Occupational Therapist – Norfolk First Response 11491

Occupational Therapist | 11491 | permanent contract | 37 hours per week | £38,510 to £40,444 per annum (I grade) or £41,177 to £43,149 per annum ( J grade), depending on experience | Grade I/J | Norwich

Norfolk First Support

An exciting opportunity has arisen for Occupational Therapists in our Norfolk First Support Teams, focusing on working with individuals newly discharged from hospital as a pathway 1 or community referrals that need support into Norfolk First Support.

This is an exciting time to join the Norfolk First Support team that is in a period of transformation to further improve short term services for the people of Norfolk.

We are looking for an Occupational Therapist with reablement experience or an interest in reablement to join the team, and work towards defining the offer of Occupational Therapy in reablement. In this role, you will assess clients in their home or accommodation based reablement (ABR) unit. Goals and interventions will be person-centred and you will use the living well approach and strength-based assessment, to promote independence.

You’ll have experience of formulating outcome-focused reablement plans, using outcome measure tools and managing plans through an electronic case management system.

You will have the ability to work under pressure, be well organised and able to effectively prioritise. You will need to have a positive attitude, be committed to a ‘Home First’ ethos and enjoy finding creative and innovative solutions to promoting people’s independence. You will possess excellent communication skills, record keeping and keyboard skills. You should have a commitment to excellent customer service and be confident in strengthening Social Care practice.

Norfolk First Response (NFS) is a community reablement service to support people in their own home to regain and maximise their independence following a period in hospital and/or deterioration in physical and/or mental health. The service commences once health care needs have mostly been met or at least stabilised and focuses on improving skills necessary for daily living and can last for up to six weeks.

NFS in a jointly funded venture from social care and health and work closely with the locality and community teams.

We are proud to offer an Occupational Therapy Preceptorship programme for our newly Qualified OTs as well as those moving from a different field of OT or returning to practice.

We are keen to help you reach your career potential with this 18-month long programme of support, development, and assessment where you will be assigned an Occupational Therapy Mentor who is a qualified, registered and experienced Occupational Therapist to support and monitor your progress. If you are eligible for the programme, this will be discussed with you at interview.

We also welcome those experienced in Social Services and/or Community OT work. We offer strong support networks, with regular meetings, supervision and a buddy system for new people joining our team to help you settle in.

Benefits Of Working For Norfolk First Response

• Competitive annual leave per year
• Excellent pension scheme
• Salaried post
• Extensive induction training and future development opportunities
• Norfolk Rewards Scheme (discount saving with various shops and restaurants)
• Paid business mileage
• Cycle to work scheme
• Part of Norfolk County Council

We have applied the hybrid model of working as part of the smarter working plans to support the health and safety of our work colleagues. There will be opportunities to work from an office environment part of the week. Working remotely from home will continue to be a key feature of this role. We ask that you have good broadband connectivity.

Adult Social Services in Norfolk is on an ambitious, exciting transformation journey. We're redesigning how we work to create a system that is flexible, human, and focused on better outcomes. As part of this journey, you'll contribute to an environment where learning is continuous, insight is shared, and innovation is encouraged. We support flexible and hybrid working, with a minimum expectation of two days per week spent in a community or office setting, helping you stay connected with colleagues, communities and the people we support.

The ability to drive and a full driving licence are essential.

Before you apply, we recommend reading the full Job Description and Person Specification to help you demonstrate you meet the criteria.

For An Informal Discussion Regarding This Vacancy, Please Contact

Katie Hall, Occupational Therapy Team Manager – katie.hall2@norfolk.gov.uk or 01603 222527

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 – dependent 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

You can 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: 26 October 2026

All other applicants closing date: 02 November 2026