Occupational Therapy recruitment
Whether you are starting out in your career as an Occupational Therapist or looking for your next opportunity, we want you to join our fantastic team in Manchester.
Manchester is a diverse and exciting city. We have a population of approximately 550,000 people and around 200 different languages are spoken here, higher than any other city in the UK. Manchester is full of culture, and has thriving music, sport, theatre, wellbeing and food scenes.
Current Roles Available:
To view all current Occupational Therapists vacancies, please click here.
Why Occupational Therapy in Manchester social care is different
Occupational Therapy in Manchester City Council is challenging and exciting. We are committed to growing, developing and retaining our workforce to meet that challenge and ensure working with us is rewarding and interesting.
Manchester City Council have invested in Occupational Therapy with a number of Occupational Therapists across multiple teams. These teams include:
- Equipment and adaptations
- Blue badges
- Moving and handling
- Optimisation/single handed care
- Reablement
- Manchester move
- Adult early support team
- and more teams exploring the addition of occupational therapists
As an Occupational Therapist working at Manchester, you will have access to a state of the art smart suite, a place where you can trial equipment and adaptations with citizens, family and carers to support clinical decision and implementation of recommendations. Find out more about the Smart Suite here.
We have an inhouse equipment store and assistive technology team, to streamline provision of equipment and technology solutions to enhance independence. Technical officers and DFG staff are co-located with OTs to enable collaboration and best practice when assessing for and recommending complex major adaptations.
At Manchester City Council, we value the contribution of Occupational Therapy. We have:
- A Principal Occupational Therapist in post, leading the way and shining a light on what we do as Occupational Therapists – the first role of its kind in Greater Manchester.
- OT apprenticeship opportunities, with 2 staff members currently undertaking the apprenticeship
- Opportunities to develop the future OTs, working with local universities and supporting student placements. Two OT students recently completed a role emerging placement in the Entrenched Rough Sleepers Team.
As an Occupational Therapist at Manchester City Council, you will be part of the Manchester Local Care Organisation (MLCO) – a partnership organisation that brings together adult social care and NHS community health as one team in the city. This means you will have opportunities to build close links with staff across multiple services.
Giving you a career pathway
We have career progression opportunities in Manchester. We will help you build a strong foundation for occupational therapy practice, supported by approachable and accountable leaders.
We’re proud that many of our staff stay and develop their careers in Manchester – and many of those who do leave, come back to us.
See what our staff have to say about working in Manchester
“There is no doubt about the vibrance, spirit and sheer potential that defines Manchester. Working in a city that is bold, dynamic and not afraid to do things differently has been an exciting opportunity and experience as an occupational therapist.”
“I work with adults and children with a wide variety of long-term physical, neurological and mental health conditions and complex needs, and no two days are the same.”
“I love Manchester as a City and working with the citizens of Manchester is amazingly rewarding. The community OT role offers the opportunity to work with a diverse range of citizens from children through to older people with a range of conditions, this means that after 23 years of working as an OT I am continuing to learn every day and every day is different. The flexible working means that I can establish a good work life/balance. The management are extremely supportive and encourage autonomous working but are always available for guidance and support when this is required. The co-location of the OTs and technical officers at MEAP is particularly valuable to work collaboratively when considering complex adaptations. Of all the Local Authorities I have worked for during my OT career, MCC is definitely the best!”
“Genuine work/life balance.”
“I work 35 hours per week – 2.5 hours a week less than at the NHS – and flexible working means I can start or finish earlier when I need to. We’re given the technology we need for remote-working and can choose to work from home or the office.”
“I no longer have to work weekends or bank holidays. It’s good to have that time back to spend with family.”
“The salary here is similar to what I was earning at the NHS (although your money goes further, up North.) And there are ways you can earn more. For instance, by requesting extra cases and working overtime.”
“Settling in, support, and development opportunities.”
“The month-long induction was thorough and stress-free – I learned at my own pace.”
“I get support and a supervisor but I also work autonomously, which I like.”
“My specialism is adult therapy with some experience with children. I have mostly adult cases at the moment, but I could request more paediatric work in the future to build up my experience, develop and challenge myself. Some of my colleagues are incredibly knowledgeable in that field, so I can learn from them.”
“I’ve also been able to do online webinars and courses during work time, and my team are encouraged to attend industry-specific conferences to make sure we stay ahead of the game.”
“Coming for the interview was my first visit to the city. It sounds clichéd, but as soon as I got off the train, I could tell how warm people were. It’s true what they say. People are friendly up North.”
“You can get a larger home for less, without compromising on all the great things about city living.”
“It’s a big, vibrant city, that has the ‘London-factor’ in terms of the trendy activities, events, festivals, unique and independent businesses and restaurants. It’s well connected with public transport and the airport.”
“We’re close to the Lake District and Peak District, so there’s lovely, outdoorsy things to do at the weekends.”
“I’ve tried to encourage a few of my friends to move up to Manchester.”
“Making a difference!”
“It’s not always possible for Occupational Therapists to rehabilitate people to be independent in activities that are important to them. But it’s rewarding to be able to support people with equipment and adaptations that can help them be included in society and have a better quality of life.”
Watch our short video where our staff explain what working in Manchester is like.
- Surrounded by passionate, knowledgeable and supportive team members
- Great induction & training opportunities.
- Regular supervision
- Opportunities to supervise OT students, with access to placement educator training
- Communities of Practice and various other forums to share information and good practice across all teams including Council wide AHP meetings
- Access to a Padlet providing a one stop platform for all things OT in Manchester City Council.
- All Occupational Therapists are part of a wider professional community within the MLCO, working alongside and supporting colleagues within the NHS.
- 26 days annual leave – Increases to 31 days after 5 years, plus bank holidays, as well as the option to purchase an additional 10 days’ leave (additional day from 2023 if current pay award approved)
- Work/life balance – 35 hour working week from Monday to Friday, no working on bank holidays or weekends
- Family friendly policies e.g. maternity/adoption, paternity, shared parental leave
- Employee communities and support groups including Adult Social Care Black Asian and Minority Ethnic forum; Disability and LGBT+ Networks, Menopause Support
- Opportunities for flexible & agile working
- Relocation assistance may be available for colleagues needing to relocate to Manchester
- Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (17.2% employer contribution)
- Staff benefits and discounts via the MCR+ card – a one-stop-shop for savings, benefits and rewards across a huge range of household names.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) offering 24/7 support service for all employees and their immediate families, with immediate access to counselling, financial, legal, family and medical advice.
- Annual Staff Awards for Excellence
- Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles lease scheme can help you get a brand new competitively priced all electric or hybrid car.
Want to apply today or find out more?
Could you see your career as an Occupational Therapist in Manchester? If you’re interested and think you’re the right person, apply to join the team with us today. We’d love to hear from you.
For further information, feel free to reach out to Sarah Piercey, Principal Occupational Therapist – sarah.piercey@manchester.gov.uk