Job Description

Practice Consultant - Occupational Therapist 8387| Permanent contract | 42,463 to 46,732 per annum (Scale K) | 37 hours per week | County Hall, Norwich

We offer a 2000 welcome payment for qualified and experienced Social Workers/Occupational Therapists (grade J and above), Practice Consultants and Team Managers new to Norfolk County Council. Amount to be repaid in full should they leave within two years of employment.

Who Cares? We do.

It's an exciting time to join the Social Care Community Engagement Team (SCCE). We have some bold changes happening in Norfolk and we want to find the very best social care staff to be part of our future. We are looking for a Practice Consultant Occupational Therapist who is passionate about delivering high-quality OT interventions.


Our Occupational Therapists (OTs) work collaboratively with our Social Care staff and we are looking to grow our OT team to support new approaches as the front door service for Adult Social Care in Norfolk.


You will be responsible for managing and overseeing caseloads and working with professionals and individuals to help them maintain their independence and live at home for as long as possible. It is key that you have a passion and determination to embrace and grow the independence of our service users, aiming to prevent, reduce and delay the need for formal commissioned services. There is a strong focus on a preventative approach to your work, for equipment provision and for assessing low level moving and handling needs of our service users.


The successful candidate will be keen to work innovatively, strive for improvements, and contribute to our change agenda, particularly in shaping the 'front door' services for the future.


Who are we?


Occupational Therapists are a comparatively small proportion of professionals working in Adult Social Care, and work in teams across many areas and services, making a major contribution to the service overall.


Our team doesn't ask the people we work with, 'what's the matter with you?' instead we ask, 'what matters to you?' We actively listen to people to find out what will motivate them to enhance and maximise their independence. We focus on what a person can do and the strengths they have either personally or with support from family or community resources.


As well as working alongside social work and assistant practitioners in locality teams and in our Reablement Service, we also work collaboratively with colleagues in the NHS and in the housing and voluntary sector to achieve best outcomes for people.


The unique contribution that OTs make has really made a difference to our Reablement Service, Norfolk First Response. Occupational Therapists are now core members of the team, working alongside Reablement Practitioners to help people recover and recuperate from long-term illness and injury.


We are committed to working in an integrated manner and link with therapy colleagues in the community and acute hospital teams. Norfolk has 7 co-located Integrated Housing Adaptation Teams (IHATs). These teams bring together housing and social care to form district-based teams. Social Care Occupational Therapists carry out assessments of mobility and function for adults and some children who may be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant to determine if an adaptation to their home is necessary and appropriate.


Norfolk County Council has a Principal Occupational Therapist, committed to raising the profile, quality and consistency of OT practice in Norfolk. Faye works hard to raise awareness and recognition of the value of Occupational Therapists and to develop the service. Norfolk has launched a new Adult Social Care Occupational Therapy Preceptorship Programme, especially for newly qualified, new to social care or returning to practice OTs. In the past year we have also started to offer Occupational Therapy apprenticeships and anticipate that there will be further OT apprentice opportunities in the future.


Faye Gower-Smith, Principal Occupational Therapist says: "I am enthusiastic about promoting the role of Occupational therapy within social care and the impact we can make on the lives of Norfolk Citizens.

What we offer

At Norfolk County Council we are committed to our employees' learning and development. We offer all Social Workers and Occupational Therapists a protected half day per month for continuing professional development and training.


We want our people to be inspired and motivated to work well together, make the most of our workspaces, enjoy a healthy work-life balance, and deliver excellent services to Norfolk and its people. Flexibility is built into the way we work, with hybrid working a key feature for many roles. Our technology platform and equipment are first class, enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We ask that you have in place good Broadband connectivity.


We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.

You can also find out about the rewards and benefits we offer as well as our other terms and conditions.

Your application

Please ensure you include a statement in your application to demonstrate why you feel you meet the person specification and job description for this post. CVs submitted without a supporting statement about this post will not be accepted. You need to be registered with Social Work England/or HCPC as a practising social worker/Occupational Therapist.



For further information or for an informal chat please contact Mark Lewis on: 01603 493641 or email: mark.lewis@norfolk.gov.uk



These are some benefits you can enjoy by working for Norfolk County Council:



Competitive salary Generous holiday entitlement Health and Wellbeing services including fast-track physiotherapy and a free counselling service Flexible working opportunities including flexi-time, part time, remote and hybrid working - dependant on your job role and business need. Financial benefits such as: ' Norfolk Rewards' our employee discounts programme which helps you save money on almost anything, from everyday groceries and clothes, to holidays, new technology, gym membership, trips to the cinema and days out. A Blue Light card for Fire Service and Social Care Workers Relocation expenses (where applicable) An advance of your expenses if you travel for work Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants' pensions. Tax efficient ways of getting extra pension and new bikes Access to our tax efficient car lease scheme for greener travel enabling you to lease a brand new, ultra-low emission vehicle (subject to eligibility) A payment if you refer someone you know to a hard to fill job

Before you apply, we recommend reading the full

and Person Specification

to help you demonstrate you meet the criteria. You can also find information on our Terms and Conditions here.



Already a Norfolk County Council employee? See and apply for internal and external vacancies in myOracle using your @norfolk.gov.uk or @nccal.ac.uk email.

We would like to make you aware that priority consideration for this post may be given to current employees who are at risk due to restructure within the organisation or are in a redeployment position.

Redeployment closing date: 6 July 2025 at 23:59

All other applicants closing date:

13 July 2025 at 23:59

We have miles of beautiful coastline and our unique Broads, thriving market towns and a city with a proud cultural heritage. Our economy is growing and driven by innovation in a number of sectors, including energy and food. We also have ambitious plans for new housing and a building programme for schools across Norfolk. Our county a great place to live, work and visit, and is an excellent environment for businesses to start, grow and innovate.


We are the main local authority for Norfolk providing services countywide to more than 850,000 Norfolk residents. We take the lead in critical policy areas, working with 84 elected Members responsible for the strategic local government services in the county.




We provide a high quality service through involving people who use our services to shape and comment on them and by promoting efficiency and innovation.




We work in partnership with local businesses, voluntary organisations and other local authorities such as District and Parish Councils to provide the people of Norfolk with excellent services.