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.
This permanent role has a starting salary of £54,636 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week.
We have a great opportunity to join our East Learning Disabilities and Autism OT team as a Advanced Practitioner (ATM) Occupational Therapist. We support hybrid working with the right balance. We come together in person for 2 days per week on average (40% of the working week) and support working from home the rest of the time.
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
In this role, you will provide operational leadership for the East Learning Disability and Autism Occupational Therapy Service, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality and effective service for adults. You will demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills in your work with people with learning disabilities and autism, while working closely with social work colleagues to ensure that Occupational Therapy is well represented and fully integrated within the multidisciplinary team. You will attend a range of clinical and process-related forums, acting as a representative for Occupational Therapy, and will be responsible for managing staff leave requests in line with service needs, alongside overseeing absence and performance management in accordance with Surrey policies.
A key aspect of the role involves providing clinical oversight of equipment prescriptions and major adaptations, ensuring that all activity aligns with internal procurement processes and supports effective cost control. You will also maintain a small caseload of complex cases, allowing you to remain clinically active, and will hold oversight of safeguarding work within the team, including undertaking SAD and SAM responsibilities.
You will have line management responsibility for the East Occupational Therapy team, with direct supervision of the Senior Occupational Therapist, while also offering guidance, advice and informal support across the wider team as required. Over the next 12 to 18 months, you will play a central role in supporting the team through disaggregation and Local Government Reorganisation, formally transitioning into East Surrey Council from April 2027. Alongside this, you will review the Skills Gain Offer and service specification to ensure the Occupational Therapy offer within Learning Disabilities and Autism is clear, effective and ready for this transition.
This role offers a strong opportunity to make a meaningful impact by strengthening collaborative working across teams and enhancing the visibility and influence of Occupational Therapy within Learning Disabilities, Autism and specialist services. You will help drive clinical excellence by ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, evidence-based service tailored to the needs of adults, while fostering a positive and high-performing team culture. Through clear, supportive leadership, you will provide direction and vision, guiding the team through change and ongoing service development.
Shortlisting Criteria
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our:
10. Hold a recognised professional qualification in Occupational Therapy and be registered with the appropriate regulatory body
11. Have substantial post qualification experience in adult social care or a community setting
12. Demonstrate excellent knowledge of statutory duties under the Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005
13. Be confident in safeguarding practice, MCA application complex decision making
14. Have significant experience supervising, supportingmentoring staff with the ability to guide and develop others
15. Be keen to develop leadership skills while maintaining a strong focus on high-quality practice
16. Respond proactively and flexibly to changing needs, effectively prioritising competing demands and managing pressure confidently
Surrey has both urban and rural areas and locality based social care workers will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK and access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area.Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.
To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions:
17. Tell us about a real situation where you had to support a team member who was struggling (this could be performance, confidence, or wellbeing). What exactly did you notice, what did you do in the moment, and what would that person say about your support?
18. Describe a time when your initial plan or professional view had to change because it didn't fully reflect the needs or wishes of the person you were supporting. What changed your thinking, and what did you do differently as a result?
19. Think of a situation where working with another team or professional was difficult or didn't go as expected. What made it challenging, and what did you personally do to move things forward?
20. Describe a change or improvement you've been involved in that didn't go to plan initially. What did you learn, what did you adapt, and how did it affect the outcome for people using the service?
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our to get an insight into working at Surrey.
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.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 21/06/2026 with interviews planned to follow.
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.
Until the 24th June, please contact Claire Waite, Therapies Manager (LD&A and Transition), via MS teams or on mobile No. 07980 424411
After 24th June, please contact Mikaela Wall, Therapies Manager (LD&A and Transition), via 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.
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