Senior Occupational Therapist

Job Advertisement - Senior Occupational Therapist

Service: Adults - South Meirionnydd

Cyngor Gwynedd is committed to be an inclusive employer and to improve the diversity of our workforce.
Your application form will be assessed anonymously. Neither your title, name nor email address will not be shared with the appointment panel for the purpose of drafting a short-list. You should consider this carefully when writing about yourself in the further information section.

Information about the post:

Are you....

• Eager to contribute to an employer which makes a difference to people's lives?
• Eager to work through the medium of Welsh?
• An enthusiastic and positive person?
• Possess good interpersonal skills.

If you have answered 'yes' to the above points, why not come and work for us?

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of Gwynedd's Social Work team.

As an Occupational Therapist you will make a huge difference to the lives of individuals here in Gwynedd by assisting them to live their lives in the way they wish to live.

You will support individuals through social and personal difficulties, at the same time as promoting their human rights and well-being. You will work with individuals, supporting their relationships and families, groups and their links with the community. You will assist them to identify their strengths, develop their skills and work on issues or challenges they may be facing.

The successful candidate will be expected to maintain their registration as an Occupational Therapist with Social Care Wales and be able to demonstrate skills in accordance with the Job Description and the Person Specification (attached).

Salary: PS3 (33-35) £44,075 - £46,142

See the Information Pack - More information about the post and expectations can be found in the Job Description and the Person Specification. There is also information about an attractive employment package that is available.

Cyngor Gwynedd operates internally through the medium of Welsh, and offers all its services bilingually. The applicant will be required to reach the linguistic level noted in the Person Specification.

We encourage all applicants for jobs with the Council to present applications in Welsh or bilingually.

(Applications submitted in either Welsh only or English only will be treated equally, but the applicant will be asked to carefully consider the language requirements of the post and the organisation and whether submitting an application in Welsh only would be more appropriate.)

Contact us:

For an informal talk, you can contact Kevin Griffiths on 01341 424572

It is anticipated that the interviews will take place - to be confirmed

Application forms and further information are available from the Support Services, Cyngor Gwynedd, Council Offices, Shirehall Street, Caernarfon, LL55 1SH

Telephone: 01286 679076

E-mail: swyddi@gwynedd.llyw.cymru

CLOSING DATE: 20/08/2025

If you secure a place on the short-list for an interview, we will contact you via the E-MAIL address you noted on your application form. You will need to ensure that you check your E-MAILS regularly.

Adults team Senior Occupational Therapist (Cywasgedig).pdf

Person Specification

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

ESSENTIAL

Ability to work effectively as a team member and independently.
A reliable and flexible person who is keen to work in new and creative.
ways.
Enthusiastic, self-reliant, and decisive.
Support anti-discriminatory practices.
Communicate effectively with service users, other agencies and providers.
Have strong negotiating skills.
Committed to the values, principles, aims and objectives of the service.
A person who is keen to learn and develop.
Being able to communicate effectively and create a relationship with
individuals who use services.
Creative thinker and effective communicator with the ability to inspire the
workforce.
Interest and knowledge of professional development and a desire to
teach others.
Honest, decisive, and flexible.

DESIRABLE
-

QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT TRAINING

ESSENTIAL

A recognised Occupational Therapy Qualification - Degree or Diploma
in Occupational Therapy
Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Registered with the Care Council for Wales
Team Manager Development Program management qualification or commitment to complete within a period of 3 years

DESIRABLE

Member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists
Management qualification or commitment to complete within a 3 year period

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

Experience of working in a team
Experience of working directly with adults/children/young people and families
Experience of assessing needs and drawing up a care plan
Experience of working with other agencies effectively
Experience of dealing with safeguarding cases
Experience of community care work with adults and their carers.
Experience of dealing with complex cases
Experience of working within different legislations
Experience of mentoring within the occupational therapy role
Experience of managing risks and demonstrating sound professional judgement

DESIRABLE

Experience of contributing to schemes / projects
Experience of supervising staff

SKILLS AND SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE

ESSENTIAL

Ability to respond quickly and effectively to referrals and prioritise
appropriately.
Ability to undertake social assessments and create care plans.
Knowledge of relevant legislation, care management skills,
understanding of good social work practices.
Ability to use a computerised information system in relation to service needs.
Being able to receive supervision and guidance effectively for the benefit
of the Service and personal development.
A diverse skills base based on experience of working with individuals
who use services, children and families
Employee mentoring skills in various areas
Presentation and chairing skills
Good negotiation skills

DESIRABLE
-

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

ESSENTIAL

Listening and Speaking - Higher Level

Able to follow a conversation or discussion through the medium of Welsh and English on a professional level and discuss general day to day topics in the field in order to present information and express opinions. Able to give a pre-prepared presentation and respond to any comments and questions on it in Welsh or English.

Reading and Understanding - Higher Level

Able to understand standard written Welsh and English; both formal and informal. Able to gather information from various sources such as letters, reports, articles through the medium of Welsh and English in order to fulfil the post.

Writing - Higher Level

Present written information confidently by letter, more detailed and technical report formats, and respond to written requests conveying information, ideas and opinion in Welsh and English (help is available to check the work).

The attributes expected of the postholder should be noted. These should be used as assessment criteria for all candidates.

Job Description

Purpose of Post

• Support vulnerable individuals to live their lives in the way they want to live.
• Ensuring that the people of Gwynedd are central in everything we do.
• Assess the needs of adults and their carers in accordance with the requirements of the Social Care and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and other relevant legislation and guidance.
• Provide citizens' Information, Advice and Support service to enable them to meet and personal objectives
• Supporting people to identify solutions, prevent dependency and promote independence
• Provide information on the supportive resources available in the community, from the third sector, the Council and the Health Board to enable citizens to live as independently as possible and improve their quality of life To the fullest.
• Ensuring that the needs of individuals are met in accordance with the Council's safeguarding and statutory responsibilities

Responsibility for Resources. e.g. staff, budgets, equipment

• Finance - Provide practical and appropriate advice and guidance to service users to facilitate effective fi-nance management in the Service.
• Equipment - Responsibility for any specialized equipment used to perform the job. Demonstrate the best use of resources in terms of provision of suitable modifications and equipment and service delivery in ac-cordance with the policies, procedures, and guidelines. Responsibility for keys to the stores where equip-ment is kept.

Main Duties

General Duties

• Practice within the legislative frameworks and relevant guidelines that underpin the social services provision in Wales.
• Implement the professional code of practice as a registered approved professional.
• Possess the latest information and maintain your own professional development and keep a portfolio of continuous professional development evidence. Support graduated therapists and occupational therapists with their learning and their development. Develop practice through supervision and reflection.
• Supervise a limited number of team members in accordance with the expectations in the supervision policy and the human resources policies. Note staff strengths and areas for development through continuous evaluation and supervision. Use development and management skills effectively to continuously develop staff performance. Advise team members in specialist work fields within the supervision role.
• Manage and be accountable for your own work.
• Collaborate within teams, networks and multidisciplinary and multi-organisational systems. Advise colleagues on complex work fields. Represent the local authority in relevant meetings.
• Practice professional judgment and decision-making in complex situations. Support colleagues at different periods in their career to develop confidence in their professional opinions through the supervising role.
• Manage ethical issues, dilemmas and conflict in complex situations. Support occupational therapists at different stages of their careers to manage more complex matters through the supervising role.
• Prepare and submit professional reports and records, ensuring that the information is correct, consistent and is shared securely and appropriately. Support co-workers at different stages of their career to develop their report writing and minute taking skills through the supervising role.
• Support people to participate in decision-making processes.
• Advocate with and on behalf of individuals, families, supporters, groups and communities.
• Collaborate with people who require care and support and other professional workers in complex situations, and support colleagues with advice and guidance at different stages in their career through the supervising role.
• Undertake strength-based assessments and practice in a way that promotes self-determination, independence and empower and support colleagues with advice and guidance at different stages in their careers. Support colleagues at different stages of their career across this work field through the supervising role.
• Conduct an outcome-focused assessment using the 'What Matters' conversation to identify what is important to the individual, eligible needs and develop outcome-focused plans that facilitate care and support. Offer guidance and support to less experienced colleagues in this work field within the supervising role.
• Prepare, produce, implement and evaluate plans with individuals, families, carers, groups, communities and professional colleagues. Support colleagues at different periods in their career across this work field through the supervising role.
• Identify, assess and investigate an Adult or Child who are at risk in accordance with relevant legislation and the Wales Safeguarding Procedures. Support colleagues at different periods in their careers to develop their skills and make decisions relating to working in the safeguarding field within the supervising role.
• Assess individuals' mental capability in accordance with the requirements of the Mental Capability Act, supporting less experienced colleagues in this work field within the supervising role.
• Assess the needs and requirements of individuals in terms of minor and major adaptations, and complex structural adaptations (including extensions). Consider the need for appropriate accommodation. Ensure that the adaptation is completed to the expected standard which meets the need and supports less experienced colleagues in this work field within the supervising role.
• Show a high level of clinical proficiency and contribute to service development projects within the Occupational Therapy team. Support less experienced colleagues in this work field within the supervising role.
• Assess, plan, provide and demonstrate the use of specialist techniques or equipment to individuals, carers and care providers. Advise less experienced colleagues in this work field within the supervising role.
• Maintain and record comprehensive manual lifting and carrying risk assessments in accordance with requirements and legislation.
• Develop, plan and review lifting and carrying plans to manage the risk to individuals and carers.
• Monitor waiting lists and allocate cases in consultation with the CRT leaders. Screen referrals, make decisions about allocation and priority cases.
• Be a role model and share good practice, advice and support to enable team colleagues, less experienced colleagues to develop their careers. This will include supervision mentoring, collaborating on cases and supporting the service's quality assurance process by inspecting and sampling files and practices and advising colleagues on specialist work fields within the supervising role.
• Motivate, encourage and empower staff by delegating work effectively and creating an atmosphere of respect and working together. Give direction and feedback to staff by sharing the vision effectively.
• Manage effective use of resources including staff's knowledge and skills.
• Contribute to and lead projects locally and regionally.
• Contribute to the Workforce's planning agenda by coordinating the annual student placement process within the team.

Local Duties

• Promote independence, allow and support individuals to solve their own problems through discussions based on strengths.
• Be part of the IAA (provide information, advice and take referrals).
• Complete assessments:
a. What Matters (complete occupational analysis on everyday activities).
b. Manual Handling.
c. Capacity and best interest.
d. Chairs (specialist and wheelchairs)
e. Beds.
f. Posture.
g. Other specialist assessments.
• Provide interventions (e.g., equipment, minor and major adaptations).
• Use ourselves as resources when other resources are not available.
• Refer to the third sector, other professions (e.g., Physiotherapist).
• Work with "reps" to increase specialist information and give specialist equipment to the individuals.
• Review interventions.
• Show individuals/carers how to use the equipment.
• Training for carers/families on how to use manual handling equipment.
• Complete support letters for TOT.
• Take students on placement

Other Duties

• Responsible for self-development.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council's Health and Safety Policy.
• Operate within the Council's policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
• Responsibility for managing information in accordance with the Council's information management standards and guidelines. Ensure that personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
• Commitment to reducing the Council's carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council's Carbon Footprint;
• Undertaking any other reasonable duty which corresponds with the salary level and responsibility level of the job.
• Responsible for reporting any concern or suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused
• Due to the nature of the work this role with be subject to DBS check process

Special Circumstances e.g. the need to work unsociable hours, special working arrangements etc.

• Work unsociable hours occasionally as needed.
• The office holder will be expected to be involved in any arrangements that are put in place on a rota basis.

The above is only an outline of the duties of the post to provide an idea of the responsibility levels associated with the post. This job description is not comprehensively detailed and the duties of the post could change from time to time without changing its basic nature and level of responsibility.