Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A health and social care organization in Peterborough is seeking a Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist responsible for leading an OT team and delivering high-quality services for adults with severe mental health needs. The ideal candidate should have significant post-registration experience, including leadership skills, and must hold a driving license for this role, which requires travel across the county. Flexible working options are available, and evidence-based practice is highly valued.

Qualifications

• Wide ranging post registration experience as an occupational therapist, including senior position.
• Experience in leading audit and evidence-based projects.
• Experience of supervision and appraisal of staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide expertise and guidance to OT staff and other professionals.
• Commit to evidence-based practice and use research opportunities.
• Develop communication networks with staff across teams.

Skills

Advanced clinical reasoning

Leadership

Motivational skills

Evidence-based practice

Communication skills

Education

Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy

HCPC Registration

MSc level learning or equivalent experience

RCOT membership

High level Sensory Integration training

Job description

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 29 January 2026

Are you ready for a truly rewarding challenge? We're thrilled to invite an experienced Occupational Therapist to join our Assertive Outreach Team as Clinical Lead (Band 8a). This is your chance to make a real difference for adults with complex and severe mental health needs. You'll lead and inspire a talented OT team, provide advanced clinical leadership, and support those who find it hardest to engage with traditional services. You'll be at the heart of quality improvement, clinical audit, and research, working closely with multi‑disciplinary colleagues and external partners to shape innovative OT pathways and service strategy. If you're passionate about evidence‑based practice, love sharing your expertise, and enjoy variety— including travel across the county and flexible working—this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Main duties of the job

Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines. You will need to hold a full UK driving licence* and have use of a vehicle. You cannot use public transport for this role as this is not a reliable form of transport and will not allow you to meet service needs. Please confirm in your application that you meet the specified criteria.

*DVLA have a number ofreciprocalarrangements with overseas countries, for further information please visit the DVLA website

• We're searching for a dynamic, compassionate Occupational Therapist with a wealth of post‑registration experience, including senior roles in mental health. You'll bring advanced clinical reasoning, leadership, and motivational skills, and a genuine commitment to learning, research, and service innovation. If you thrive in a supportive, multi‑disciplinary team and want to empower both staff and service users, we want to hear from you.
• We are looking for a Clinical Leader who can develop and shape the clinical pathway between AO and our Adult Locality teams. This individual will be responsible for the professional management of the OTs working across the two services. In addition, the post holder will provide expert clinical input for the most complex patient cohort.

About us

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high‑quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.

Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children’s, adult and older people’s mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.

To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high‑calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under‑represented groups including people with long‑term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.

Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.

Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.

For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.

• Provide expertise and professional advice, guidance, and consultation to OT staff and other professionals contributing directly to service user care and treatment.
• To commit to evidence‑based practice and use research opportunities to support the efficacy of therapeutic interventions.
• Develop and maintain own expertise and agreed level of expertise of team members/AHP staff by updating own specialist clinical knowledge and skills.
• To establish and maintain robust communication networks with staff at all levels across the AOT and ALTs, senior leaders and the wider Trust as required.
• Liaise at all levels within the organisation and with relevant external organisations.
• To develop and maintain good communication with service users, their carers and Multi‑Disciplinary Teams.
• To develop and maintain effective professional communication structures.
• Develop effective working relationships with senior clinical and managerial staff across teams and services, and proactively advance, develop and implement trust policies and Strategy.
• To identify and coordinate the education, training and CPD needs of OT staff and participate in the development and delivery of training within the Directorate.
• In partnership with managers and professional leads support development of the OT workforce in the directorate; provide advice on professional aspects of OT resource management and skill mix in the context of development of multidisciplinary approaches to care.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration
• MSc level learning or equivalent experience
• RCOT membership
• High level Sensory Integration training

Experience

• Wide ranging post registration experience as an occupational therapist, including having held senior position in relevant specialty
• Experience in leading and completing audit and evidence based projects
• Experience of supervision and appraisal of occupational therapy staff and students with ability to give constructive feedback and manage performance
• Experience of leading change management and service development/innovation
• Publication in recognised journal

Knowledge and Skills

• Extensive knowledge of evidence based occupational therapy for designated pathway
• Understanding of clinical governance and its implication for occupational therapy
• Able to provide a high standard of clear concise, written and verbal reports in English
• To demonstrate skills in motivating service users and/or carers to engage in the therapeutic process

Physical Requirements

• Available to work flexibly including weekend duties and altered working patterns where clinically appropriate
• Ability to travel independently around the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area meeting required timescales. A full driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential

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.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust