The Role:
You will be located in the South quadrant within the Adult Social Care Early Intervention Service based in the community team. Together with the Line Manager and Occupational Leads to develop practice and delivery of Occupational Therapy within Adult Social Care. Your case work will focus on the most complex and challenging Adult cases. Your workload will also include providing clinical OT supervision and facilitating problem solving to ensure best value. You be an effective communicator and committed to delivering a high quality service and work with partner agencies.

Job Purpose Summary:
Under supervision of the Line Manager you will hold and sustain a caseload consisting mainly of complex cases to which the post holder is able to bring to bear the highest standards of professional practice. You will have a sound depth of knowledge in relevant research, legislation, policy, moving and handling and practice methods. To provide specialist advice and professional supervision for Occupational Therapists and Community Support Workers within Early Intervention Teams and contribute to the development and support of links with other sectors and partner organisations.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Non Line Manager Core Accountabilities
* Facilitate choice and empowerment through promoting independence as far as possible.
* Ensure that Adults and their families are safeguarded and that Southend, Essex and Thurrock (SET) safeguarding procedures are followed.
* Provide information and advice about other areas of support available to the Adult and their families.
* To brief line/team manager on all relevant developments on own and supervisees cases.
* Actively and regularly participate in Essex County Councils supervision and Supporting Success Review to ensure best practice.
* Contribute to the development and training of students on practice placement.
* Assist in the development of new service initiatives and implementation.
* To participate in the on-going development and training of the team, and the service area. Attending team meetings and sharing ideas and best practice.
* Required to be mobile throughout Essex and therefore a valid driving licence and use of car required.

Role Specific Accountabilities
* Carry out specialist assessment/reviews of Adults and families taking into account their needs and the impact of societal, attitudinal, cultural and environmental barriers which prevent participation in activities of daily living.
* To take account of the impact of long term impairment on the development of the Adult, their carers and family, considering their social, economic, personal well-being.
* Assess the needs and risks for Adults and identify actions appropriate to meet needs and address risk.
* Request and organise appropriate services in response to Adults and their carers to meet their eligible needs whilst ensuring best value.
* To liaise, consult and work effectively with other professionals in order to identify and meet the Adults and their family's needs e.g. Social Care staff, Essex Equipment Service, Health Care professionals, District Councils, Housing Teams, Care providers.
* Provide detailed and professional written reports and plans to meet needs and aspirations and present ideas and solutions to meet identified needs.
* Make recommendations and provide sketches, diagrams and specifications for adaptations to the Adult's accommodation to remove environmental barriers where possible and liaise with other professionals and agencies to meet complex needs.
* Ensure the safe use of equipment and adaptations, evaluate and review its effectiveness (following and evidencing a risk based approaches) and teach Adult's, their families and care providers to safely use equipment and comply with relevant legislation, policy and guidelines.
* To hold a caseload of complex cases.
* Provide supervision for Occupational Therapists.
* To take a lead on moving and handling support, and provide comprehensive manual handling plans to reduce risk to Adults and Care providers.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

* Diploma of the College of Occupational Therapists or BSc.O.T. or other professional qualification recognised by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
* Registration with the Health Professions Council as an Occupational Therapist
* A sound knowledge of equipment and adaptations available to promote independence.
* A minimum of 3 + years post qualification experience.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.

If you have any queries regarding this role, or require anything further, please contact the Resourcing Team on 0333 013 5888.