Advanced Specialist Occupational Therapist

NHS; Dawlish; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health services provider in Dawlish is seeking an Advanced Specialist Occupational Therapist to join their forensic team. You will provide expert assessments and interventions for individuals with complex needs, ensuring high-quality patient care in a supportive multi-disciplinary environment. A degree in Occupational Therapy and relevant experience are essential for this dynamic role.

Qualifications

• Highly developed knowledge of theory and practice of Occupational Therapy.
• Ability to use effective communication skills with clients and carers.
• Experience in managing a complex caseload.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert assessment, intervention, and case management.
• Support induction of new staff members and students.
• Ensure high quality care for every patient.

Skills

Knowledge of Occupational Therapy practices

Communication Skills

Problem Solving

Leadership

Client Engagement

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy

Valid state registration with Health & Care Professions Council

MSc in Advanced Occupational Therapy

Tools

Evidence-based assessment tools

Job description

Advanced Specialist Occupational Therapist

We are seeking an innovative, experienced, highly motivated & enthusiastic Advanced Specialist Occupational Therapist to join the Forensic Intellectual and Neurodevelopmental disorder team (FIND) based at Easby House, in Dawlish Devon.

The FIND Team is managed within the Secure Services directorate in Devon Partnership NHS Trust. This role is in the FIND team which is based in the Community Forensic Services (CFS). The CFS is comprised of three teams including the Specialist Community Forensic team (SCFT), FIND and the Forensic Personality Disorder service (FPDs).

FIND aims to reduce length of stay for secure care patients with a primary diagnosis of Learning Disability (LD), Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and/or Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and reduce the use of out of area or specialist placements in order to support / facilitate the use of South West network beds. This involves the development of a structured approach of direct work with patients (e.g. intervention, specialist assessment, case management) as well as indirect work with staff teams (e.g. consultation, training, supervision).

• The interview date is to be confirmed but expected to take place either 28th or 29th October 2025

Main duties of the job

You will often work under pressure and withoutdirect supervision, so we are looking for someone confident and capable. Youwill prioritise tasks, and manage your own workload, providing support for yourcolleagues where required.

You will become an important part of the team,working to ensure that every patient receives high quality care. You may berequired to support the induction of new staff members and students,demonstrating activities to them and providing supervision to support.

The role is dynamic and challenging. The post holder will be a coremember of a multi-disciplinary FIND team and be responsible for taking anactive role in carrying out the functions of that team; including carrying acase load of varying complexity, with a principle focus on service users whowould benefit most from an specialist forensic intervention. The post holderwill provideexpert assessment, intervention and case management for people with LD, ASCand/or ABI and their carers. This will include working alongside colleagues tosupport Care co-ordination (design and co-ordination of support packages thatare personalised and evaluated).

About us

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job responsibilities

For further information regarding this role, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Skills

• Highly developed knowledge of theory and practice of Occupational Therapy with people with a learning disability, neurodiversity and/or acquired brain injury.
• An understanding of the Mental Health Act and Mental Health Capacity Act requirements
• Further knowledge gained by specialist courses
• Awareness of legal restraints impacting on the rehabilitation of service users within forensic care
• Good working knowledge of health legislation and current practice including CPA and risk assessment and management
• An understanding of government policy with regard to services for people with learning disabilities and neuro-developmental disorders
• Ability to use a range of communication skills to communicate effectively with clients and carers who may be distressed or have limited communication skills
• Demonstrate skills in motivating clients and/or carers to engage in the therapeutic process
• Ability to administer and interpret a range of evidence based/standardised assessment tools
• Experience in managing a complex caseload
• Awareness of legal restraints impacting on the rehabilitation of service users within forensic care
• To be able to produce complex written information in a variety of formats for varied audiences
• To develop supportive clinical supervision for Occupational Therapists
• Ability to analyse complex information to solve problems and draw conclusions
• Ability to assume leadership responsibilities

Ability to be mobile across a geographical area

• Ability to be mobile across a geographical area
• To be able to respond promptly to physical and mental health emergencies, to think quickly and to deal with situations in a calm and sensible manner

Experience

• Significant specialised experience working with people with complex needs and additional sensory/health needs
• Experience in the application of Occupational Therapy models to service users with complex needs
• Significant experience working in community settings in multi-disciplinary teams
• Ability to manage a complex caseload and competing priorities
• Previous forensic experience

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Valid state registration with Health & Care Professions Council
• European computer driving licence/similar qualification or level of experience
• Clinical practice educator for student placements
• MSc in Advanced Occupational Therapy
• Sensory integration practitioner
• Working towards advanced practitioner status/MSc in sensory integration
• Membership/Participation in regional/national specialist interest groups
• Excellent presentation skills

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.