Community Occupational Therapist Practice Manager

Job description

Here at Cheshire West and Chester Council, we are committed to providing excellent Adult Social Care services to residents. We are one team, putting what matters to people first and are investing in a number of roles, across our service areas to grow our dynamic, solution focused team.

So, wherever you are in your life, there is something to suit you in Adult Social Care, whether that be meaningful work, feeling valued in your role, career progression, pay progression or a great work life balance, this is where you will find it. If you want to be a part of our welcoming, values driven service and are passionate about being part of a team that can make a real difference for local people, please take a look at the roles we have available.

Newly Created Leadership Opportunities - Be Part of Something Transformational

Join us at an exciting time as we further invest in and expand existing OT management capacity and develop our All-Age Community Occupational Therapy (OT) and Visual Impairment (VI) Service that also provide clinical leadership to Occupational Therapists in specialist teams in our borough. We are seeking exceptional Occupational Therapy managers to lead practice in our dynamic All Age Community OT and VI Service, supporting children, young people, adults, and older people to achieve greater independence, wellbeing, and participation in their daily living occupations. This is an exciting opportunity for innovative, motivated, and forward-thinking Occupational Therapy leaders with demonstrable and substantial experience across Children's and Adults' social care services. You will work in close collaboration with other OT managers in the team and across our organisation and in key roles such as the Workforce and Practice lead for OT and VI. Strategic leadership to the Service is delivered by the Principal Occupational Therapist & Senior Manager for Reablement and Home First and Right Size Care team; The Promoting Independence Occupational Therapy team and The Community OT and VI Service.

OT Practice Manager - Community Occupational Therapy and VI Service

As OT Practice Manager you will be supporting professionals in the team to deliver clinical excellence and innovative strength-based OT and VI practice for children and adults with disabilities which may be physical, cognitive, mental health related. You will join the existing management team in the service and be one of 3 OT Practice Managers, to provide professional, operational, and clinical leadership to a skilled team of Occupational Therapists, Vision Rehab Specialists and other supporting roles in the team. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and develop clinical practice that supports adults, children and young people and their families and carers who are affected by disability to achieve their goals, promote independence, enable participation in daily living activities, and impacts positively on their wellbeing. To be successful in the role you require extensive clinical experience and excellent knowledge of specialist equipment and the legislative frameworks pertaining to OT and VI service delivery for all ages. You will be expected to demonstrate your Continuous Professional Development activity as part of the application process.

About the Role

The Community OT Practice Manager will:

• Support the work of the Team Managers and wider OT Service to develop and deliver innovative, evidence based and strength based Occupational Therapy services.
• Support operational delivery of the council's strategic programmes to Enabling Great Lives.
• Manage, inspire and innovate a team of highly experienced Occupational Therapists, Vision Rehabilitation Specialists and supporting staff
• Work with adults, children and their families, to deliver high quality, responsive Occupational Therapy interventions.
• Provide high quality clinical supervision and support, driving excellent standards in practice which is evidenced in clinical audit.
• Develop strong and positive working relationships with other managers in the team and partner services and organisations including the third sector.

• Contribute to workforce planning, performance management, supervision, and CPD to continue to grow and develop our profession within Adult Social Care, including promoting our OT student and OT Apprenticeship programme.
• Oversee allocation of referrals, deliver our Waiting Well Policy, ensure weighted caseload management and support to the team to manage complex, long term caseloads.

• Work collaboratively with housing, education, health, social care, and voluntary sector partners.
• Ensure compliance with professional, organisational, and statutory requirements.
• Ensure delivery of HR policies and processes to support the workforce.
• Promote safeguarding and the welfare of adults, children and young people at all times.

About You

We are looking for an individuals who have:

Essential Requirements

• Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy.
• Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Excellent knowledge and experience of the legal framework pertaining to Children and Adult OT services and specialist equipment and adaptations.
• Significant post-qualification experience with delivery of adult and children's occupational therapy services within a social care setting/ and an understanding OT Models such as PEOP and the social model of disability.
• Experience of managing or supervising staff and be able to demonstrate innovation in leading teams.
• Strong understanding of illness and disability, the causative medical conditions and the functional impact of these conditions.
• Strong understanding of child development, disability, and occupational therapy interventions.
• Experience of multi-agency working across health, education, and social care.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organisational skills.
• Demonstrable commitment to the use of a strength-based approach to improve outcomes for our communities.

Desirable Requirements

• Evidence of leadership or management qualifications.
• Experience of service redesign, quality improvement, or change management.
• Experience of budget management and resource planning.

What We Offer

• A supportive and collaborative working environment in a borough where Occupational Therapy and Visual Impairment is high profile and valued and key to the delivery of our Enabling Great Lives Strategy.
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• Regular and excellent supervision and OT leadership support.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements under our Flexible and Agile Worker Style Policy.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Access to employee wellbeing programmes.
• Generous Local Government Pension Scheme.

Our Commitment

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people.

• Create a positive team culture focused on high-quality outcomes for adults, children and families.
• Leave a lasting legacy by building a service that meets the evolving needs of local communities.

Closing date: Monday 21 st September

Interview date: Tuesday 29 th September

For informal enquiries please contact Julie Williams, Team Manager, Community OT and VI Team, tel 07369 281038, [email protected]