INTERNAL ONLY - Apprenticeship - Occupational Therapy Degree Apprentice

The Council is supporting a degree level apprenticeship in Applied Occupational Therapy and is keen to hear from staff working in a relevant role in Adult Social Care who have the commitment and passion to take on the degree and train as Occupational Therapists whilst working at least 30 hours a week, over a four year period.

As an Occupational Therapy Degree Apprentice you will have the opportunity to complete a BSc (Hons) Applied Occupational Therapy Degree (Level 6) which is accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) and progress your career by becoming a registered Occupational Therapist, a role where you can make a difference working with adults, children, carers and families, supporting positive change in people's lives, improving wellbeing and promoting independence. On successful completion of the apprenticeship, you’ll be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) which is required to practice as a registered occupational therapist.

We are planning to recruit for two apprenticeships from Adult Social Care, who will have the potential to take on greater challenges and responsibility as a qualified occupational therapist and to achieve the Royal college of Occupational Therapists professional standards.

What you will be doing:

In partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE), over the four year apprenticeship programme, you will study a range of subject areas, from occupational science, therapeutic practice, to promoting healthy living.

As a registered Occupational Therapist:

• You will support people to enable and enhance their occupational performance by focusing on their strengths, balancing choice and risk, facilitating their connections with their families, friends and communities enabling them to keep health and wellbeing.
  
  
• You will work in a way which is compassionate and which takes account of all aspects of the individual’s life - ensuring their voice is central to decision making. You will use your professional expertise to work, assess, plan, implement, evaluate and intervene putting the needs of people first.
  
  
• Within the context of relevant social care and occupational therapy relevant legislation, you will use your professional judgement and build relationships with a variety of individuals and communities, as well as with a wide range of other professionals and agencies. This requires an ability to critically reflect and make decisions within a clear professional code of ethics.
  
  
• Throughout your career, you will be responsible for ensuring your continuing professional development and will be expected to demonstrate leadership whatever your role.

All Occupational Therapists must register with the professional regulator and adhere to their professional standards.

We have a strong culture of giving staff the time, freedom and support to explore new and better ways of doing things, so we are looking for individuals who are keen to use their creativity to deliver the best outcomes for local people.

Our 4 year Occupational Therapy Degree Apprenticeship is practice-based and combines on and off the job learning and development. Apprentices will develop new skills and knowledge whilst continuing to carry out real work as part of a team in a social care setting. Around 20% of working time will be spend studying (much of which will happen at the council’s offices, some will take place at UWE).

In partnership with UWE, scheduled learning is delivered through online and face-to-face teaching throughout the programme, this includes lectures, seminars, group work projects, workshops and tutorials.

The rest of the course consists of work-based learning within the workplace and whilst working you will build a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate your skills and competencies.

As an apprentice, you will also undertake three blocks of placement learning where you will complete 1000 hours of assessed placement activity in a clinical setting.

Throughout your 48 month apprenticeship, we will allocate you a designated workplace mentor to give you guidance and support in completing your Level 6 Applied Occupational Therapy Degree Apprenticeship. During the apprenticeship, you will attend the University of the West of England. You will also undertake three blocks of placement learning, where you will complete 1000 hours of assessed placement activity, in a clinical setting outside of your workplace.

There will be an initial internal selection process to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria before we are able to submit your details to UWE’s Apprenticeship Hub team. You will be sent an application form to complete and submit with our support if required.

Employees taking on this apprenticeship training will retain their current salary and job role.

Please see the presentation link below for more information about the Occupational Therapy degree apprenticeship:
OT Integrated Degree Apprenticeship Programme (panopto.eu)

Also, we have included the Q&A factsheet for your information.

We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring all our staff are given right skills, knowledge and support to recognise and respond effectively to potential abuse or neglect.

We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.

We’re making a difference: be part of it.

We will require your line manager’s approval to participate in this apprenticeship training which will need to be sent via email to our Apprenticeship Coordinator.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend interview.

An initial Information and Q&A session will take place on Teams – please contact Ellie Goadsby for further details eleanor.goadsby@southglos.gov.uk

If you would like to find out more about what the role entails, please contact your Principal Occupational Therapist.

For further information about apprenticeships, please contact Ellie Goadsby – Apprenticeship Coordinator on eleanor.goadsby@southglos.gov.uk or call 01454 868618.

For further information about Occupational Therapy, please contact Rosemary Johnson – Principal Occupational Therapist on rosemary.johnson@southglos.gov.uk or call 01454 866118.