Do you enjoy working with people and optimising their wellbeing? We are recruiting for an Advanced Occupational Therapy Assistant to work as a part of our strong, compassionate and dynamic service as a member of an area-based team. This is a brand new role created for Occupational Therapy Assistants as a career progression opportunity. You will receive induction, training and support to enable you to undertake your role. Our Advanced Occupational Therapy Assistants need to be resilient, adaptable, organised and able to work in a fast-paced environment. You'll need to work efficiently and accurately record your work using electronic systems. You'll need to be committed to continuous learning about Occupational Therapy and how to implement it in practice. This newly developed role combines undertaking strengths-based assessments with the guidance of an HCPC registered occupational therapist & then developing and implementing a plan of support aimed at improving wellbeing and delivering outcomes for people. As an Advanced Occupational Therapy Assistant you will help to promote and provide advice and guidance on reablement, including risk assessment, to stakeholders in Adults' Services and other relevant organisations. This is a key role helping to maximise the benefits the reablement service can offer. You will also be leading on induction of new staff as well as playing a key role in supporting current OTA workforce in their learning and development in liaison with the senior practitioners and team manager. As it is a community based and fast paced role, you need to be a car driver and required to complete strengths based therapeutic assessments, decision making and prescribe equipment, which may include mobility aids and other equipment for independent living.

• Ability to develop a person-centred care and support plan, following a strength-based assessment (as directed by the Care Act 2014) with clearly defined outcomes.
• Ability to present information clearly, concisely, accurately and in ways that promote understanding, either verbally, through demonstration or in written/electronic form.
• Coaching and development skills with the ability to successfully transfer bespoke knowledge and 'upskill' a range of people to maximise their specific capabilities.
• Ability to prioritise and organise work and meet agreed performance expectations and deadlines in a pressured environment.
• Ability to recognise the limits of own accountability and responsibility, and to seek appropriate support, advice and supervision.
• Excellent IT skills for operating a wide and varied range of systems for carrying out research, analysing documents, presenting data and undertaking general administrative processes.
Qualifications:
• A minimum of 3 GCSEs including Maths and English, or equivalent qualifications.
• Completion of Occupational Therapy Assistant Competency Framework or similar.
• Valid, full driving licence.
  
  Reablement is a key strategic priority for West Sussex in 2025, so now is a great time to join the service. The council is investing in growing the service, to reach more people and to support more residents to live as independently as possible for longer.
The Regaining Independence Service (RIS) is a therapy led service working with people to help them keep or re-learn skills to manage living independently at home or to get out and about in their local community. Using a strengths-based approach, RIS work over a short and focused period with people who may have had a period of ill health or difficulties caring for themselves to maintain or regain the skills needed to enjoy their every day life. RIS work in partnership with our reablement provider ECL to deliver the Community Reablement Service, and work closely with colleagues in the NHS and other parts of the council. To help us create a reablement workforce that reflects the communities we serve, and to ensure we have diverse perspectives and insights, we would particularly welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds and those with a disability. This is what our team members say about working in RIS: "I think we work well as a team. I feel well supported by the manager and the senior practitioner, who listen to the teams needs and react. I like the fact that as a service WSCC and RIS are extremely flexible and adjust my working to help my work life balance" "The team are very supportive with everyone being very generous in terms of sharing knowledge, experience and availability for joint visits. I feel as though the team is passionate about delivering person centred therapy and believe in the core principles of reablement" RIS is a thriving service: hard working and committed, passionate about achieving excellent outcomes for people, and excited about becoming bigger and better. Come and be part of the future!