Job Purpose

ECC Adult Social Care, through effective practice, is moving towards a transformational shift from a focus on long-term care support, to a model with four key principles: - prevention; early intervention; enablement and safeguarding.

This will enable people, their families and carers to access information and tools, live healthily and independently and for our function an opportunity to respond pro-actively to growing service demand in a sustainable way, within the financial constraints of the Council.

Senior Occupational Therapists are passionate in delivering expert and effective assessments of risk and therapeutic interventions which build resilience for vulnerable adults. Managing the more complex cases, quality assuring interventions to ensure safeguarding and balancing financial obligations.

A qualified Occupational Therapist, with the ability to demonstrate excellent practice and model this to other staff. Proven track record of working closely with the community is essential.

Service/Functional Accountabilities

• Senior Occupational Therapists hold a complex caseload and provide expert advice and guidance, support and professional consultation for social care staff and partners, contributing to the development of the four key principles.
• Accountable for assessment and identification of appropriate systems of support, facilitating service user choice which empowers people and enables them to live healthily and independently.
• Accountable for working within the statutory legal framework, policy and guidance within the Care Act 2015 and ensuring vulnerable people are safeguarded.
• Working collaboratively with statutory and non-statutory/voluntary agencies ensuring a joined-up approach which facilitates the authorisation and purchasing of appropriate services, as identified by the service user and carer.
• Responsible for providing specifications which evaluate the safe use of equipment and adaptations and comply with relevant legislation, policy and guidelines on safe working practices, thereby reducing risks.
• Accountable for developing assessment and support plans, using appropriate tools to enable validation and provide brokerage/support advice through negotiation with service providers to meet these.
• Accountable for conducting assessments and plan responses to safeguard a child or vulnerable adult include intervention as required.
• Builds strong effective working relationships across the Council, with partners and members of voluntary agencies to help people age well.
• Delivers a high level of expertise in particular areas of practice and leads on those areas, contributing to the development of the four key principles.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Diploma of the College of Occupational Therapists or B.Sc O.T. or other professional qualification recognised by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists
• Evidence of continuing professional development and demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards eg professional capability frameworks, knowledge and skills statement. Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Significant experience in a social care setting, demonstrating a comprehensive and up to date understanding of all relevant legislation, regulation and guidance.
• Particular experience in the areas of specialist equipment, major adaptations and moving and handling.
• Experience of mentoring and supervising both newly qualified and experienced staff and being a subject matter expert in professional practice.
• Experience screening, triaging, and managing demands of incoming referrals to the service and allocations to staff.
• Experience of chairing meetings involving clients, family members and/or carers and other multi-agency professionals.
• Developing strong relationships with partners, other agencies and the local community to achieve joint objectives and offer a supportive framework for children and vulnerable adults.
• Understanding of the financial implications of care packages commissioned.
• Proven track record of clear decision making in order to highlight and limit the potential risks associated with intervention

This role involves travelling around Essex. A driving licence and car - or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means - is essential. However, given the current pandemic Essex County Council continues to review its ways of working during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. We continue to work within adult social care with a focus on "digital first", where the default position is, where possible, for our staff to work from home (this is continuously reviewed).

All candidates applying to Adult Social Care will be expected to join on a 12-week rota on a 6-day shift pattern and this will include some weekend work.

Please note that Essex County Council has determined that the off-payroll working rules will apply to this assignment and where a worker elects to provide their services through an intermediary (such as a personal services company) then income tax and primary national insurance contributions will be deducted at source from any payments made to the intermediary.

As part of employment with Essex County Council 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. For further information on the DBS update service please visit: https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

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.