Band 5 to Band 6 Developmental Occupational Therapist

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Milton Keynes is seeking a skilled Developmental Occupational Therapist. The role involves providing high-quality, evidence-based occupational therapy services to individuals with learning disabilities. Ideal candidates will have a relevant degree, HCPC registration, and experience in interdisciplinary settings. You will work with a dedicated team to promote individual rights and inclusion. This position offers opportunities for professional development and career growth.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive working environment

Qualifications

• Experience working with Learning Disabilities and complex needs.
• Knowledge of evidence-based Occupational Therapy practices.
• Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist occupational therapy assessments.
• Plan and implement individualized intervention programs.
• Monitor and evaluate occupational therapy interventions.

Skills

Experience with Learning Disabilities

Clinical reasoning skills

Effective communication

Education

BSc(Hons)/Diploma in Occupational Therapy

HCPC Registration

Job description

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Band 5 to Band 6 Developmental Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 11 December 2025

The Community Team for Adults with a Learning Disability (CTALD) team has 6 specialist Learning Disability (LD) pathways within the service; Psychiatry, Psychology, Speech and Language (SLT), Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy. The CTALD is a specialist integrated health and social care team providing experience and expertise in meeting the needs of and providing a service to residents of Milton Keynes who are over 18 and have a diagnosis of a learning disability.

The post-holder will be a skilled and competent worker who works in a non-aversive, person centred and therapeutic way. The post holder will work under the supervision of the Specialist Occupational Therapist and as part of a multi-disciplinary team in delivering a high quality, innovative service to people with a learning disability and complex needs.

Main duties of the job

The main task will be to provide a high quality, evidence based Occupational Therapy Service. Promoting participation and functional activity through focused and goal led interventions, promoting individual rights, independence choice and inclusion. Occupational Therapist services are provided in the most appropriate setting for the services user i.e. home, day centres, schools/colleges, leisure centres, work placements or respite units.

About us

There's a place for you at CNWL.We're passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient's own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We're always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we're hoping to find our future leaders and we'll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more - whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

Job responsibilities

To provide specialist, culturally appropriate, evidence based occupational therapy assessments for service users within the team to establish and meet their occupational needs.

To obtain Service User consent with a demonstrable understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (2005), management of Best Interests decisions and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)

To undertake comprehensive assessment of complex health and social care needs including risk management.

To attend Preceptorship as directed by CNWL Practice Education Lead.

To select and use validated standardised assessment tools routinely in practice, exhibiting clinical reasoning skills; to include the use of models of practice to inform thinking.

To apply specialist clinical knowledge and expertise to carry out evidence based occupational therapy interventions, both individual and in groups, which are underpinned by relevant theoretical approaches and in line with the Trusts Research and Development Strategy.

To plan, implement and review individually tailored programmes of intervention, including sensory based interventions using individual and group work approaches.

To support service users and colleagues to ensure that care plans are developed in partnership with the individual and that they reflect person centred goals.

To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions against clear aims, objectives and outcome measures in line with evidence-based practice and in conjunction with service users, carers and other professionals.

To identify opportunities and needs for group work in the inpatient and community setting and to plan, implement, facilitate and evaluate groups which promote social inclusion for service users to improve quality of life and wellbeing.

To determine the impact of mental and physical conditions on service users functional ability and undertake assessment/make recommendations with regards to the provision of equipment/aids and adaptations.

To be aware of medication issues in line with the CNWL OT Medication Management Guidelines and STOMP initiative.

To follow local protocol and obtain recommended equipment and/or liaise with local providers of equipment to ensure provision as appropriate.

To proactively undertake and ensure risk assessment & risk management strategies are applied

To work in partnership with other agencies and offer supervision and guidance to external agencies as required.

For Practitioners to be aware of and sensitive to the safeguarding needs of children and adults in their work, and knowledgeable both about potential indicators of abuse or neglect and about what to do if they had concerns about a child's or adult's welfare.

To identify carers needs in line with CPA policy and national requirements.

To support service users in relation to their physical health, employment, and housing and welfare issues; referring to specialist provider services as necessary.

To facilitate smooth transitions for service users between paediatrics to adult services, hospital settings and community settings.

To undertake departmental clerical/administrative work e.g. monthly statistics, standard letters, filing, photocopying, maintaining stock levels etc

• To ensure that manually/electronically recorded data are accurate and timely in accordance with department requirements
• To provide clinical leadership for junior / unqualified staff through supervision and appraisal as required.
• To act as an educator to students on practice placement.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience of working with Learning Disabilities/ Paediatrics/ Mental Health clients with a profound, multiple or complex needs including physical, cognitive, sensory impairments and behaviours that challenge.
• Demonstrate understanding of occupational performance and the role of the Occupational Therapy within a multidisciplinary team
• Knowledge of current best practice in Learning Disability Occupational Therapy
• Experience of working autonomously and inter-professionally / MDT working.
• Experience of working with and sharing knowledge and skills with clients, carers, health and social staff and other agencies.
• Experience of working in a multi-cultural context and being aware of equality and diversity needs.
• Demonstrate understanding & experience of OT profession-specific assessment tools/ treatment modalities (MOHO-ExpLOR) and outcome measures (TOMS)
• Involvement in service development, improvement, and innovation.
• Experience delivering specific focused in-service training to the wider MDT, health and social care staff and care providers.
• Experience providing supervision to Therapy Practitioners/ Assistants.
• Assessing environments and recommending major adaptations that meets long term needs
• Experience of working within a Positive Behaviour Support model and person centred care.

Qualifications

• BSc(Hons)/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration.
• Membership of RCOT
• Maintains a portfolio of CPD in line with RCOT standards including reflective practice
• Willing to participate in any relevant training identified to develop skills required to carry out duties including extended role activities.
• Involvement in RCOT special interest group, e.g. RCOT PLD
• Post Graduate qualification in Sensory Integration and/or other relevant clinical area.
• Completion of preceptorship.

Knowledge & Skills

• Application of occupational therapy process. Inclusive of assessment using a variety of assessment tools, evidence based interventions and outcome measures.
• Completion of functional assessment and activity analysis
• Demonstrate sound clinical reasoning & problem solving skills
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills - ability to manage time and independent workload.
• Effective communication and liaison skills.
• Has a clear working knowledge of the application of Health Professional Standards and Codes of Conduct.
• Experience of delivering evidence based-group activities for service users with complex and diverse needs in a community setting.
• Experience in using a variety of communication strategies e.g. Makaton.
• Working knowledge of associated syndromes linked to Learning Disabilities
• Knowledge of legal and ethical principles in learning disability practice for choice, consent and client autonomy including MCA, Best interest and DoLS.
• Working knowledge of Disabled Facilities Grants and associated legislation

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.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust