Occupational Therapist - Physical Disability and Older Peoples Team

We are looking for an enthusiastic and qualified Occupational Therapist to join our Physical Disability and Older Peoples (PDOP) Team. Whether you are newly qualified, returning to practice, or bring significant community experience, we are committed to supporting your development and helping you thrive in your OT career.

We support hybrid working, it’s important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you’ll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.

About the Role

As an Occupational Therapist within PDOP, you will play a key role in supporting residents who

Require unplanned reviews of existing care and support plans, or

Have been identified by the Advice and Wellbeing Hub as needing ongoing assessment and support.

You will practice within relevant legislation and professional standards, including

Care Act 2014

Mental Capacity Act 2005 and DoLS

Mental Health Act (where appropriate)

Moving and Handling guidance

Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) Code of Ethics

We pride ourselves in working with people in a strengths-based way to; promote wellbeing, rights and independence, prevent the need for care and bring about timely interventions with positive outcomes.

Our aim is to be a high performing, efficient, multidisciplinary team focusing on TEAM Reading values that supports and values staff and the skills and diversity they bring to the team.

Using a strengths-based approach and your unique OT skill set you will support individuals with long term physical disabilities and the elderly population of Reading, to find solutions, promote wellbeing and healthy occupations through a variety of interventions including provision of equipment, adaptations, moving and handling, goal planning, risk assessments. You will work closely with care providers, Housing Services and Health colleagues.

You will need to

Have a degree in Occupational Therapy

Be Registered with HCPC

Community experience is helpful but not essential

About the Team

The PDOP Team sits within the Living Well Service of Adult Social Care, alongside our Mental Health and Learning Disability & Neurodiversity teams. The service is overseen by a Head of Service and promotes strong professional leadership and clear practice standards.

PDOP is a multi‑disciplinary team made up of Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and Social Care Coordinators. We support adults aged 18+ with long‑term physical disabilities and people aged 65+ who have Care Act eligible needs.

We offer excellent support, supervision, and induction. You will have access to our Learning and Development programme and be supported in your career and personal growth with opportunities to learn and develop new professional skills, helping you to build your Continuing Professional Development portfolio and supporting you to grow as an Occupational Therapist.

The role requires the ability to undertake regular home visits to ensure meaningful engagement and timely support. Applicants must be confident working independently in the community, managing their own schedule, and responding professionally to a range of situations within the home environment. The post also requires flexibility to complete urgent or unplanned visits at short notice when the needs arise, ensuring that risk is assessed promptly and appropriate action is taken to keep people safe.

Team Vision

‘To maximise the quality of life of Reading residents who have a long-term physical disability or are over 65 years of age and have care act eligible needs using a strength based and problem solving approach.’

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way

Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

Our offer

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including

Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave

Maternity, adoption, parental and sick pay

A wide range of flexible working opportunities

Access to a range of training and learning opportunities to help you develop

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted

Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work

Closing date

Sunday 7th June 2026

Interview date

To be confirmed

If you would like to find out more about this role and the team, please contact Pip Durant (PDOP Team Manager) on 07815 701 876 or pippa.durant@reading.gov.uk

Visit

www.moretoreading.co.ukto find out more about Reading’s Community & Adult Social Care Services. It’s a chance to hear from the people who already work here and why they have chosen Reading as their professional destination.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Disability Confident

About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.