Housing Occupational Therapist

Housing Occupational Therapist

£47,532-£50,574 per annum

Permanent - part-time 4 days per week

About Us

Newham is a vibrant inner-city borough with excellent transport. We are proud to be home to one of the youngest and most diverse cultures across the country, Newham is an exciting and challenging borough that is committed to putting people at the heart of everything we do.

The Borough boasts iconic landmarks such as, Green Street, the Olympic Park, Excel Centre, Westfield Shopping Centre and the University of East London. Newham is changing rapidly, benefiting from significant investment, creating new jobs, homes and opportunities for all. The Mayor of London has provided the Borough with £107 million funding through the ‘Building Council Homes for Londoners’ programme, supporting the construction of 1,100 new homes by 2022. From this we expect to see an additional 2,500 jobs created over the next decade, injecting £1.5 billion to the local economy.

About the Role

Reports to the HRT Team Manager

Management responsibility for: 1 OT Support Officer (part-time)

This is a pivotal role within the Lettings Agency, designed to ensure that residents with disabilities and health-related housing needs are supported with empathy, expertise, and efficiency. As a Housing Occupational Therapist, you will be the Council’s lead specialist on accessible and inclusive social housing, providing expert assessments and guidance to ensure that adapted and accessible properties are allocated appropriately and in line with the Council’s Allocations Policy.

You will work closely with the Housing Register Team, Allocations Team, Adult Social Care, Planning, and the Home Improvement Agency to deliver tailored housing solutions that meet the complex needs of our residents. Your responsibilities will include conducting in-depth assessments of applicants’ housing and accessibility needs, advising on the suitability of vacant and new build properties, and ensuring that adaptations are used effectively and sustainably.

You will also play a strategic role in shaping the borough’s approach to accessible housing by contributing to the design of new developments, analysing data to influence housing policy, and producing reports that inform the housing development programmes of both the Council and registered social landlords.

In this role, you will:

• Lead on the assessment and categorisation of accessible and adapted properties using the London Accessible Housing Register framework.
• Provide expert advice on the re-use or removal of adaptations in void properties and support direct offers to applicants with complex needs.
• Attend viewings and conduct home visits to ensure safe and appropriate housing placements.
• Maintain and develop the Accessible Housing Register and input into Choice Based Lettings adverts to ensure accuracy and transparency.
• Line manage the part-time Occupational Therapist Support Officer, providing supervision, development, and performance oversight.
• Represent the Council at key panels and forums, including the Disability and Sheltered Housing Panel and the Adaptations Panel.

Required Professional Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification in Occupational Therapy or equivalent relevant experience.
• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Membership in the College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section in Housing (desirable).
• Membership in relevant professional networks such as:
  • The Access Association
  • The London-wide Health/Disability Assessors Forum

Please note: This role is subject to a successful Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in line with the Council’s safeguarding responsibilities for vulnerable adults and children.

This is a highly collaborative role that requires excellent communication skills, a deep understanding of housing and health legislation, and a commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centred services. If you are passionate about inclusive housing and want to make a tangible difference in the lives of Newham residents, we encourage you to apply.

Please view JD here

Closing date 6/07/2025

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.