Occupational Therapist

Job summary
37.5 hours per week. This is a permanent role within the DTA Pathway. Livewell Southwest is one of the largest independent social enterprises in England. We work as part of the NHS family in a similar way to GPs, dentists and pharmacies. Our 3,000-strong workforce delivers health and social care to people in Plymouth, South Hams and West Devon, as well as some specialist services to people living in parts of Cornwall and Devon.

Livewell Southwest champions a positive work-life balance and offers multiple flexible working options.

Livewell Southwest are currently looking for a Band 6 Occupational Therapist within it Discharge to Assess Pathway.

Working alongside Physiotherapist, Social Workers, Nurses, Social Care Practitioners and Therapy Support workers would be required to undertake functional and statutory assessments on behalf of Livewell SW.

Livewell Southwest is fully committed to an integrated health and social care workforce which operates a shared skills model, whilst adhering to the core principles of therapeutic role.

Please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted.

Main duties of the job
We are looking for an Occupational Therapist with a can do attitude to join our patient centred team. DTA are committed to client centred care and have a culture of shared learning, integrated working and promote positive risk taking

Occupational Therapy is a valued discipline within the MDT and you will gain great satisfaction in using your therapeutic skills, in collaboration with trusted health and social care colleagues, to work with patients during their reablement journey. We have many exciting projects, opportunities to expand and develop knowledge, skills and your career within the service.

Staff are supported with regular training programmes to meet team competencies, as well as encouragement to attend relevant professional courses and engage in service development.

All Livewell Therapy staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centring our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Date posted 16 July 2026
Pay scheme Agenda for change
Band Band 6
Salary £39,959 to £48,117 a year, pa, pro-rata
Contract Permanent
Working pattern Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
Reference number B9832-2026-PTA-1634-2
Job locations 200 Mount Gould Road, Mount Gould, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 7PY, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• To work as an autonomous practitioner undertaking an active role in planning, developing, coordinating, delivering and participating in the evaluation of the service.
• To manage a defined caseload, carrying out comprehensive specialist assessments for service users with complex presentations, including those with diverse presentations/multi pathologies, to identify their problems and needs and ensure that persons holistic needs are considered.
• To work closely with the multidisciplinary team contributing to individual service users care e.g. MDT meetings, case conferences, joint visits.
• Responsibility for People Management.
• To take responsibility for all aspects of service delivery, including providing leadership to Occupational Therapy/support staff, providing cover for staff who are absent and deputising in the team leads absence.
• Deputising in the absence of the Registered manager/Team Lead can include operational/leadership duties such as supporting triage, waiting list management, attending meetings and delegation of work to Occupational Therapist/support staff.
• To take a flexible approach to supporting colleagues in times of caseload pressure, including working with colleagues to maintain clinical cover across the team within the resources available.
• To co-ordinate the day-to-day activities of Occupational Therapist/support staff and admin staff where applicable.
• To assess, prescribe and authorise both general and specialist aids and adaptive equipment in line with the organisations and the Community Equipment Services policy and procedures.
• To make recommendations for minor adaptations to increase / enable or compensate for independent function, teaching compensatory techniques as required.
• To assess seating and positioning needs and treat as appropriate including assessment for and prescription of standard wheelchairs and accessories when accredited referring on to the wheelchair services as required for assessment of complex and specialist mobility and seating needs.
• To maintain high professional standards and conduct at all times, complying with the standards of practice stipulated in the Royal College of Occupational Therapys Professional standards for occupational therapy practice, conduct and ethics and all of HCPC standards and regulations.
• To ensure the service user is aware of the role and philosophy of OT and components of the OT process, utilising all means necessary to enable individuals to understand the nature and purpose of proposed actions or intervention, including explaining any possible risks involved.
• To keep up to date with mental capacity legislation, assessing mental capacity and imparting sufficient information to the service user in order to gain valid informed consent, which must be documented and gained at every intervention. For consent to be valid, HCPC stipulate it must be voluntary and informed, and the person giving consent must have the capacity to make the decision.
• To act in a service users best interest at all times, factoring in their known views, beliefs, values, and instructions expressed, when undertaking care or an intervention where the service user lacks capacity to give expressed consent
• To actively contribute to service development and/or service changes, including taking part in the evaluation of OT services in your designated area and participating in the planning, development of services, including holding responsibility for defined projects.
• To take an active role in evidence-based audit, research, protocols, and interdisciplinary development within the service.
• To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance and risk management, working in partnership with operational and strategic leadership.
• To act as an ambassador for Livewell with external agencies and partner organisations.
• To attend and contribute to staff meetings, case conferences, MDTs, and relevant professional meetings.
• To work within the scope of practice, ensuring sufficient knowledge, skills, and experience to make reliable professional judgements.
• To review and reflect on own practice through effective use of professional and clinical supervision in line with Livewell SW policies and procedures
• To be proficient in written and spoken English, e.g. face-to-face, email, telephone, letter, presentation. Communication may be 1:1, or in groups.
• To work jointly and communicate effectively with other health and social care colleagues and services to ensure service users identified rehabilitation and care needs are met through delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary service.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Diploma / degree in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration
• Evidence of on-going education and professional development
• Computer literate
• Recognised qualification in written and spoken English if this is not first language
• Clinical Educator
• Evidence of post graduate training/ ongoing professional development through formal/informal short courses.
• Wheelchair Accreditation knowledge
• Application of OT process within a variety of clinical settings
• Knowledge of OT models of practice
• Understanding of OT outcome measures
• Working knowledge of health and social care legislation and its use in current practice
• Working knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application to practice
• Presentation and training skills
• Application of health and safety and risk management policies including dynamic risk assessment
• Detailed knowledge of a range of standardised/non standardised assessment
• Detailed knowledge of varied intervention media
• Knowledge of clinical conditions relevant to area of practice

Desirable

• Recognised first-line management/leadership qualification.
• Membership of relevant special interest groups.
• ECDL or equivalent.
• Current valid UK driving licence.
• Basic Food hygiene training.

Knowledge
Essential

• Application of OT process within a variety of clinical settings.
• Knowledge of OT models of practice.
• Understanding of OT outcome measures.
• Working knowledge of health and social care legislation and its use in current practice.
• Working knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application to practice.
• Presentation and training skills.
• Application of health and safety and risk management policies including dynamic risk assessment.
• Detailed knowledge of a range of standardised/non standardised assessment
• Detailed knowledge of varied intervention media
• Knowledge of clinical conditions relevant to area of practice

Desirable

• Applying research to practice.
• Professional and Government agenda.
• Knowledge of Environmental Control Systems.

Specific Skills
Essential

• Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities.
• Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues.
• Supervisory and appraisal skills.
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
• Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information.
• Skills in clinical assessment, intervention and evaluation.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Ability to work flexibly.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to be creative and transpose established treatment methods into a home rehab setting.
• Ability to work in teams.
• Knowledge and use of complex manual handling techniques and strategies including manual handling plans and risk assessments.
• Knowledge of major adaptations and management through the DFG process.
• Leading in-service training and education workshops.

Desirable

• Applying research to practice.
• Professional and Government agenda.
• Knowledge of Environmental Control Systems.

Experience
Essential

• Working as a member of an MDT with the ability to work flexibly.
• Extensive clinical experience in health and/or social care OT treatment planning.
• Documented evidence of CPD.
• Advanced post registration experience in a health and social care setting.
• Multi pathology assessment.
• Home and community assessments.
• Effective caseload management and discharge planning.
• Management, leadership and supervisory skills.

Desirable

• Experience of working with staff from other agencies.
• Experience of supervision of junior staff and/or assistants.
• Orthotics and splinting including fabrication of thermoplastic splints.
• Risk assessment in a variety of settings.
• Assessment for standard prescription wheelchairs, static seating and pressure care.
• Assessment of posture and positioning.
• Managing service development projects .
• Working in and facilitation of groups.
• Innovative.
• Leadership qualities.

Additional Requirements
Essential

• Willingness to work flexibly and to work across range of community and inpatient settings.
• Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer details
Employer name Livewell Southwest
Address 200 Mount Gould Road, Mount Gould, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 7PY, United Kingdom
Employer's website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Clinical Lead
Leah Breen
View email address on meeveem.com
View phone number on meeveem.com