Occupational Therapist - Disabled Facilities Grant (part time 22.5 hrs per week)

Bracknell Forest Council

  • Bracknell, Berkshire
  • £46,783-48,873 per year
  • Permanent
  • Part-time
  • 2 months ago
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Occupational Therapist to join the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) service at Bracknell Forest Council. This role focuses on housing adaptations and the progression of Disabled Facilities Grants, supporting residents to live independently and safely in their homes.At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment.About you…You will work closely with the DFG team, Adult Social Care colleagues, housing partners, contractors and Housing Associations. Using your occupational therapy expertise, you will ensure that adaptations are person centred, meet long term needs and are reviewed upon completion to ensure the assessed outcomes have been fully met.You will have recent, relevant experience in major housing adaptations. You should be capable of working creatively with others to develop practical solutions where the home environment affects a person's independence, function and wellbeing. This may also involve assessing and matching individuals to void properties when the current accommodation is unsuitable and cannot be reasonably adapted.In addition to casework, you will also contribute to capacity building across teams by sharing your knowledge of major adaptations, legislation, eligibility criteria and associated processes.About the team…The Disabled Facilities Grant team is a small but busy team providing an extensive and responsive service to clients. This is a varied and interesting role ensuring projects are carried out to meet the needs of the client in the most timely, efficient and cost effective way. We support each other by working closely together to achieve the right results, and to deliver a holistic service to clients.While the main office base is Time Square in Bracknell, this is an agile working role. Home visits and on site work will be required based on the needs of the role and service delivery.Key responsibilities…
  • Undertake person centred functional assessments to identify housing related needs and recommend suitable home adaptations that promote independence, reduce risk and enable individuals to live safely in their own homes.
  • Assist in the development and review adaptation plans in partnership with service users and DFG colleagues, setting realistic and meaningful goals that support choice, control, and long term independence.
  • Work collaboratively with a range of professionals including DFG Case Workers, Surveyors, contractors, Housing Officers, Architects, Social Workers and health colleagues to ensure the effective design and delivery of home adaptations under the Disabled Facilities Grant.
  • Liaise with individuals, families and carers to ensure that proposed adaptations are necessary and appropriate to meet the client's needs.
  • Maintain accurate, up-to-date electronic records using the council's case management system, ensuring that assessments, decisions and outcomes are clearly documented.
  • Write clear, evidence based reports and professional recommendations to support DFG applications and specifications for adaptations.
  • Attend and contribute to multidisciplinary meetings and case discussions where housing needs and adaptations form part of broader care and support planning.
  • Make timely referrals and signpost individuals to relevant services, community support or other specialists, when needs fall outside the DFG scope or where additional support is beneficial.
  • Support the development and continuous improvement of the DFG service through involvement in audits, service planning and evaluations, ensuring the service remains responsive and effective.
  • Effectively manage a caseload, prioritising work based on risk, need and the complexity of individual circumstances, ensuring timely assessments and delivery of outcomes.
  • Work in line with safeguarding procedures to identify and reduce risks of harm, liaising with relevant professionals and escalating concerns where necessary.
  • To ensure all practice complies with the policies, procedures and standards of the council, as well as the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Code of Conduct and Standards of Proficiency.
  • To actively participate in regular supervision, individual and team performance discussions and reflective practice sessions to improve own and team practice and performance.
  • Operate within the scope of professional competence, seeking advice and support when needed, and participating in ongoing training and professional development activities.
Our benefits…
  • 28 days* annual leave increasing to 33 days* after 3 years' continuous service.
  • The opportunity to buy up to 10 additional days* annual leave per year and sell 5 days.
  • Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
  • Electric vehicle salary sacrifice for an electric car at a fixed monthly cost (subject to eligibility).
  • An inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks.
  • Local government pension scheme.
  • Life insurance cover (linked to the pension scheme)
  • Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
  • Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits such as annual leave entitlements, occupational maternity/paternity leave, and more. (Terms and Conditions apply - please refer to candidate pack for more information.)
  • Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
  • A great office location next to travel links and Bracknell Forest's thriving town centre.
  • Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing.
  • Sports and Social Club.
  • Staff dental and health plans.
  • Discounted leisure centre and gym membership.
  • Supermarket discount.
*(pro rata for part time)Our values...At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.Reasonable adjustments...We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting . We will work with you to support you throughout the process.Interview dateThe interview date is to be confirmed and will be held online via the Teams app. We reserve the right to amend this to in person interviews at our offices.We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.Want to ask us a question?For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:Tammy Grey - Disabled Facilities Grant Team ManagerEmail:Tel: 07877548772At Bracknell Forest we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are always learning, ambitious and inclusive. Please see our candidate pack for more details.Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.No agencies please.Equal OpportunitiesBracknell Forest Council - Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Bracknell Forest Council