Occupational Therapist

This vacancy is only open to North Somerset Council employees and agency workers contracted to North Somerset Council.

About Us

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

The Role

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Occupational Therapist to join our Smokefree Team. The Smokefree Team are responsible for reducing smoking prevalence within North Somerset by supporting smokers to stop smoking as well as training and supporting other providers to support their service users and/or patients to stop smoking as well as raising awareness around the harms associated with smoking, promoting the benefits of stopping and providing advice and guidance on the best ways to stop.

In this role, you will be expected to deliver Occupational Therapy Assessments, formulate treatment plans personalised to the individuals’ needs, and deliver time limited therapeutic interventions relevant to the individual’s goal to quit smoking.

You will be familiar in behaviour change and health promotion including using models such as Com-B or the behaviour change wheel.

The postholder will contribute to the overall delivery of smokefree services and operate as a member of the team.

This role is new to the team and so the post holder will need to be confident to work in an emerging area of practice and apply your skills into a new context, raising awareness of who might benefit from OT and developing processes to ensure there is a clear route for people who may experience barriers to success or present with complex needs that may have hindered quit attempts in the past.

Key Responsibilities:

• Complete Occupational Therapy assessments and formulate treatment plans
• Capture relevant outcome data and feedback to evaluate impact of OT involvement
• Design and deliver individual or group therapeutic interventions to support achieving outcomes
• Document activity within CRM system (Quit Manager) and in line with Professional standards
• Contribute to the shared aims of the Smokefree service and commitments within annual team plan

This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

This position is currently based between Town Hall office and community locations including Healthy Living Centre- Bournville, Sovereign-Town Centre and across settings within North Somerset.

Work Style

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

Flexible Worker

• 40-60% time in the office
• Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
• Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

About You

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about prevention and public health, who recognises the valuable contribution that Occupational Therapy can contribute into health improvement and who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

• Approved professional qualification in Occupational Therapy, sound understanding of the services available, legal responsibilities, work practices and processes relevant to the role.
• HCPC registration
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding protocols and the threshold levels for service users groups.
• Ability to analyse designated areas of work and make decision to improve them.
• Ability to engage with service users and partner agencies within the relevant codes of practice values (dignity, respect etc)
• Ability to manage/organise own work to meet agreed deadlines
• Understanding and recognition of professional & personal boundaries

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience in a similar service
• Research skills to effectively capture and share evaluation of OT in this emerging role

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension
• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

How to Apply

If you share our vision and valuesand are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Chris Miles, Health Improvement Advanced Specialist Smokefree, at Chris.Miles@n-somerset.gov.uk

Important Information

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: 20th November 2025

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.