Description
We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.
The starting salary for this role is £81,796 per annum, working 36 hours per week.
Are you ready to lead, inspire, and make a lasting difference in the lives of Surrey's residents? We are seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking leader to join us as our new Head of Reablement & Principal Occupational Therapist—a pivotal role at the heart of our Adults Wellbeing and Health Partnerships Directorate.
The role is based in Woodhatch Place, Reigate, however the actual base location can be discussed at interview.
Our Offer to You
1. 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
2. Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
3. A generous local government salary related pension
4. Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
5. Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
6. An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
7. Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
8. Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
9. A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.
About the Role
As Head of Reablement & Principal Occupational Therapist, you will:
10. Provide Strategic Leadership: Oversee the Council's Reablement Services, ensuring they remain compliant, innovative, and focused on continuous improvement. You'll set the vision and direction for a large, geographically dispersed team, working collaboratively with partners across health and social care.
11. Champion Integration: Drive the integration of local intermediate care services, working closely with commissioning leaders and health partners to align in-house and external provision with our priorities—promoting independence, prevention, and early intervention for residents.
12. Lead Professional Excellence: As Principal Occupational Therapist, you'll be the council's lead expert, supporting the professional development and competency of our occupational therapy workforce. You'll ensure our services remain therapy-led and strengths-based, always striving for the best outcomes.
13. Represent and Influence: Act as the CQC Nominated Individual, representing the service at regional and national forums, influencing policy and practice, and bringing back insights to shape our local approach.
14. Drive Transformation: Play a key role in our directorate's transformation journey, tackling inequalities, improving services, and embedding new ways of working that deliver value for money and public benefit.
15. Manage Resources: Take direct responsibility for significant budgets (including a £9.5m staffing budget and operational influence over wider contracts), ensuring effective use of resources and robust performance management.
Shortlisting Criteria
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our :
16. HCPC registered Occupational Therapist with a degree or equivalent professional qualification.
17. Demonstrable experience managing large, dispersed teams and significant budgets in a complex environment, ideally within health or social care.
18. The ability to see the bigger picture, develop and implement operational plans, and lead major programmes and reviews.
19. Excellent at building relationships and working in partnership with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders, health partners, and commissioning colleagues.
20. Deeply knowledgeable about CQC-regulated activity, with a track record of delivering positive outcomes for residents while balancing the needs of the organization.
21. Able to motivate, coach, and develop others, fostering a culture of high performance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
22. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate, and represent the council at all levels.
23. Passionate about working inclusively and promoting equality of opportunity for all.
Why Join Us?
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of reablement and occupational therapy in Surrey. You'll be joining a supportive, ambitious team at a time of significant transformation, with the chance to make a real and lasting impact on the lives of our residents.
If you're ready to take on this challenge and lead the way in Reablement and Occupational Therapy, we'd love to hear from you!
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our to get an insight into working at Surrey.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 20.11.2025 with interviews planned to follow.
An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.
Contact Us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. Please contact Sarah Kershaw via email or on MS Teams.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.
Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here:
Our Commitment
We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.
Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.
Files to download