Children’s Housing Occupational Therapist – Senior

Location: Oxfordshire County Council – The Mount House, Didcot and/or Abingdon Area
Area: South East Social Services
Salary: £Negotiable
Job Type: Locum
Contract Length: 3 Months
Working Arrangement: Hybrid

Job Details

Oxfordshire County Council is seeking an experienced Senior Occupational Therapist to join its Children’s Services on a 3-month locum contract.

This is a specialist Children’s Housing Occupational Therapy role and is not suitable for newly qualified Occupational Therapists.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively across Social Care and partner agencies to promote independence through specialist Housing Occupational Therapy interventions. The role will involve assessing children and families predominantly in their own homes, with occasional visits to schools and other health and education settings.

You will work with parents and carers to understand both current and future needs while managing a complex caseload as part of a countywide service. Families allocated to this position will primarily be located in the South of Oxfordshire.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake specialist Housing Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions for babies, children and adolescents with diverse, complex and profound physical, developmental and learning needs.

• Assess children’s current and future needs and develop practical, person-centred solutions with parents and carers.

• Recommend and coordinate appropriate equipment, minor adaptations and major adaptations to meet individual needs and reduce risk.

• Work within relevant legislation and statutory guidance, including the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 and Children Act 1989.

• Provide specialist assessment and advice to children, parents and carers using a practical, problem-solving approach.

• Make recommendations to District Councils for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) in accordance with the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.

• Manage complex cases within an interdisciplinary and multi-agency environment, working autonomously and as a lone worker within the community.

• Take responsibility for a designated complex caseload, demonstrating advanced clinical knowledge and professional expertise.

• Plan and design major housing adaptations to meet the needs of disabled children and their families.

• Provide specialist advice and guidance to colleagues across Health, Education and Social Care.

• Assess and advise on strategies to reduce risks to children, parents and carers, taking account of Health & Safety, individual choice and safeguarding considerations.

• Maintain comprehensive, accurate and professionally defensible records in line with organisational requirements and professional standards.

• Prepare court reports and provide professional evidence at legal proceedings where required.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Occupational Therapy.

• Current HCPC registration.

• Significant post-registration Occupational Therapy experience.

• Experience working as a Housing Occupational Therapist, Children’s Occupational Therapist, or both is essential.

• Strong experience managing complex caseloads.

• Knowledge and experience of major and minor adaptations and housing-related OT interventions.

• Understanding of Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) and relevant housing legislation.

• Experience working with children and young people with physical, developmental and/or learning disabilities.

• Strong understanding of safeguarding and risk management.

• Ability to work autonomously and confidently as a lone practitioner in the community.

• Excellent multidisciplinary and multi-agency working skills.

• Strong assessment, clinical reasoning, report-writing and communication skills.

Working Arrangement

This is a hybrid countywide role. The successful candidate will be expected to attend an appropriate local/convenient office base approximately 3 days per week, arranged around visits to families.

The role will primarily cover families located in the South of Oxfordshire, including the Didcot and Abingdon area.

Why Apply?

• £Negotiable

• 3-month senior locum opportunity.

• Specialist Children’s Housing OT position.

• Hybrid working arrangement.

• Opportunity to work across Health, Education and Social Care.

• Varied and complex caseload involving adaptations, equipment and housing solutions.

• Excellent opportunity for an experienced Housing and/or Children’s OT to contribute to improved independence and quality of life for children and families.

Reference Code: U.479993.001009.B20971