Visa Note
This employer is offering a certificate of sponsorship for eligible candidates who require skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK. However, all applicants must verify their visa eligibility directly with the employer before applying. The salary range of £47,884 to £51,175 per annum meets the minimum requirements for skilled worker visa sponsorship. Surrey County Council welcomes applications from international candidates and will consider sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.
Job Details
Job Title: Adults Senior Occupational Therapist
Company: Surrey County Council
Location: Victoria Gate, Chobham Road, Woking, GU21 6JD
Salary: £47,884 to £51,175 a year
Working Pattern: Full-time, permanent
Application Deadline: 30 November 2025
Reference Number: SCC/TP/287930/4051
Language: English
Employment Type: Permanent
About the Role
Are you passionate about supporting people to live their best lives? Surrey County Council’s Woking Locality Team is looking for a Senior Occupational Therapist to join their friendly team, based in their brand new office at Victoria Gate in Woking. This diverse and rewarding role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable adults across Surrey.
As a Senior Occupational Therapist, you will conduct holistic assessments of social care needs and plan support across a dedicated caseload. Working closely with families, carers, and care workers, you’ll play a vital role in supporting people from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of needs. No two days are the same in this varied position that requires professional experience of assessing for major adaptations, specialized equipment, and completing moving and handling risk assessments.
The team operates on a hybrid working model, with a mixture of office and home working. Full-time staff are expected to be in the office 2-3 days per week, providing flexibility while maintaining valuable team collaboration. You’ll be given your own laptop and mobile phone to support your hybrid working arrangements.
About the Team
You will be joining a supportive, skilled, and creative team that values work ethic, honesty, and reliability. If you’re a pragmatic, driven, and creative Occupational Therapist looking to make a difference, this is the place for you. The team supports residents over 65 and those younger with disabilities, working closely with carers, families, and partner organizations to enable residents to live their best possible life.
The team is committed to ensuring carers and family members feel supported, given the vital role they perform in the life of those who matter most to them. You’ll work alongside other professionals in a multi-disciplinary setting, providing integrated support to vulnerable adults and their carers in a community-based environment.
Key Responsibilities
Using a strength-based approach, you will work alongside a variety of clients who have differing and/or complex needs. Client groups may include elderly and frail individuals, those with learning disabilities, physical or sensory impairments, or mental health challenges. This diverse role will facilitate your professional development and equip you with a wide range of skills to enable you to undertake frontline holistic occupational therapy practice within a social care setting.
You’ll have the opportunity to put into practice assessments such as moving and handling risk assessments and interventions, with the aim of supporting and empowering clients to live meaningful lives within the community. You’ll see clients in their own homes or in residential settings, with opportunities to complete short-term equipment interventions or work longer-term with clients with complex needs.
The role requires familiarity with moving and handling equipment such as hoists and stand aids, as well as knowledge of medical conditions and their likely impact on the individual, carer, and family. You’ll also need knowledge of current legislation, including the Care Act and the Mental Capacity Act, and their application to practice in a social care setting.
What We Offer
Surrey County Council provides an attractive benefits package that includes:
- 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years’ service and 31 days after 5 years’ service
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- A generous local government salary-related pension
- Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
- Paternity, adoption, and dependents leave
- An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
- Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
- Relocation allowance of up to £8,000
- Refer a friend scheme
- Professional registration fees paid
New Occupational Therapists to Social Care will receive a comprehensive induction program to help you transition into your role smoothly. The council is committed to your professional development and provides ongoing support to help you grow in your career.
Qualifications and Experience
Essential Qualifications:
- A degree or equivalent qualification in occupational therapy
- Professional qualification in Occupational Therapy and current registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Essential Experience:
- At least 2-3 years of post-qualification professional experience practising as an Occupational Therapist
- Experience of working within a social care, health or community focused multi-disciplinary setting
- Ability to complete person-centered and proportionate OT assessments
- Knowledge of current legislation, including the Care Act and the Mental Capacity Act and its application to practice in a social care setting
- Substantial post-qualification professional experience
Desirable Experience: Experience of providing professional supervision (support and training to further these skills will be provided)
Working Arrangements
Surrey has both urban and rural areas, and area-based social care workers will be expected to have a valid driving license to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle, and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to fulfill the requirements of the job.
An enhanced DBS ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ check for regulated activity and the Children’s and Adults’ Barred List checks will be required for this role.
How to Apply
Apply Instructions: Apply via NHS Jobs website.
For international applicants specifically:
- Verify your visa eligibility with Surrey County Council before applying
- Prepare evidence of your occupational therapy qualifications and HCPC registration
- Include details of any previous UK work experience if applicable
- Be prepared to provide criminal record certificates from any country where you have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years
- Contact Nick Giffard, Recruitment Attraction Lead, at [email protected] or 07812477181 to discuss sponsorship requirements
Employer Information
Employer: Surrey County Council
Website: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/jobs
Address: Victoria Gate, Chobham Road, Woking, GU21 6JD
Surrey County Council is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. The council values diversity and aims to employ a workforce that reflects the community it serves.
Contact Details
For questions about the job, contact:
Name: Nick Giffard
Title: Recruitment Attraction Lead
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07812477181
This job advert will close at 23:59 on 30th November 2025, although applications will be reviewed, and appointments made, on an on-going basis. Surrey County Council looks forward to receiving your application and welcomes the opportunity to consider international candidates for this position with certificate of sponsorship to the UK.
