skills and difficulties with functional life skills. You will develop a range of skills and tools to enable you to undertake frontline holistic occupational therapy assessments and build your professional experience in major adaptations, reablement skills gain programmes, and moving and handling assessments with the aim of supporting our clients to live independently in the community. You will be required to carry out visits (clients’ homes, residential care and nursing homes) and on occasion travel outside of the county. There are opportunities to work innovatively with technology enabled care and with our colleagues both within the council and in health and community teams.

About You

To be shortlisted to interview for the role of Occupational Therapist your CV and Personal Statement will clearly evidence:

• Lived experience or experience of working with clients who have learning disabilities in a social care or Health care setting  
• An ability to work autonomously, confidently and advocate for our client group 
• Flexibility to travel around the county
• An Occupational Therapy degree / qualification / HCPC registration  
• Hold a valid Driving Licence and have use of a car

For more information, please find the full job description below and refer to this before submitting your application. We look forward to receiving your CV and personal statement clearly demonstrating how you meet the job criteria.

We Can Offer You:

• Induction, mentoring and support from experienced colleagues
• HCPC fees re-imbursement
• Training to support in your continuing professional development e.g. Senior Readiness
• Innovative technology: 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 £1,000
• 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

At Surrey, our values and behaviours are just as important as our skills and abilities. They shape who we are as an organisation. Find out more about the values we follow. 

We also invite you to read our Life at Surrey handbook to see insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Closing Date

We are reviewing applications and interviewing on an on-going basis.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

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 please contact Mikaela Wall on 07929011219 or via email at mikaela.ellingham@surreycc.gov.uk.

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.