Principal Occupational Therapist

Join to apply for the Principal Occupational Therapist role at Milton Keynes City Council
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This range is provided by Milton Keynes City Council. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

We’re seeking a dedicated Principal Occupational Therapist to lead and develop our service and make a real difference to the lives of others.

You’ll be at the heart of shaping how the Occupational Therapy team supports independence and wellbeing across Milton Keynes, driving transformation and championing best practice.

You’ll influence strategic direction and create innovative ways of working that improve lives. You’ll lead service redesign, set good standards and ensure our approach reflects the very best in Occupational Therapy.

From developing workforce plans and mentoring future talent to managing budgets and engaging with national forums, your impact will be felt across the city.

If you want a role where you can combine leadership with hands‑on expertise, where your decisions shape policy and practice, and where you help deliver high‑quality outcomes for local people, this is the role for you.

This is a site‑based role

Interviews for this role will be held on the 3 February

Milton Keynes City Council is a modern and friendly place to work. Find out more about working with us here:

• Provide inspiring leadership and guide a team of Occupational Therapists.
• Lead service redesign and organisational change to meet objectives.
• Develop and implement Occupational Therapy Quality Standards and Assurance Framework.
• Create a workforce strategy to attract, retain and develop talent.
• Promote continuous professional development and innovative learning approaches.
• Manage budgets and ensure financial targets are met.
• Represent Occupational Therapy locally and nationally, influencing policy and practice.

• Professional Occupational Therapy qualification and registration with Social Work England.
• Extensive post‑qualifying experience, including at least two years in senior management.
• Expert knowledge of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act, and safeguarding practice.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and strategic planning skills.

If you’re offered the role, we’ll arrange an Enhanced DBS check as part of our pre‑employment process (unless you’re already registered with the DBS Update Service).

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
• Access to an award‑winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low‑cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme – low‑cost leasing of electric and low‑emission vehicles.
• Blue Light Card – employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here:
Working at the Council | Milton Keynes

Our roles are either designated ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. ‘Site based’ roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst ‘home based’ roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round‑the‑clock services and…