Occupational Therapist Band 5-6 Development Post

NHS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare trust in Greater London is seeking a Band 5-6 Occupational Therapist to provide high-quality assessments and interventions for adults with mental health conditions. You will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to ensure effective outcomes for clients. The role requires a BSc in Occupational Therapy and current HCPC registration, along with experience in mental health settings. A probationary period applies, and the position includes a High Cost Area Supplement. Comprehensive induction and continuous professional development opportunities provided.

Benefits

High Cost Area Supplement

Comprehensive induction program

Continuous professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in assessing and planning OT interventions.
• Ability to facilitate groups for service users.
• Experience working in mental health settings.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments and develop individualised care plans.
• Provide evidence-based interventions with a focus on recovery.
• Supervise and mentor Occupational Therapy students.

Skills

Assessment skills

Therapeutic relationship building

Risk assessment

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

BSc or equivalent in Occupational Therapy

Current HCPC registration

Job description

Overview

Go back NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapist Band 5-6 Development Post

The closing date is 12 February 2026

As a Band 5-6 development Mental Health Occupational Therapist, you will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide high-quality occupational therapy assessments and interventions for adults with mental health conditions. You will assess clients' functional abilities and needs, develop, and deliver evidence-based interventions to promote recovery, independence, and wellbeing, and work collaboratively with clients, carers, and other professionals to achieve shared goals.

Main duties

• Provide occupational therapy assessments, interventions, and outcome measures for clients with mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression, psychosis, and personality disorders.
• Use evidence-based interventions and positive risk management approaches to improve clients' occupational performance and promote their recovery, independence, and wellbeing.
• Work collaboratively with clients, carers, other professionals, and partner agencies to develop individualised care plans that address clients' needs, goals, and preferences.
• Empower service users and their carers to develop relapse prevention and crisis plans, maximising their ability to resolve crisis and prevent hospitalisation.
• Support safe and effective discharge from inpatient and Home Treatment Team services by providing regular reviews and follow-up.
• Facilitate and lead therapeutic groups in collaboration with other Occupational Therapists in the team, including psychoeducation, life skills training, and vocational rehabilitation.
• Provide clinical supervision and mentorship to Occupational Therapy students and support staff.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of clients' assessments, interventions, and progress, in accordance with professional standards and service policies.
• Adhere to ethical and professional standards and promote the values and principles of the Occupational Therapy profession.

About us

Our Values 2025 - 2030

Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.

They are:

• We are kind.
• We are respectful.
• We work together with our communities.

These three values help us tostrive to provide the best care by the best people.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period.

Starting with Us

NELFT places great importance on new starters being properly welcomed into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks, including mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process, new starters will also have the opportunity to meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend several drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing, and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,313 to a maximum of £5,436 p.a. pro rata for part time).

High Cost Area Supplement - Fringe

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £1,192 to a maximum of £2,011 p.a. pro rata for part time).

Job responsibilities

Clinical Skills

• Assessment: The ability to perform thorough assessments of clients' mental health and functional abilities, using a range of standardised and non-standardised assessments. This includes assessing clients' strengths, challenges, and goals, as well as their occupational performance in daily living, work, and leisure activities.

• Intervention planning: The ability to develop individualised intervention plans that are evidence-based, client-centred, and holistic. This includes setting goals with clients and identifying appropriate interventions to achieve these goals.

• Intervention delivery: The ability to deliver interventions in a manner that is effective, safe, and engaging for clients. This includes using appropriate therapeutic techniques and strategies, adapting interventions to meet clients' changing needs, and providing appropriate support and encouragement to promote clients' engagement and progress.

• Therapeutic relationship building: The ability to build positive and therapeutic relationships with clients and their families, carers, and other professionals. This includes demonstrating empathy, active listening, and respect for clients' values and preferences, and promoting clients' recovery, autonomy, and choice.

• Clinical reasoning and problem-solving: The ability to use clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills to identify and address barriers to clients' recovery and independence. This includes analysing clients' needs, goals, and challenges, as well as their strengths and resources, and identifying appropriate interventions and strategies to promote their recovery.

• Risk assessment and management: The ability to assess and manage clinical risks, such as suicide, self-harm, and aggression, and to work collaboratively with other professionals to ensure that clients are safe and receive appropriate support and treatment.

• Multidisciplinary working: The ability to work collaboratively with other professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, and support workers to ensure that clients receive holistic and coordinated care.

• Generic Caseload management: The post holder will have responsibility for coordinating the care of an identified group of service users on CPA or keyworking a caseload of clients, within an integrated community mental health team. This will require the ability to undertake generic mental health assessments which promote personalised care, social inclusion and recovery. It is expected that a full core assessment, a comprehensive risk assessment and a well-defined crisis plan are in place/updated on a regular basis in line with Trust procedures. This will include offering a range of goal-based interventions and ensuring timely and effective discharge. The role will require attendance at clinical meetings, ward rounds, care reviews and contribution of clinical information on service users progress.

• The post holder will work within the safeguarding adults and safeguarding children's frameworks across the relevant local authority and North East London Foundation Trust

Leadership

• Supervision and mentorship: Supervise and mentor Occupational Therapy students and support staff. This involves providing guidance, feedback, and support to ensure that staff can perform their roles effectively and develop their skills and knowledge. There is an expectation that you will act as a Practice Educator for occupational therapy students once relevant training and development has been undertaken.

• Service development: You will be involved in the development and implementation of service improvements and innovations under guidance from senior staff in the team. This may involve, identifying areas for improvement, researching, and evaluating evidence-based practices, and working collaboratively with colleagues to develop and implement new approaches.

• Clinical governance: Adhere to clinical governance to deliver safe, effective, and high quality care. This may involve monitoring and reporting on key performance indicators, identifying and addressing clinical risks, and contributing to the development and implementation of policies and procedures.

• Leadership and communication: You will be expected to provide leadership within the scope of your role. This involves communicating effectively with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders, advocating for the role and value of occupational therapy, and promoting a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

Administration

• To be proficient in the use of IT data-based information systems, spreadsheets and other IT packages as required by the Trust, Local Authority and Service Manager.

• To contribute to the collection and collation of data for the purposes of local and national audit and quality assurance.

Communication

• Active listening: The ability to actively listen to clients, their families, and other professionals, and to demonstrate empathy and understanding. This includes using non-verbal communication such as eye contact, nodding, and facial expressions, as well as verbal prompts such as summarising and clarifying.

• Clear and concise verbal communication: The ability to communicate clearly and concisely, using appropriate language, tone, and pace. This includes explaining complex information in a manner that is understandable to clients and their families and using appropriate terminology to communicate with other professionals.

• Written communication: The ability to write clear and concise documentation, such as assessment reports, treatment plans, and progress notes, that are accurate, relevant, and timely. This includes using appropriate language, format, and structure, as well as ensuring that documentation meets legal and ethical requirements.

• Non-verbal communication: The ability to use non-verbal communication effectively, such as body language, facial expressions, and gestures, to convey messages and emotions.

• Assertiveness: The ability to communicate assertively, while also being respectful and empathetic, in situations where it is necessary to advocate for clients or address concerns with colleagues.

• Cultural competence: The ability to communicate effectively with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, and to demonstrate awareness and respect for their cultural beliefs, values, and practices. Collaborative communication: The ability to communicate collaboratively with other professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and social workers, to ensure that clients receive holistic and coordinated care. This includes sharing information, seeking, and providing feedback and working together to develop and implement treatment plans.

• Governance: To maintain effective consumer confidentiality, ensuring adherence to NELFT policies, Data Protection and Information Governance legislation and the Freedom of Information Act. To ensure that all documentation relating to the service user and or carer, is maintained.

Training

• Continuing professional development (CPD): The post holder is expected to engage in regular CPD to maintain and develop their knowledge, skills, and competencies. This includes attending all role-specific mandatory training, attending relevant training courses, workshops, and conferences, as well as reading current literature and participating in online learning opportunities. Newly qualified band 5 staff are expected to participate in the NELFT Preceptorship Programme.

• Clinical supervision: The post holder will receive regular clinical supervision to support their clinical decision-making, reflective practice, and professional development. This includes engaging in regular one-to-one or group supervision sessions with a qualified supervisor, and using supervision to reflect on their practice, receive feedback, and identify areas for improvement.

• Performance management: the post holder will engage in regular performance management activities, such as setting and reviewing objectives, and engaging in regular performance appraisal meetings with their line manager. This includes identifying areas for development, setting targets for improvement, and receiving feedback on their performance.

• Research and service development: As opportunities arise, the post holder should engage in research review and service development activities under the guidance and direction of their clinical lead. This should be focussed on promoting innovation and improving the quality of care provided to clients. This includes engaging in research projects, service evaluations, and quality improvement initiatives and using research and evidence to inform practice.

Specific tasks directly related to the post

N/A

Internal

External

Own Team

Line Manager

Professional Lead OT MHS

Home Treatment Team

Psychological Services Mental Health and Wellness Teams Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services

Partnership Organisations

GP

Social Services

Acute Hospital

Neighbourhood Services

Police

Education

Advocacy

PALS

Voluntary Services

NHS

Person specification

Qualifications

• BSc or equivalent in Occupational Therapy
• Current HCPC registration
• Clinical Supervision training
• Evidence of post qualification training

Experience

• Assess, plan, implement, evaluate OT interventions
• Facilitating/leading groups for service users from variety of social/healthcare environment
• Working with people who present challenging behaviour
• Experience of working in mental health inpatient or community

Values

• Demonstrate NELFT values

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.

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust