Oxfordshire County Council in three words: Innovative, agile and supportive.

Occupational Therapist -> Practice Supervisor Occupational Therapist -> Lead Housing Occupational Therapist –> Senior Practitioner Occupational Therapist

I decided I’d like to pursue a career in healthcare whilst travelling in my early 20’s. After finishing my travels, I moved to London where I applied for an OT role at Brunel University. I then wrote to the local authorities in London looking for someone to employ me during my degree. Wandsworth said YES and I worked there from for several years before I moving to Oxfordshire County Council (OCC).

I joined OCC as an OT and soon became a Housing OT. Whilst working in this position my supervisor encouraged me to apply for a practice supervisor role, which I got! Oxfordshire offers numerous opportunities to move across various teams and advance your career.

There are chances to try different roles temporarily, like covering for maternity leave, and plenty of scope to progress either upwards or sideways. The size of the organisation means there’s lots of opportunities for career development and I’ve been able to develop into an area of OT which I’m passionate about.?

The standout at Oxfordshire is the exceptional peer support and supervision.

I’ve worked at Oxfordshire for 12 years across several teams and the main reason for that longevity is the unique culture which is incredibly supportive and nurturing.

There’s a lot of peer support, both informal and formal and we’re encouraged to utilise agile working, which helps me balance work and family life. From day one, I’ve experienced strong leadership and excellent peer support, which is crucial in a challenging social care job. Being able to debrief with understanding colleagues after tough visits is incredibly powerful.

Currently, I work in the Community Connections team as the sole Senior Practitioner Occupational Therapist. My main focus is on housing projects for adults with learning disabilities and autism, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to design and adapt new supported living schemes.

My role is unique in Oxfordshire because I’m the only occupational therapist working exclusively with adults with learning disabilities and autism.

I collaborate with developers from the start of projects, whether building new supported living schemes or retrofitting existing homes for this client group. This approach is quite distinct compared to other places I’ve worked.

The most rewarding part of my role is seeing big projects come to life.

Recently, a supported living house for six young adults with autism opened in Kidlington. Watching it transform from a building site to a home and seeing the residents move in has been incredibly fulfilling. One parent even expressed tears of joy at their child’s newfound independence. This transformation and positive impact on lives make my work truly rewarding.

One big success story is a new scheme in Didcot opening in a few weeks for 12 young adults with autism, aged 18 to 30.

This project aims to help them develop independence, transitioning from family homes or college environments to more independent living. The scheme is centrally located, offering ample work and travel opportunities.

Additionally, we have three more houses opening this year for adults with varying levels of need, from those who can live independently to those requiring 24-hour care. It’s an exciting and busy time as we see these projects come to fruition.

Adult social care at Oxfordshire is very innovative – that’s something we do well.

Currently, we’re trialling a new type of assistive technology in a nine-person supported living scheme in Wallingford. Although the initial cost is high, it is expected to significantly increase residents’ independence and reduce care costs, potentially paying for itself three times over. This approach not only enhances independence but also reduces the financial burden of high-cost care.

Oxfordshire County Council in three words: Innovative, agile and supportive.

View our vacancies in occupational therapy: https://lnkd.in/eu8SMDvH

#OCCCareers #AdultSocialCare #OccupationalTherapy #OccupationalTherapist