About this role
Job summary
Lead the delivery of the Reconnect service as an Occupational Therapist based at Colchester Leisure World and within community settings, working collaboratively with sports coaches, leisure providers and the local authority to improve access to meaningful physical activity and occupational participation.
The service forms part of the Colchester Community Model, an innovative approach integrating Occupational Therapy, community-based physical activity and lived experience to address barriers to participation, promote health and wellbeing, and reduce inequalities.
The role focuses on providing person-centred, therapeutic opportunities for individuals experiencing physical, psychological, social or environmental barriers to engagement. Through collaborative working, the service aims to empower individuals, promote independence and enable sustainable participation in meaningful activities.
The model recognises the relationship between occupation, participation, environment and health, using physical activity as a therapeutic approach to support recovery, prevent ill health and improve quality of life.
Working in partnership with local services and communities, the Reconnect service aims to create inclusive, access
Main duties of the job
Manage referrals, undertake holistic Occupational Therapy assessments and apply clinical reasoning to identify occupational needs, assess risk and prioritise interventions. Utilise standardised assessment tools, activity analysis and clinical observation to evaluate barriers to participation and occupational performance.
Develop collaborative, person-centred goals and evidence-based intervention plans, using physical activity as a therapeutic medium to promote independence, confidence, wellbeing and engagement in meaningful occupations.
Manage a varied clinical caseload, delivering individualised interventions including anxiety management, activity adaptation, environmental modifications, self-management strategies and onward referrals. Regularly review progress, adapt interventions and complete pre- and post-intervention outcome measures to evaluate effectiveness.
Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary professionals, GP practices, Primary Care Networks, Integrated Care Boards and community organisations to coordinate support and improve access to services.
Promote inclusive, co-produced approaches that empower individuals with disabilities and long-term health conditions, reduce health inequalities and enable sustainable participation in daily activities and community life.
About us
Sport for Confidence CIC is a community interest company dedicated to reducing health inequalities and improving access to sport and physical activity for individuals and communities experiencing barriers to participation.
The organisation integrates Occupational Therapy expertise with sports coaching and lived experience to deliver inclusive, person-centred opportunities within leisure and community settings. This collaborative approach addresses physical, psychological, social and environmental barriers, enabling individuals to engage in meaningful activities that promote health, wellbeing and independence.
Working locally and nationally, Sport for Confidence supports individuals with diverse and complex needs, recognising the relationship between occupation, environment, participation and health. The organisation promotes empowerment, choice and belonging through accessible physical activity opportunities tailored to individual needs.
By embedding Occupational Therapists within non-traditional healthcare environments, Sport for Confidence promotes early intervention, prevention and recovery, addressing occupational deprivation and supporting individuals before needs escalate to specialist services.
The organisation works collaboratively with communities, healthcare providers and leisure services to improve accessibility, challenge inequalities and create sustainable opportunities for meaningful participation.
Job description Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
All participants appropriate for engagement with SFC to receive support and intervention from the Occupational Therapist for a defined period of time depending on need.
The Occupational Therapist to utilise physical activity as an assessment and intervention tool, within their scope of practice, to provide a number of support interventions to participants, these range from 1:1 interventions (E.g Anxiety management), external referrals, sharing resources, completing assessment tools (SPM-2, Activity Analysis, unstructured observations) and anything additional for individual need.
Manage the referrals into the organisation, assessing and completing initial assessments, managing risk and priority.
Once an individual has been part of an initial assessment, a collaborative action planning process begins. Occupational Therapists work closely with the person to co-produce goals that are meaningful and relevant to them. These goals are rooted in enabling participation, enhancing wellbeing, and building confidence, with physical activity promoted as a key enabler
Individuals are added to the occupational therapists caseload over a period of time, goals and outcomes are regularly reviewed and adapted as necessary.
If participants require additional support from the Occupational Therapist, they will be supported into the medium (greater than 12 weeks) and or long-term caseload (greater than 24 weeks).
All participants will complete a PRE and POST outcome measure suitable for their location
Enable people to engage in activities of daily living that are important to them
Assessing how activities which the person needs or wants to do can be modified or adapted to make them easier
Understanding how the physical and social environment can be altered so that barriers are reduced
To develop system led opportunities for disabled people and those with long term health conditions, to enable them to access primary care services and foster a sense of belonging and inclusion, that challenges assumptions and supports social transformation.
Build strong and professional relationships and work collaboratively with GP Surgeries, Primary Care Networks and the Integrated Care Board.
To liaise and build meaningful partnerships with external agencies including health care professionals, charities, community groups and other health and social care organisations.
Support and enable genuine co-productive practice.
Promote person-centred practice which seeks to enable people to have control, choice, participation, and a sense of belonging.
Connect people to their community to enable and empower them to engage in meaningful occupations.
Deliver evidence based and best practice, which is Occupation focused.
Use therapeutic use of self to support individuals to have a positive experience of physical activity.
Non-Clinical Duties
To build positive working relationships with Everyone Active, the leisure provider and the local authority
Promote service within the local area through networking.
Complete participation numbers for statistical purposes.
Participate in audits, data collection, research and evidence-based practice.
Promote the occupational therapy role to external agencies.
Contribute to service development through innovative ideas and creation of resources.
Initiate and lead projects to meet identified service needs.
Seek out funding opportunities and complete funding applications where appropriate.
Be involved/supportive when presented opportunities through our specialist provision.
To ensure that up to date written and electronic records of own patient interventions and observations are completed in accordance with Sport for Confidence and professional standards.
To ensure that required activity data is recorded and that relevant personal and departmental records are maintained.
To be responsible for the quality of data recorded. The data should be accurate, legible (if handwritten), recorded in a timely manner, kept up to date and appropriately filed.
To comply with relevant professional standards (i.e. the College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional conduct, Health Professions Council guidelines for professional practice).
Professional duties
Attend professional meetings as required.
Attend appropriate training events as required.
Maintain a continuing professional development portfolio.
Engage in regular supervision.
Supervise and support students when appropriate.
Provide day to day operational management of coaches and volunteers.
Comply with policies and procedures regarding annual leave, sickness absence and time owing.
Support with upskilling coaches to understand the therapeutic value of physical activity.
Additional responsibilities
Complete all mandatory training.
Keep updated on all matters relating to company policies and guidelines.
Outlook calendar to be kept up to date.
Provide cover as and when necessary
Participate in the employee appraisal process.
Attend peer supervision and CPD opportunities.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy Minimum 1 year experience as an Occupational Therapist Registered with HCPC Evidence of Continuing professional and personal development.
Experience Essential
Knowledge of Safeguarding issues and requirements/legislation and how these apply to the role In-depth knowledge of working with people with varying conditions including physical disabilities, mental health conditions, learning disabilities, autism and dementia. In depth knowledge of wider policy and service issues relating to disabilities and relevant legislation Keen to develop and learn more about the power of physical activity as a promotion tool for good health and prevention tool for ill-health. Ability to assess clinical situations effectively and use own initiative and apply an appropriate treatment intervention accordingly. Experience of developing and working closely with other internal and external agencies. Integration of theory and practise to demonstrate creative problem-solving ideas. Able to adapt communication skills according to the audience. Knowledge of health inequalities locally and nationally Ability to supervise coaches and volunteers with day-to-day activities Experience of working systemically and strategically Ability to work autonomously within the leisure centre environment. Ability to manage and adapt to unpredictable work schedules and changing environments. Ability to communicate with varying stakeholders participants, carers, statutory services, voluntary sector etc. Negotiation skills with external staff for reasonable adjustments for access to the leisure centre. Management of conflict, including the resolution of complaints which may involve diffusion of aggression. Ability to prioritise complex caseload. Ability to deal with exposure to emergency and highly distressing situations. Ability to deal with stressful situations. Takes responsibility for own developmental needs. Able to take initiative and work pro-actively face to face or virtually.
Desirable
Demonstrates advocacy of the Occupational Therapist role Relevant experience working as an Occupational Therapist Experience of lone working
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Sport for Confidence
Address Colchester Leisure World
Cowdray Avenue
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1YH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.sportforconfidence.com/ (Opens in a new tab)