Staff Grade Occupational Therapist

If you want to make a real impact on the lives of others join Galway Simon Community where we work towards eliminating homelessness through advocacy, education and campaigning in line with our values of compassion, community and collaboration.

Contract Details Permanent Contract, Full-Time, 37 hours per week

Location Galway City and West Region

Salary HSE Occupational Therapist (Staff Grade) 01/03/23 scale €40,325 - €58,483

Benefits

• 25 Days Annual Leave (pro rata)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Education Assistance Program
• Employee Pension Scheme
• Bike to Work Scheme
• Death in Service – 2x basic salary
• Mileage

Job Summary

The Occupational Therapist will work as part of a multidisciplinary team supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, with a focus on clients engaged through the Housing First Programme. The role involves assertive engagement with clients who experience extreme forms of marginalisation, supporting them to improve and sustain independent living, and promoting participation in meaningful daily activities.

This is a community-based role requiring regular travel throughout Galway City, and the post-holder must hold a full clean driving licence and be familiar with Galway to efficiently plan and complete meetings and community visits.

Key Responsibilities

Planning and Managing

• Responsible for assessment, planning, implementation and review of intervention plans for clients according to professional Occupational Therapy standards and code of ethics.
• Manage caseload in accordance with the needs of the clients referred from homeless services.
• Collaborate with clients, and staff in assessment treatment/intervention planning and evaluation in keeping with the Occupational Therapy Process.
• To assess clients, identify their needs, compile and implement care plans, which aim to assist clients to achieve the fullest personal, physical, psychological and social functional level to meet each individual’s potential.
• To assist multidisciplinary team members in drawing up individual care plans for clients, reviewing plans and evaluating occupational therapy interventions.
• To undertake assessments within the home setting to determine the clients functional ability and encourage maximum independence in activities of daily living, including the provision of equipment and teaching new techniques.
• Use assertive outreach strategies to engage individuals who may be reluctant to engage in traditional services.
• Facilitate individual and group-based interventions that actively support clients in developing skills, enhancing wellbeing, and increasing participation in meaningful daily activities and social inclusion.
• Plan discharge or transition of the client between services as appropriate.
• Document all assessments, intervention plans, progress notes, reports and discharge summaries in accordance with professional standards.
• Foster and maintain professional working relationships within the multidisciplinary team and externally with colleagues.
• Communicate verbally/writing results of assessments, treatment / intervention programmes and recommendations to relevant others.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary teams as appropriate, communicating and working in co-operation with other team members.
• Attend team meetings, case conferences, case management meetings as designated by Team Leaders, Services Manager etc.
• Arrange and carry out duties in a timely manner.
• Maintain quality standards of practice.
• To participate in Supervision with the Senior Occupational Therapist.
• To attend meetings as required with the Head of Client Services.
• To critically evaluate interventions and to ensure the service implements evidence-based practice. To participate in regular standard setting, outcome measurement, clinical audit and research.
• To contribute to the development of the Occupational Therapy service within this speciality area.
• Maintain professional standards in relation to confidentiality, ethics and legislation.
• Operate within the scope of Irish Occupational Therapy practice.

Education and Training

• Participate in mandatory training
• Participate in continuing professional development including attending conferences and courses relevant to practice, promoting and contributing to research etc.
• To keep informed of current developments and the implications that they may have for clinical practice.
• Engage in Occupational Therapy clinical professional supervision with clinical supervisor (of a grade of Senior Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapist Manager)

Health & Safety

• Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others.
• Implement agreed policies, procedures and safe professional practice by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.
• Be aware of risk management issues, identify risks and take appropriate action.
• Document appropriately and report any near misses, hazards and accidents and bring them to the attention of the relevant person(s).

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities.

Requirements

• Applicants must hold a relevant recognised university degree or an equivalent Masters level qualification in Occupational Therapy.
• Applicants must be registered, or eligible for registration, on the Occupational Therapists Register maintained by the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU.
• Applicants will be expected to provide proof of their statutory registration before a contract of employment can be issued.
• On appointment practitioners much maintain annual registration on the Occupational Therapists Registration Board at CORU annually, and supply employer with evidence of same.
• Eligible to work in the Republic of Ireland.
• Demonstrates ability to facilitate group and individual interventions
• Demonstrates a high level of proficiency in IT, to include MS Office, (Word, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint)
• Competence in using IT systems for clinical documentation
• Have a valid and full clean drivers licence & full access to own car for work purposes
• Good working knowledge of Galway City and surrounding areas
• Applicants must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
  
• Demonstrates knowledge of, and interest in Occupational Therapy and related practice in the area of people with needs associated with the homeless population
  
• Demonstrates awareness of current trends in Occupational therapy services and that they are up to date with current best practice
  
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Please note that those holding a qualification obtained outside the Republic of Ireland must be validated and registered with CORU prior to any employment. 

Desirable

• A minimum of 1 year’s professional work experience post qualification
• Experience of working with mental health, addiction, recovery, trauma- informed approaches to care, and assertive outreach practices would be a distinct advantage
• Experience in community-based or outreach work of an assertive nature
• Experience of working with complex care needs and clients with behaviours that challenge
• Knowledge of the Housing First Program
• Familiarity with harm reduction approaches and recovery models
• Commitment to Social Inclusion

To apply:

If you have any questions or require any further information about this position, please contact the HR department by phone: 091 381828 or by email: jobs@galwaysimon.ie

For informal queries about the job and what the role entails feel welcome to contact Mary Cronin, Senior Occupational Therapist, Health and Wellbeing MDT, Galway Simon Community on 085-8598551.

Closing date: July 13th 2025

Galway Simon Community is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.