Children's Senior Occupational Therapist

This senior post sits in the Children's Occupational Therapy service within the Children with Disabilities team East at Surrey County Council. Work centres on assessing children's needs at home and arranging equipment, advice and home adaptations with families and partner councils. The senior role covers complex, higher-risk cases and supervising and training less experienced staff and students, with home or remote working offered.

HCPC registration and a valid driving licence with access to a vehicle are required.

• Assess children's needs in the home and advise on independence, function and safe care
• Provide specialist equipment, manual handling assessments and home adaptations with district and borough councils
• Manage complex cases, balancing risk and safeguarding with the child's needs at the centre
• Assess and manage higher levels of risk, balancing support and control
• Work with children, parents and carers to remove barriers and promote daily activities
• Collaborate with a wide network of professionals, including more senior levels
• Share responsibility for the induction, supervision and training of less experienced staff and students
• Offer expert support at case meetings
• Recommend equipment and adaptations within the budget set by assessed need
• Advise less experienced colleagues on budget and cost of services
• Apply professional judgement to employ interventions that promote choice, control and independence

• Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy

• HCPC registration

• Experience in children's social care occupational therapy or other children's occupational therapy

• Current applied knowledge of national and local social care policy, guidance and legislation
• Understanding of confidentiality and information governance in social care
• Understanding of how diversity affects practice
• Clear, concise, jargon-free communication, verbal and written
• Engaging people in complex situations and difficult conversations
• Explaining professional reasoning and decisions clearly in records

• Valid UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

• Chairing meetings and offering expert support at case meetings
• Developing partnership working across multi-agency and multidisciplinary teams
• Understanding power differentials and using authority appropriately
• Basic IT and numeracy skills for monitoring discussions
• Willingness to travel across a wide geographical area
• Skilled professional judgement in interventions, including in crises

• Flexible working
• Home or remote working
• Guaranteed interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting criteria
• Support with adjustments from application to first day