Senior Occupational Therapist

This is an exciting opportunity for a Senior Occupational Therapist on a fixed term contract/secondment of 23 months to be part of our South Locality Team,The team is a multi-disciplinary service offering the people of Bristol a strengths-based approach to their support needs.

As a Senior Occupational Therapist in the service, you will be an important part of the leadership team, working alongside the Senior practitioners and supporting the Team Manager.

You play a critical role within a fast paced, multidisciplinary service, providing timely, strengths based clinical expertise for adults seeking support. If successful, you will lead on complex assessments, promote early intervention and prevention, and ensure that individuals receive proportionate, outcome focused responses that maximise independence, safety, and wellbeing.

This role blends expert Occupational therapy practice with leadership responsibilities, supporting the professional development of others, modelling best practice, and contributing to service improvement.

Offer professional triage and screening to support effective decision‑making. Recommend and implement evidence‑based interventions that reduce risk, enable independence, and prevent escalation of need.

Lead on complex Moving and handling, postural assessments and risk management plans.

Work collaboratively with service users, carers, and families to develop co‑produced support plans.

Work closely with social workers, occupational therapists, unregistered practitioners, and partner organisations to deliver integrated, holistic support.

Provide expert Occupational therapy input into multidisciplinary decision-making forums, panels, and case discussions.

Promoting an understanding of Occupational therapy as a specialism within the service and working towards greater integrated practise.

Build strong relationships with external partners including health services, housing, and voluntary sector organisations within the community.

Manage our duty desk on a rotational basis – triaging referrals to enable a proportionate response based on risk, urgency and need.

Supervise, and support Occupational Therapist, Social Care Practitioners, and Occupational Therapy assistants, within the service.

Work within the statutory structure of the Care Act 2014 and other relevant legislation, supporting practitioners to undertake high quality Care Act Assessments, Carer assessments, S42 Enquiry planning, Mental Capacity Assessments and Best Interest Assessments.

Work closely with internal and external agencies and departments across all Adult Social Care.

Have a strong passion for Equalities and Inclusion to ensure people who draw on care and support are strengthened from their individuality.

Travel across the City either from home or from South Community Links where the service is based. Currently, working from home is permitted but you would be expected to work from the office a minimum of 2 days per week.

Please note that this role is also subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How do I apply?

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

For permanent Bristol City Council employees, this post will be a secondment.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

If you are currently a casual worker or a member of an employment agency (currently working with Bristol City Council) this post will be a fixed term contract.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

Bristol City Council are not offering sponsorship for this role.

Please contact Amanda Jay OT Team Manager for further information or an informa discussion on 07464989847

At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the city we serve. We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.