Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational Therapy Assistant (Temporary Maternity Cover)

Salary: C1 £28,598 – £31,022

Hours: 37

Contract: Temporary maternity cover

Location: Blue Badge Service – St Georges Centre, Leeds City Council

Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) are part of the Disability Services Teams within the wider Early Intervention Service. OTAs work alongside Occupational Therapists, Rehabilitation Officers and Visual Impairment staff to conduct home assessments of disabled and older adults, with a strength‑based, occupational focus that aims to reduce, delay and prevent the need for formal care. OTAs undertake enhanced screening of referrals, provide information, advice and determine the best pathway for individuals, and support the work of Registered Occupational Therapists.

Responsibilities

• Undertake assessments for service users, identifying needs and recommending equipment and adaptations to support independence.
• Carry a caseload of appropriately allocated cases, developing and reviewing outcome‑focused interventions to promote independent wellbeing and inclusion.
• Work alongside Occupational Therapists and Reablement staff to deliver reablement/rehabilitation to improve service user confidence and independence.
• Analyse information to support ongoing needs of service users, their families and carers.
• Prepare concise, informative written and verbal reports based on a range of information sources.
• Maintain and update case notes and other records, ensuring accurate documentation.
• Deliver, fit and collect equipment as appropriate, including necessary moving and handling of equipment.
• Contribute to enhanced screening of new referrals and current service users.
• Use management information systems, keeping them up to date and able to provide concise, accurate information within data‑protection limits.
• Ensure compliance with relevant governance, policy and procedures.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals to ensure an integrated, holistic and multidisciplinary approach to care management and safeguarding.
• Collaborate with other council services, including Social Work, Neighbourhood Teams and Housing, to deliver effective solutions to barriers faced by disabled people.
• Make appropriate referrals to Housing for service users requiring rehousing.
• Promote improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities.
• Apply all relevant policies and procedures, including health and safety, confidentiality and data protection.
• Assist with the practice education of undergraduate OT students.
• Work within the safeguarding framework, raising alerts and assisting with risk management where individuals have experienced or may experience significant harm.
• Participate in meetings and relevant forums.
• Organise work activities, prioritising tasks and responsibilities to meet statutory legislation and service priorities.
• Respond to equipment breakdowns.
• Maintain performance to prescribed standards, developing practice and experience in line with personal targets agreed with line manager through supervision and appraisal.
• Work in a community‑based social and/or health care setting, travelling to different locations across the city as required.
• Work as part of a team, maintaining effective relationships with colleagues, service users, families, carers and other agencies.
• Be flexible and adaptable to change, supporting other services as required.
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to keep knowledge and skills up to date.
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation and discussion with colleagues.
• Collaborate with colleagues, seeking help and advice when needed.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days and events as requested.
• Ensure awareness of—and support for—equality, diversity and anti‑discriminatory practice.
• Recognise and challenge incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation, and report concerns appropriately.
• Work within the council’s flexibility protocol.
• Perform any other duties within the spirit of the post, commensurate with the job evaluation outcome.

Qualifications

Skills Required:

• Flexible across work locations and areas.
• Effective planning, managing, prioritising and evaluating work with service users.
• Accurate communication of information to partners, service users, carers and colleagues.
• Engage individuals, families, carers and workers from other agencies.
• Carry out assessments of people with less‑complex needs.
• Devise and implement appropriate equipment and adaptation recommendations.
• Maintain accurate service user records, following policy and procedure.
• Record, evidence and communicate using technology.
• Exercise individual judgement, assess risk and consult appropriately.
• Use supervision proactively to understand professional boundaries.
• Carry necessary equipment for assessment and provision.
• Carry out safe functional assessments and provide physical assistance when required.
• Possess a full, current driving licence and access to a car (not required for Blue Badge Assessment Team).

Knowledge Required:

• Basic understanding of legislation and current issues affecting disabled adults from diverse backgrounds.
• Understanding of statutory and voluntary agency roles and responsibilities.
• Confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families and carers.
• Diversity issues within local communities.
• Barriers faced by disabled people.
• Basic IT skills, including Microsoft Office, internet and e‑mail.
• Health and safety, security, confidentiality and data protection responsibilities.

Experience Required:

• Experience working with disabled people in a paid or voluntary capacity.

Essential Behavioural & Other Characteristics:

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values, behaviours and code of conduct.
• Commit to continuous improvement, supporting the council’s ambition for health & wellbeing, inclusive growth and zero carbon.
• Observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Adhere to health and safety policies and procedures.
• Actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to support other services as required.
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities.
• Comply with council policies and procedures.
• Support difference and promote equality, upholding equality & diversity policies.
• Report any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation appropriately.
• Adhere to the council’s flexibility protocol.

Desirable Requirements:

• Awareness of safeguarding issues associated with vulnerable people.
• Strong report‑writing and communication skills.
• Knowledge of the Care Act scope relating to equipment and adaptations.
• Application of information‑gathering skills to contribute to assessments.
• Effective use of supervision.

Discrimination and Equality Statement: We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from women, carers, veterans, LGBT+ individuals, ethnically diverse, disabled and care‑experienced people.

Right to Work: Applicants must evidence their right to work in the United Kingdom prior to commencing employment, as required by UK law. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, please consider your eligibility for sponsorship before applying.

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