Occupational Therapist - HMP Send PIPE

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust; Woking; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Woking is seeking an experienced Occupational Therapist to join their team within a Psychologically Informed Planned Environment. The role involves providing high-quality therapeutic services for women with complex needs in a secure environment. Candidates should possess relevant registration and experience, alongside excellent communication and problem-solving skills. This position offers a competitive salary and opportunities for career progression.

Benefits

Health and wellbeing services

Cycle to work scheme

Access to training opportunities

Qualifications

• Relevant post registration experience required.
• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team essential.
• Experience of working with complex clients is vital.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist occupational therapy assessments.
• Plan and implement tailored intervention programmes.
• Collaborate with professionals in care planning.

Skills

Engaging with people with mental health problems

Risk assessment and management

Communication skills

IT skills

Teamwork

Problem solving

Education

OHP C P Registered Practitioner Occupational Therapist

Mentorship or supervisor qualification

Job description

Go back Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapist - HMP Send PIPE

The closing date is 23 October 2025

Are you a passionate and experienced Band 7 Occupational Therapist seeking a fresh and rewarding challenge? Or perhaps you're a Band 6 OT ready to take the next step in your career? If so, we'd love to hear from you! An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our multi-disciplinary team within a Psychologically Informed Planned Environment (PIPE).

The PIPE (Psychologically Informed Planned Environment) services at HMP Send form part of the national Women's Offender Personality Disorder Pathway. These services include a Progression PIPE, Preparation PIPE and PIPE outreach. The Progression PIPE is an Enabling Environment and since this was last awarded the Preparation service has been established.

We currently have an exciting vacancy for a committed and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist with experience of working within a secure environment. You will be working with women serving sentences or on remand, many of whom have experienced traumatic and disadvantaged backgrounds. You must have a desire to provide and develop high-quality services for women residing within the PIPE services and be well organised and motivated.

You'll be part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team where reflective practice, relational working, and psychological safety are central to our approach. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a supportive and innovative environment, while developing your clinical and leadership skills.

Job summary

Are you a passionate and experienced Band 7 Occupational Therapist seeking a fresh and rewarding challenge? Or perhaps you're a Band 6 OT ready to take the next step in your career? If so, we'd love to hear from you! An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our multi-disciplinary team within a Psychologically Informed Planned Environment (PIPE).

The PIPE (Psychologically Informed Planned Environment) services at HMP Send form part of the national Women's Offender Personality Disorder Pathway. These services include a Progression PIPE, Preparation PIPE and PIPE outreach. The Progression PIPE is an Enabling Environment and since this was last awarded the Preparation service has been established.

We currently have an exciting vacancy for a committed and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist with experience of working within a secure environment. You will be working with women serving sentences or on remand, many of whom have experienced traumatic and disadvantaged backgrounds. You must have a desire to provide and develop high-quality services for women residing within the PIPE services and be well organised and motivated.

You'll be part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team where reflective practice, relational working, and psychological safety are central to our approach. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a supportive and innovative environment, while developing your clinical and leadership skills.

Main duties of the job

Work as an independent OT practitioner with women presenting with complex & challenging needs who reside on the Psychologically Informed Planned Environment units, engaging in the PIPE Outreach service & those where referral to PIPE may be considered.

Working within the MDT to provide a comprehensive service to women with personality disorder resident on the PIPE units & to contribute to ensuring the PIPE is a successful environment. Working as part of a team supporting women in their own location, through the PIPE Outreach service.

Lead on the planning & delivery of enrichment activities & a therapeutic social setting & to an Enabling Environment as defined by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The Progression PIPE is an established Enabling Environment currently & continues to work towards maintaining its award.

Work with the wider OPD Pathway to integrate careful selection of assessment tools & interventions with personal recovery principles which will engage individuals in activities & occupation, encouraging the development of ’surviving & thriving’ skills & knowledge.

Apply a high level of understanding of the impact of mental & physical health conditions; providing training & advice on lifestyle changes & adaptations.

Work with the Clinical Lead to continue to develop & deliver a comprehensive OT Service within a preparation & progression PIPE, including assessment, intervention & evaluation which is underpinned by an evidence base & personal recovery principles.

About us

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust offers its staff ongoing career progression through:

• Monthly supervision
• Annual personal development plans/appraisals
• Access to exciting internal and external training opportunities.

Excellent progression through various career pathway opportunities such as but not limited to:

• Preceptorship Programme
• Support and guidance with Revalidation
• Hidden Gem and annual award ceremonies

Excellent staff benefits, our benefit packages are amongst the best in London and include:

• Health and wellbeing services
• Season ticket loans
• Cycle to work scheme
• Relocation package *subject to meeting criteria*

The trust values its staff and you are entitled to become a member of MyTrustBenefits. MyTrustBenefits is an online portal for all CNWL staff, as well as their family and friends. It offers over 1400 discounts at hundreds of retailers nationwide. Save money on your weekly food shops, toiletries, cosmetics, cinema, meals out, holidays, travel and entertainment. You can also access free online courses on a variety of topics, professional and personal, ranging from business management, languages, law and teaching.

All of our sites in Surrey offer free use of the onsite leisure facilities and free parking for staff.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached JD&PS for full details of duties and responsibilities.

Clinical

• To provide specialist, culturally appropriate, evidence based occupational therapy assessments for individuals within the prison setting in order to establish and meet their occupational needs. To select and use validated standardised assessment tools routinely and in practice, exhibiting clinical reasoning skills; to include the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) assessments.
• To apply clinical knowledge and skills to carry out evidence based occupational therapy interventions, both individual and in groups, which are underpinned by relevant theoretical approaches.
• To plan, implement and review individually tailored programmes of intervention using individual and group work approaches with prisoners within the PIPE unit
• To support service users and colleagues to ensure that care plans are developed in partnership with the individual and that they reflect recovery goals. These should be strengths-based and oriented towards reinforcing a positive identity and developing valued social roles.
• To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions against clear aims, objectives and outcome measures in line with evidence based practice and in conjunction with service users, carers and other professionals.
• To work collaboratively with all professionals within the PIPE unit in developing care plans and risk assessments for prisoners.
• To support individuals to develop skills and knowledge; and engage with community partner agencies, to facilitate successful transitions from the prison environment to the community.
• To proactively undertake and ensure rigorous risk assessment & risk management strategies are applied. To ensure maximum risk tolerance facilitates the individuals recovery, in line with risk policies and local guidelines

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

• OHP C P Registered Practitioner Occupational Therapist
• Mentorship or supervisor qualification
• Evidence of professional development since registration

Desirable

• Post registration qualification that enhances clinical work: CBT, DBT, Dual Diagnosis, etc.

Previous Experience

Essential

• Relevant post registration experience
• Experience of working as part of a multi- disciplinary team
• Experience of working with complex clients
• Experience of running a group program
• Experience of leading and /or developing a service/ component of a service

Desirable

• Experience of working in a Prison or forensic environment

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Expert in engaging with people with mental health problems, assessing their needs, designing and delivering appropriate interventions and evaluating the effectiveness of the process.
• Risk assessment and management skills
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
• Excellent IT skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently as appropriate
• To use supervision positively and effectively
• Proven ability to work with patients to increase their level of self-determination and resilience
• Effective time management
• Knowledge of the needs and rights of patients.
• Knowledge of CPA, Mental Health Act, MAPPA, legislation and policies relevant to prison mental health.
• Knowledge of safeguarding frameworks
• Problem solving, stress management & conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to engage in evidence based practice, with an understanding of care quality (clinical governance).
• Knowledge of current challenges / developments in Prison health.

Attitudes, aptitudes, personal characteristics

Essential

• Motivated to maintain the highest standards possible in the service.
• Able to accept constructive feedback.
• Able to ask for support where required.
• Compassionate & non-judgmental approach
• Flexible

Other

Essential

• To conduct self in accordance with relevant code of conduct and practice for registration
• Full clearance via the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS), and ability to achieve enhanced Prison Clearance (vetting).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

HMP Send

Ripley Road

Woking

GU23 7LJ

Employer's website

https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work

£50,008 to £56,908 a year per annum inc. Fringe HCAS pro rata