Occupational Therapist - Learning Disability & Autism

Job Introduction

This role has a starting salary of £43,633 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week.

We are hiring a new Occupational Therapist (OT) to join our fantastic Learning Disability & Autism Team in the West of Surrey. The role is hybrid, with a mixture of working in the office and from home, aiming for full time staff to be in the office twice a week and part time staff once a week. The office base for this role is our Millmead House office in Guildford.

We are looking for individuals who share our values and are motivated to make a significant and positive difference to the lives of our residents. One small adjustment or improvement by an Occupational Therapist can transform someone's quality of life.

Our Offer

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• Hybrid working, including the ability to work from home
• A fantastic Adults Academy which will help you to progress in your career.
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Refer a friend scheme
• Professional registration fees paid
• Preceptorship programme for newly-qualified OTs
• Induction programme for those OTs who are new to Social Care

About the Team

You will be joining a supportive, skilled and creative team that values a good work ethic, honesty and reliability, together with the ability to apply sound and solid clinical reasoning to ensure we are providing a service we all can be proud of. If you are a pragmatic, driven and creative Occupational Therapist, wanting to make a difference, then this could be the right environment for you to flourish in.

About the Role

Using a strength-based approach, you will work alongside a variety of clients who have differing and/or complex needs. Our client group are adults over the age of 18 living with learning disabilities and / or Autism and may also have other conditions impacting their physical or mental health. This diverse role will facilitate your development and equip you with a large range of skills to enable you to undertake frontline holistic occupational therapy practice within a social care setting.

You'll work with individuals and develop your practice skills across a wide range of specialist practice areas, including:

• Moving and handling assessments
• Functional skills development and independence planning
• Environmental assessments
• Minor and major adaptations
• Specialist equipment provision
• Sensory assessment approaches
• Postural seating assessments

You'll be seeing clients functioning in their own homes or in community or supported living settings. Our aim is to support and empower our clients to live meaningful lives within the community.

Joining us you will work closely with your team members, as well as with other organisations and agencies, to provide an integrated service to support vulnerable adults and their carers.

We encourage hybrid working (and to support this you'll be given your own laptop and mobile phone) and you'll be given control of your own diary and time to oversee a diverse range of casework.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills, experience and align with our behaviours:

• Professional qualification in Occupational Therapy and current registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Lived or worked experience with individuals with learning disabilities, autism and / or sensory impairments.
• Experience of working within a social care, health or community focused multi-disciplinary setting
• Ability to complete person-centred and proportionate OT assessments
• Familiarity with moving and handling equipment such as hoists and stand aids
• Knowledge of medical conditions and the likely impact on the individual, carer and family
• Knowledge of current legislation, including the Care Act and the Mental Capacity Act and its application to practice in a social care setting

Application Process

To help us better understand your experience and suitability for this role, you will be asked to answer two application questions as part of your application.

1. Using an example, how do your experience and skills make you suitable for our Learning Disability & Autism OT Team?
2. Tell us about a situation where you successfully promoted the occupational performance of a resident. What did you do and what were the outcomes?

These questions will form an important part of our shortlisting process. We encourage you to give clear, concise responses that demonstrate your experience, skills, and approach to practice.

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and locality based social care workers will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK and access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.

Contact us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

For an informal discussion please contact Karen Morgan - Assistant Team Manager by email at Karen.Morgan@surreycc.gov.uk

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 01/11/2026 with interviews planned for week of 09/11/2026.

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation and will move to new authorities in April 2027. This role is currently employed by Surrey County Council and will remain so until then. If you are employed by Surrey County Council on 1 April 2027, your employment will transfer under TUPE arrangements to one of the new councils, with your current terms and conditions protected. The provisional allocation for this post is West Surrey Council subject to final confirmation through the wider transition process later this year. Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council.

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.

Attached documents:

• Occupational Therapist.pdf - Occupational Therapist - Job Description

Salary

The starting salary for this position is £43,633 per annum

Working conditions

Contract: Permanent N/A