Occupational Therapist

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare trust in the UK is seeking a full-time Band 6 Occupational Therapist to work within the community across Reading, Wokingham, and Newbury. The role requires strong communication, organisational skills, and a creative approach to practice. Candidates must have HCPC registration and a passion for supporting individuals with learning disabilities. The position offers various benefits including flexible working options, generous annual leave, and opportunities for career development.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days’ annual leave

Generous NHS pension scheme

Career development opportunities

Discounts at popular retailers

Qualifications

• Proven experience in community-based Occupational Therapy.
• Understanding of the needs of people with learning disabilities.
• Ability to plan and provide treatment collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessment, treatment, planning, and therapy to adults with learning disabilities.
• Plan and deliver Occupational Therapy tailored to client needs.
• Support hospital discharges and promote independence.

Skills

Excellent communication

Organisational skills

Knowledge of equipment provision

Manual handling

Team collaboration

Education

HCPC registration as an Occupational Therapist

Job description

We are looking to recruit a full time Band 6 Occupational Therapist working in the community across Reading, Wokingham and Newbury Learning Disability services as required but will be based in Reading.

This innovative role requires a diverse set of skills including knowledge and experience around equipment provision, manual handling, excellent communication, and organisational skills and requires a creative approach to practice. No two days are ever the same.

The team promotes a truly client centred ethos and multi-disciplinary style of working. Close collaboration with families, carers and external stakeholders is required in order to enhance the health and well-being of people with learning disabilities.

Experience of working with this delightful client group in the community is desirable but applicants with an open mind and relevant transferable skills will be considered.

The successful candidate will be a confident and competent practitioner providing assessment, treatment, planning and therapy provision for adults with learning disabilities with complex needs.

The Occupational Therapy service offers regular supervision, opportunities for service development and training in specialist areas such as sensory integration.

• Planning and delivery of Occupational Therapy to clients with learning disabilities
• Support hospital discharge referrals to promote the independence of service users on the caseload and identify any long-term needs.
• Provision of equipment to promote independence and safety.
• Hold a caseload and work autonomously
• Work flexibly to ensure urgent referrals are adequately managed
• Supporting colleagues in the delivery of compassionate, safe and structured care
• Plan and provide treatment in collaboration with others as appropriate
• Provide guidance and appropriate delegation to therapy assistants in the team
• Managing a caseload of service users with complex needs
• Regular joint work with other members of the team
• Supervision of OT students

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Benefits

• Flexible working options to support work‑life balance
• 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

The “must haves” for this role

• HCPC registration as a Occupational Therapist and excellent communications skills
• Understanding the Physical, Mental and Social needs of people with learning disabilities
• Car driver with a valid UK driving license with ability and readiness to be flexible within working days.
• Right to live and work in the UK

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point‑by‑point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Lakshmi Leela on 07733225601 or email: [e-mail] who’ll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

This advert closes on Monday 19 Jan 2026