Department of Health and Wellbeing
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy Assessor (OTA) Level 1 and 2
PayScale level 1 £31,022-£33,699
PayScale level 2 £34,434-£36,363
Progression process to move from Level 1 to Level 2
Permanent
Based within the Bradford City Area
We appreciate your interest in working with Bradford Council.
Here in Bradford, great things happen. A vibrant community, innovative businesses, and institutions make up our large, young, and diverse city. At the heart of the North, the district possesses unmatched potential, a growing pipeline of talent, and an exceptional quality of life. A thriving urban district with award-winning public realm, but also two-thirds rural, boasting beautiful landscapes, and open spaces on its doorstep; the district offers opportunities for leisure and lifestyle.
A dynamic cultural sector is central to Bradford's vision for social and economic inclusion. There is an impressive cultural heritage in the district as well as a diverse and exciting contemporary offer with world-class writers, filmmakers, musicians, artists, and foodies.
We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our forward thinking, developing Occupational Therapy department. We have a team of skilled, dedicated, friendly and supportive staff; we are seeking an Occupational Therapy Assessor to support our Occupational Therapy Service provide high-quality service for people we work with.
As an Occupational Therapy Assessor, you will work closely with the occupational therapists to carry your own caseload and provide a person centred, equitable, high quality Occupational Therapy Service supported by your occupational therapy supervisor.
We strive to support Bradford Citizens to remain active, independent, and involved with their communities through personalised, strength-based and TEC supported approaches.
The staff work in a variety of settings including intermediate care, enablement, evaluating care packages, equipment, minor adaptations, major adaptations, and moving and handling.
This post will include structured rotations between the teams to support you to develop your skills and knowledge within a variety of clinical areas.
Team info
Enablement: This is a small but fast paced and dynamic team. The team supports home care and private providers to deliver safe care, with an emphasis on enablement, to people in their own homes. The service promotes best practice within moving and handling, assess and provide equipment to enable individual’s independence/quality of life, support with the reviewing of care packages and screen urgent equipment requests from care providers, who we work in close collaboration with.
Early Help and Prevention (EHAP): The main remit for this team is to provide early occupational help and prevention to enable people to remain in their own homes, be as independent as possible, build on their strengths and resources and engaged with their local communities.
The Occupational Therapy Service works collaboratively with multi-disciplinary colleagues to devise creative and person-centred solutions as an alternative to traditional services and also links with available community resources within the Bradford and Airedale areas.
Home Assessment Team (HAT): The team undertake functional assessments of varying complexity within the home environment. The team considers either providing equipment, minor, or more complex major adaptations to meet people’s assessed needs, signposts people to other services as well as making recommendations for Disabled Facilities Grant funded major property adaptations, based on assessed needs.
Independence Advice Hub (IAH): The team works with people who have contacted Bradford Council to request occupational therapy assessments. We conduct telephone or virtual assessments where you may provide advice and information, signpost customers to other services or provide equipment or adaptations to meet people’s assessed needs. Where a face-to-face assessment is required, people are referred onto the appropriate team.
The successful candidate must possess the following skills:
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Have evidence of having previously spoken fluently to members of the public to meet advanced threshold level
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Have a knowledge and practical understanding of relevant legislation including the Care Act and Housing legislation.
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Be open to new ideas and be able to encourage others to adapt to and embrace change.
The successful candidate must possess the following qualifications:
OTA Level 1 – NVQ 2 in Health and Social Care subject or equivalent qualification or be able to demonstrate experience to operate at this level.
OTA Level 2 - NVQ 3 in a relevant Health and Social Care subject or equivalent qualification or demonstrate experience to operate at this level.
Any other specialist qualification as required by the specific service area.
The successful candidate must possess the following experience:
Level 2: A minimum of 3500 hours (approx. two years’ full time) worked experience as an Occupational Therapy Assistant / Assessor.
Level 1: Desirable - Experience of working as an Occupational Therapy Assistant/Assessor or equivalent in a community setting.
What can Bradford Council offer you?
Bradford Council offers a range of attractive benefits to employees including: - belonging to the excellent West Yorkshire Pension fund, an outstanding Employee Health and Wellbeing service and opportunity to take up several discount schemes. There are additional benefits such as:
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The induction process, mentoring, and support of experienced colleagues.
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Support professional development through training and dedicated monthly CPD time.
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A flexible, hybrid approach to working.
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Generous annual leave allowances.
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Bradford Council offers travel benefits for various modes of transport to employees.
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Our recently introduced employee benefits and shopping discounts scheme ‘Vivup’.
This platform gives you access to:
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Exclusive shopping discounts
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24/7 employee assistance programme (EAP)
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Free will writing.
Join Team Bradford!
The Code of Practice on the English language requirement for public sector workers, Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 requires that Councils ensure that all candidates applying for customer facing posts must be assessed to establish their fluency in English.
The criteria under special knowledge and experience on the job profile which is shown in this advert outlines what level of fluency you will be expected to demonstrate. Therefore, it is essential that you provide examples in your application.
For further information regarding this post please contact Helen Mckeown (OT Team Manager) on 07582 108012 or email [email protected]
This post is not open to international recruitment.
An enhanced disclosure check with the Disclosure and Barring Service will be undertaken for this post.
Employee Offer
Why work for Bradford Council? Find out why by taking a look at Our Employee Offer.pdf
Equal Opportunities
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to thrive. If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process to support your application, please let us know, and we will work with you to meet your needs.
The RESPECT Allyship Programme is available to all staff, which offers the opportunity to learn more about the diverse communities & groups and provides added benefits and resources to its members.
