Lead Occupational Therapist

NHS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in London seeks a Lead Occupational Therapist to join their team. This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead projects, innovate OT services, and enhance recovery for service users. Candidates should have a degree in Occupational Therapy and significant experience in mental health. The position provides competitive salary, development opportunities and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Regular supervision and mentorship

Access to specialist training

Involvement in innovative projects

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience in mental health services.
• Experience leading/service development.
• Experience with standardised OT assessments.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership to the Tamarind Team.
• Work collaboratively with agencies supporting service users.
• Manage a complex occupational therapy caseload.

Skills

Leadership skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Assessment and intervention skills

Education

Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy

HCPC registered Occupational Therapist

Job description

Lead Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 15 December 2025

Ready for something new?We're looking for an enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to join our vibrant team at Park Royal - and this isn't just any OT role. This is your chance to shape services, lead exciting projects, and make a real difference for service users while developing your own career.

Why this role is different

• Develop and Diversify OT ProvisionWe're looking for someone who loves innovation. You'll have the freedom to expand activity and OT services across our acute wards and PICU, supported by an open-minded senior management team that values fresh thinking.
• Leadership OpportunitiesThis role is perfect for an experienced Band 6 (With line management, leadership experience) or Band 7 OT ready to step up. You'll lead projects, supervise a dynamic team, and gain exposure to service development. Many of our previous Lead OTs have progressed to Band 8a within a couple of years - and we'll support you to do the same.
• Transitional Care ProjectHelp us bridge the gap between acute and community care. We're planning to pilot a model where acute OTs support service users into community spaces, improving continuity of care and reducing readmission rates. Your input will shape this innovative approach.
• New Coffee Bar Project!Be part of a creative vocational enablement initiative where service users help run a coffee bar, building real-world skills and linking to employment opportunities in the community. Your ideas and leadership will help make this a success.

Main duties of the job

About the Team

You will oversee the Tamarind team:

• 5 OTs
• 4 Activity Coordinators
• 2 Fitness Instructors

Together, you'll deliver meaningful activity and therapy across 4 acute wards and 1 PICU - and help us take things to the next level to meet the needs of our diverse and vibrant local community.

Who we are looking for

• A motivated OT ready for developing their leadership and service development skills.
• Someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys working with multiple stakeholders.
• A creative thinker who sees change as an opportunity.
• Committed to CPD for themselves and their team.

About us

Our offer to you:

• A supportive team of OTs, activity coordinators, fitness instructors, and peer support workers.
• Regular supervision and mentorship from HOT.
• Opportunities to lead on OT projects and QI initiatives.
• Access to specialist OT forums, CPD sessions, and research networks.
• A workplace that values creativity, inclusion, and professional growth.
• Opportunity for specialist training such as Sensory Integration Practitioner

Sound exciting? It is!

If you're passionate about making a difference and want a role that offers variety, leadership, and career progression, we'd love to hear from you for informal chats, site visits, requests!

Job responsibilities

Please see the job description for full details on the role.

• To provide professional and day-to-day clinical leadership, and expertise to the Tamarind Team.
• To work effectively in partnership and collaboration with a range of agencies and professionals that support service users in their recovery.
• To ensure that all interventions amplify an individual's self-management skills in line with the principles and ethos of recovery and social inclusion.
• To be involved with the development and implementation of the Ward Group Programmes
• To manage a defined complex occupational therapy caseload using evidence based and person-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate specialist OT treatment.
• To work in conjunction with the Borough Head OT and other Lead OTs in the Trust to support the development of and promote evidence-based OT within the acute roles.
• To work in conjunction with senior staff in the MDT and our acute service to support the development of OT and Activity services at Park Royal Centre for Mental Health.
• To provide training and education to occupational therapists and other professionals with regard to how occupation may assist the recovery of service users.
• To jointly work with other Lead OTs in acute services in CNWL to develop services including specific projects, audit and research
• To act as an educator to students on practice placement.
• To act as mentor for OT apprenticeships as required

Person Specification

Qualifications

• 1. Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy.
• 2. HCPC registered Occupational Therapist.
• 3. Practice Placement Educator's Course.
• 4. Mental health specific workshops and short courses
• 1. Post graduate training specific to clinical specialty
• 3. PSI Training.
• 4. RCOT membership

Experience

• 1. Significant post qualification experience working in mental health services.
• 2. Experience in participating in audit / research projects.
• 3. Experience in leading and/or developing a service/component of a service
• 4. Experience in using a range of standardised OT assessments including MOHO assessments
• 5. Experience of supervising and appraising staff / unqualified staff; recruitment and workforce planning
• 7. Experience of effective partnership working, with external providers, in promoting socially inclusive opportunities for service users.
• 8. Experience in completing Risk Assessment Tools.
• 9. Experience in partnership working with external agencies.
• 1. Experience in community mental health
• 2. Experience in Inpatient mental health
• 3. Experience in completing PSI investigations.
• 4. Experience in managing complex HR issues with staff e.g. the management of performance / long term sickness.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Individual and group work assessment and intervention skills.
• Ability to deal with sensitivities and complexities, using interpersonal skills
• Effective leadership skills through the management of designated projects, audits and research.
• Excellent communication skills i.e. written, verbal, listening and proficient use of up to date systems of communication i.e. IT systems, e-mail, fax, telephone etc
• Skills in producing timely, accurate and informative reports and notes.
• Knowledge of personal recovery principles and their application to service delivery
• Clear concept of Occupational Therapy and models of practice.
• Ability to work autonomously, on own initiative and under pressure to meet deadlines; & to make and action decisions independently within agreed time frames.
• Ability to deputise in the absence of the Head OT.
• Ability to prioritise workload, delegate effectively and to support junior staff to do so
• Ability to regularly identify and undertake appropriate learning and development opportunities as part of ongoing CPD
• Ability to ensure the application of risk assessment and risk management strategies which facilitates a service user's recovery.
• R&D experience at post graduate level.
• Delivery of formal presentations and teaching sessions.
• Chairing of senior meetings.
• Membership of BAOT and Specialist Sections.

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

£53,751 to £60,651 a year per annum inc HCAS