Head Occupational Therapist

NHS; Radlett; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in England is seeking a Head Occupational Therapist to lead a team within Acute Inpatient & Crisis Services. The role requires a strong background in Occupational Therapy and experience in acute mental health settings. The successful candidate will provide supervision, manage a complex caseload, and contribute to service development. Competitive salary and benefits included. This position is located in Radlett, with necessary travel across the county.

Benefits

27 days holiday plus bank holidays

5% high cost allowance supplement

NHS Car Lease Scheme

Comprehensive health and wellbeing services

Qualifications

• Must hold a degree in Occupational Therapy and HCPC registration.
• Experience in acute mental health and clinical training is essential.
• Ability to lead and supervise junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and supervision for junior staff.
• Plan, develop, and evaluate OT services.
• Manage a caseload of clients with complex needs.

Skills

Knowledge of Occupational Therapy principles

Leadership skills

Experience in neurodiversity approaches

Strong communication abilities

Education

BSc/MSc/PG Dip Occupational Therapy

HCPC registration

First line management training

Tools

Microsoft Office

Occupational Therapy assessment tools (AMPS, SI)

Job description

Head Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 12 December 2025

Rare opportunity! We are recruiting for a Head Occupational Therapist!

Join our friendly and supportive team in Acute Inpatient & Crisis Services!

We provide an outstanding OT service for people using our services.

This role is based at Kingfisher Court in Radlett.

You will have the support of the Head of AHP and the Lead OT and will be part of the Head OT team across the in‑patient and crisis services.

Due to the location of this post and the need to travel across the county, a car driver, or use of other motorised transport e.g. moped or motorbike is essential for this role (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving).

There are opportunities for career development and learning including gaining formal qualifications, for instance in reducing restrictive practice, leadership academy, sensory integration or trauma informed care.

If you have any questions, or if you are interested in the established Return to Work scheme, please do contact Emily Boyce 07816 117 459 or Caroline Finch 07798 623 534

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will:

• have the opportunity to hold a complex clinical caseload, as well as provide leadership for a team of therapists and therapy assistants with the support of the Lead OT
• develop leadership skills as well as specialist clinical skills (such as Sensory Integration, Trauma Informed approaches, Neurodiversity, Positive Behavioural Support etc (depending on interest)
• join a team of Head OT's who lead the inpatient wards and the crisis teams
• be an integral part of the team to take the various quality improvements forward
• develop and establish the OT pathway and interventions across the teams.

In return, we can offer you:

• leadership and management training opportunities
• 5% on top of basic salary high cost allowance supplement (max £2,122 per annum pro rata)
• 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service) plus bank holidays - pro rata
• One of the UK's best pension schemes
• Comprehensive health and wellbeing services
• Special leave for family and personal reasons
• NHS Car Lease Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission.

Our family of over 4,000 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Job responsibilities

To provide leadership for junior staff, through supervision and appraisal

To lead in the planning, development and evaluation of OT services, holding responsibility for defined projects where appropriate

To regularly support staff to supervise OT students on practice placement, following attendance at an approved Fieldwork Educators course.

To manage a small caseload of clients with highly complex OT needs, using evidence based/client-centered principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions in clinic and community settings and on home visits.

To apply in depth knowledge of the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and other standardised assessment approaches relevant to the clinical setting.

For a More in-depth Person and Job Description please read attached before applying

Person Specification

Qualifications

• BSc/MSc/PG Dip Occupational Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of clinical post registration training
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office and associated packages.
• Membership of RCOT, including specialist section
• First line management training
• Solution Focussed Brief Therapy training
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy training
• AMPS/ESI/SI training

Experience

• Post registration experience in acute mental health
• Applied experience of providing both individual and group work interventions.
• Highly Specialist knowledge and experience of using and applying the Model of Human Occupation assessment tools, or others appropriate to area
• Experience of other specialist Occupational Therapy assessment tools, e.g. AMPS, Pool Activity Levels
• Documented evidence of continuing professional development
• Experience in providing advice, support and clinical supervision to junior staff and/or students
• Applied knowledge of Recovery principles and how these relate to OT

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.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

£50,008 to £56,908 a yearPer annum, Pro rata (5% HCAS Included)