Occupational Therapist

Birth to Settled Adulthood Service – Paediatric Occupational Therapist

This is an exciting time to join our recently established Birth to Settled Adulthood Service, supporting disabled children, young people and their families from birth through to adulthood. The service brings together a range of teams including social care, early help, short breaks, young carers and paediatric occupational therapy, all working closely to provide the right support at the right time.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a developing service with a clear focus on helping disabled young people prepare for adulthood and achieve positive, lasting outcomes. Working with us you will join a committed, friendly and highly skilled team who are passionate about improving the lives of disabled children and young people across Dorset. The service values collaboration, creativity and flexibility as it continues to evolve, and you will be supported to contribute your own experience and ideas.

You can expect regular supervision, team and service-wide meetings, and access to a wide range of training and development opportunities, with flexible working considered wherever possible.

• Manage a varied caseload, completing assessments and supporting the provision of specialist equipment and minor and major adaptations tailored to individual needs.
• Work closely with colleagues in children's social care, adult services and other sectors to support smooth and timely transitions into adulthood.
• Collaborate with health, education, housing, the Dorset Accessible Homes Service, the Integrated Equipment Service and external professionals such as builders, architects, surveyors and equipment providers.
• Receive regular supervision and appropriate training to support ongoing professional development.

• Qualified and experienced Paediatric Occupational Therapist with strong knowledge of moving and handling, adaptation work and specialist paediatric equipment.
• BSc in Occupational Therapy or equivalent, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). A good understanding of disability and its impact on children, parents and families, alongside knowledge of child development and family dynamics.
• Understanding of children's safeguarding procedures, relevant childcare legislation, current practice and experience working with disabled children and families.
• Excellent communication skills, able to communicate clearly and confidently in spoken English.

• Degree in social work, Occupational Therapy or equivalent.
• Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Ability to fulfil the travel requirements of the post.

This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders. See our policy on safeguarding children and young people. See our adult safeguarding policy.

For an informal discussion, please contact Karen Long, Team Manager Occupational Therapist, on or by email at [email protected].

• Access to a range of employee benefits and training opportunities to support personal development and career progression.
• Be part of an organisation that supports each other to grow and succeed.
• Work in a diverse and inclusive environment – Diversity & Inclusion are core values; opportunities for applicants with diverse skills, perspectives and backgrounds.
• We are a Disability Confident Employer and offer accessible interview processes for applicants with disabilities.
• We provide 450+ services to over 300,000 residents, with ambitious aspirations for developing the community.
• We care about Dorset and all the people who live here, recognising that all roles make a difference and our employees are key to our success.

We have a commitment to equality and welcome applications from everyone. We will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated our values as part of the selection process.