Occupational Therapist

Riverside Healthcare Ltd; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust in Wakefield is seeking a part-time Specialist Occupational Therapist to join the All-Age Forensic Community Service. The post is 22.5 hours per week and within a regional MDT.

You will lead on specialist OT assessments, develop care plans, and support transition and social participation for service users in the community. Access to a vehicle is essential; salary Band 6 (£39,959–£48,117 pro rata).

Qualifications

• Specialist knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions relevant to mental health.
• Extensive clinical practice skills including individual and group work.
• Understanding of occupational therapy outcome measures.

Responsibilities

• Undertake specialist OT assessments & risk assessments.
• Develop and deliver individualized OT plans of care.
• Work autonomously and with MDT to ensure care delivery.
• Maintain clinical records and participate in supervision.

Skills

OT assessments

Risk assessments

Autonomous working

Community-based therapy

Education

Diploma/degree in Occupational Therapy

Job description

Job Summary

The Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT) have an exciting opportunity for a part time (22.5 hours per week) highly motivated Community Occupational Therapist.

The SCFT is a multi-disciplinary team supporting transition, and continued rehabilitation for service users, out of secure care into the community. The team provides service users with care and treatment pathways which offer intervention and forensic risk management. This is a regional team and operates across West Yorkshire.

Healthy social and occupational networks outside of secure care are an important function when managing risk in a community setting. The post holder will hold a small individual caseload, have the opportunity to complete identified Occupational therapy assessments to address the occupational deficits of service users and support the wider team in formulating care, to ensure our service users have opportunities for social networks and activity, and thrive in the community.

Working pattern, will include 9-5 mid-shifts that cover a 7-day service, within the hours of 08:00-20:00pm. Access to a vehicle is essential.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

Main duties of the job

The All-Age Forensic Community Service is a developing service line within the Forensic Care Group, also includes:

• Forensic CAMHS (inclusive of Y&H FCAMHS, Focus Secure and Focus Wakefield)
• Forensic Outreach and Liaison Service for Learning Disability and/or Autism (FOLS LDA)
• Forensic Community Transition Team (FCTT, bases at Bretton Centre)

The vision is to create a collaborative environment between our community forensic services and to develop and overarching clinical framework that will support the way in which a community forensic population is understood, supported and intervened upon, no matter what age.

The Purpose Of The Role Is Therefore To:

• Be the lead professional in the case management of service users.
• Undertake comprehensive specialist OT assessments & risk assessments.
• Develop and deliver on individualized OT plans of care to support the recovery journey.
• Be enthusiastic about this service user group and motivated to support change and transition needs of individuals.
• Able to demonstrate the ability to work autonomously and collaboratively with other agencies to make clinical judgements promoting joint decision making about care delivery to individuals with complex presentations.
• Be thoughtful and resilient in the way you engage with a MDT.
• Have strong and effective engagement skills to service users, family, friends and carers.

About Us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Details

Date posted
07 September 2026

Pay scheme
Agenda for change

Band
Band 6

Salary
£39,959 to £48,117 a year Pro Rata

Contract
Permanent

Working pattern
Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number
C9378-F0721A

Job locations
Newton Lodge, Fieldhead Hospital
Ouchthorpe Lane
Wakefield
WF1 3SP
United Kingdom

Job Description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

The post holder will be required to work as an integral member of the multi-disciplinary team, providing specialist occupational therapy assessment and treatment for service users in receipt of care from community services. Enabling service users to engage in a range of individual and group community based treatment activities. You will be actively involved in the promotion of occupational therapy within the service area. The post holder will be required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service and the client group.

Clinical

1. To undertake specific standardised and non-standardised assessments to formulate effective treatment plans in conjunction with the service user, family and carer.
2. To interpret the assessment results in order to plan and implement a client centred occupational therapy treatment programme on an individual and/or group basis using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.
3. To ensure therapeutic interventions are of a high professional standard, informed by evidence based practice and involves the service user and carer in all aspects of the care programme.
4. To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the effect of disability providing training and advice on lifestyle changes/adaptations to the clients social and physical environments.
5. To act as the care programme co-ordinator as required and to offer carers an assessment and care plan where appropriate.
6. To contribute to a co-ordinated team approach throughout the assessment and in meeting the service users needs including developing and maintaining close working relationships with all relevant services, and agencies within the voluntary sector.
7. To regularly evaluate the effectiveness of group and individual occupational therapy interventions by undertaking specific audits and using outcome measures such as standardised / other relevant assessments and service user satisfaction questionnaires.
8. To continue treatment interventions where necessary to assist in the transition of skills from an inpatient setting to living independently within the community.
9. To work effectively within the multi-agency team ensuring that both written and verbal communication is clearly maintained to ensure a seamless service.
10. To be responsible for the maintenance of appropriate clinical records concerned with service user treatment, in accordance with risk management documentation guidelines.
11. To arrange/attend appropriate clinical team meetings, referral meetings, case conferences, care programme approach meetings and any other as required by clinical need and as direct by the Line/Service Manager.
12. To provide accurate and timely reports, statistical data through the electronic recording system and other information as required.
13. To participate in monthly clinical and managerial supervision and to provide clinical supervision to other occupational therapy staff/ support staff.
14. To work as an autonomous practitioner.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements (salary threshold or occupational requirements) set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, unfortunately we are unable to sponsor anyone on a visa for this role at this moment in time.

We are happy to accept applications from candidates who can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes. Such applications will be considered alongside all other applications.

Person Specification

Special Knowledge & Skills

• Specialist knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions relevant to mental health.
• Extensive clinical practice skills including individual and group work.
• Understanding of occupational therapy outcome measures.
• Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities.
• Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues.
• Supervisory / appraisal skills.
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
• Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information.
• Computer literacy.
• Ability to build effective working relationships.
• Detailed knowledge of mental health/learning disabilities legislation and current practice including policy drivers.
• Detailed knowledge of clinical governance and its application.

Training

• Practice Education/Practice Assessor Preparation Certificate (or to achieve within 12 months).
• To be willing to undertake post graduate training to further skills, knowledge and expertise.

Desirable

• Post graduate training relevant to mental health such as, psychosocial interventions, cognitive behavioural / counselling skills / standardised assessment.

Experience

• Post registration experience in mental health/learning disabilities setting.
• Documented evidence of continuing professional development.
• Supervision of staff and / or students.
• Leadership / first line management experience.
• Experience of a range of mental health/learning disabilities settings.

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Qualifications

• Diploma/degree in Occupational Therapy.
• Health Care Professions Council registration.

Leadership / First Line Management Certificate

• Leadership / first line management certificate.

Personal Attributes

• Values contribution of others.
• Ability to motivate self and others.
• Organisational skills.
• Effective communication skills, verbal and written.
• Willingness to work flexibly.
• A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address
Newton Lodge, Fieldhead Hospital
Ouchthorpe Lane
Wakefield
WF1 3SP
United Kingdom

Employer's website
https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)