Senior Practitioner Occupational Therapy

Salary details: £ - £

Senior Practitioner – Occupational Therapy

Make a real difference in Derbyshire

Are you an Occupational Therapist who thrives in a community setting, building meaningful relationships and supporting adults to live as independently as possible?

Are you ready to take the next step in your career or develop your practice within a senior role?

If so, Derbyshire County Council’s Adult Social Care and Health team would love to hear from you.

We are seeking a person-centred, HCPC-registered Occupational Therapist to join us in a permanent, full-time Senior Practitioner role covering the North East of the county. You’ll be supported by an experienced and highly committed Occupational Therapy management team, dedicated to providing strong leadership, professional guidance, and a positive team culture.

About You

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is passionate about enabling people to live fulfilling, independent lives
• Builds strong, professional relationships with residents and colleagues
• Communicates effectively with people from diverse backgrounds
• Is an experienced Occupational Therapist looking to progress to or develop in a senior role

Qualifications and Experience

Our ideal candidate will have:

• A BSc in Occupational Therapy or an equivalent qualification
• Extensive experience as a practising Occupational Therapist, ideally at senior level.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
• Resilience and the ability to thrive under pressure, adapting to the demands of the role

About the Role 

In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in fostering the professional development of our team and ensuring the effective delivery of core Occupational Therapy services. Your focus will be on enabling individuals with long-term needs to live safely and independently at home taking a strength-based approach and utilising support that may include advice, information, signposting, equipment, and minor and major housing adaptations.

Working alongside the Occupational Therapy Service Manager and another Senior Practitioner in your area, you will uphold high standards of professional practice. You’ll manage a small, complex caseload while contributing to new service developments and ensuring our teams have the skills and training required to provide an excellent service.

As a Senior Practitioner, you’ll provide clinical supervision, promote reflective practice, and ensure adherence to professional standards set by The Royal College of Occupational Therapists and the Health and Care Professions Council. Additionally, you’ll mentor and coach colleagues, particularly newly qualified Occupational Therapists and Apprentices, and play a crucial role in nurturing future talent by supporting Occupational Therapy students. You will support with the operational management of the service ensuring a proactive approach to risk management.

This role also emphasises time-limited, strength-based interventions to achieve the best outcomes for Derbyshire residents. You’ll collaborate closely with colleagues in the short-term reablement service, providing professional oversight where there are no registered Occupational Therapy Service Managers or Senior Practitioners.

Working with Us 

Derbyshire County Council is committed to creating innovative, inclusive, and supportive teams. Alongside a generous benefits package, we offer excellent learning and development opportunities for all employees, ensuring everyone has the chance to grow and progress in their careers. We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome applications from all backgrounds, including underrepresented groups.

What We Offer

• A supportive and welcoming team who are committed to providing an excellent service.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Caseload management and regular supervision from experienced OT managers.
• Regular peer support and communities of practice.
• Support with your professional development with opportunities to progress to management roles.
• Ongoing training and development
• Developed and positive working relationships with OTs in Health Services
• Generous annual leave in addition to 8 days statutory bank holidays
• Excellent occupational pension scheme
• Employee wellbeing strategy and benefits  
• Employee offers and discounts.
• HCPC registration fees reimbursed.
• Mileage allowance.
• childcare vouchers to help parents achieve a better work-life balance, making it easier to manage family commitments.
• Environmentally Friendly Travel - As part of our commitment to combating climate change, we offer various green travel benefits, including a cycle-to-work scheme, discounted bus tickets, a car share scheme, and electric car charging points at select locations.

Next Steps

We encourage informal conversations to help you decide if this role is right for you. To arrange a discussion, please contact:

Theresa Bufton, Service Manager
📧 theresa.bufton@derbyshire.gov.uk

Interview date to be confirmed

Please note: As part of the interview process a presentation will be required (further details will be provided)

Due to this post having access to children and/or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. Click here to see our policy on criminal background checks.

Apply now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us! By joining Derbyshire County Council you will have access to a range of amazing rewards and employee benefits, including our generous annual leave scheme, excellent local government pension and fantastic employee discounts. To discover more detail about the rewards and benefits available to you, click here

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Important: Derbyshire County Council holds a sponsorship licence, but this role does not offer visa sponsorship. Please apply only if you already have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship, as applications that do not meet this requirement will be rejected.

We welcome applications from individuals who share our values — being Collaborative, Innovative, Empowered and Accountable. These values describe who we are and what we stand for as a council. They help shape our culture, encourage consistent behaviour and guide how we work together to make a positive difference for both our employees and the residents we serve.