Occupational Therapist - Learning disability

South West London and St Georges Mental Health Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A health services organization in London is seeking a motivated Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join their community Learning Disability Healthcare Team. The role involves specialist clinical assessment of adults with learning disabilities and requires excellent communication, teamwork, and organisational skills. Candidates should demonstrate a holistic approach to care and collaboration with team members. Opportunities for professional development and flexible working are offered.

Benefits

Flexible working

Career development opportunities

Variety of benefits

Qualifications

• Specialist clinical assessment skills for complex physical disabilities.
• Enthusiasm and creativity in work approach.
• Ability to manage a varied caseload.

Responsibilities

• Apply understanding of disability effects on performance.
• Promote social inclusion and well-being.
• Identify occupational therapy goals in care plans.
• Plan and implement interventions collaboratively.
• Establish effective communication networks.
• Educate service users on occupational therapy interventions.

Skills

Clinical assessment skills

Excellent communication skills

Organisational skills

Ability to work autonomously

Creativity in work approach

Job description

A Vacancy at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust

We are seeking a motivated, Band 6 Occupational therapist to join our community Learning Disability Healthcare Team. As a friendly and dynamic team, we provide specialist services for adults with learning disabilities across Wandsworth.

Wandsworth Community Learning Disability Healthcare Team is a dynamic multidisciplinary team with a range of professional groups including nursing, occupational therapy, psychiatry, speech and language, dietetics and physiotherapy. Psychology and behaviour support provision is delivered within an integrated MDT. The service works in close partnership with external health and social care professionals, local providers and third sector organisations.

You will need specialist clinical assessment skills and the ability to work with people who present with complex physical disability. Assessment and intervention will take place in a variety of community settings including clients’ own homes, supported living facilities, registered care homes and community day services.

You will be able to work autonomously and demonstrate enthusiasm and creativity in your approach to your work. A holistic approach to assessing the needs of people with learning disabilities and planning interventions involves a partnership approach with the service user, their carer(s), professional colleagues and any organisations involved in their care.

Excellent communication and organisational skills will enable you to manage a varied caseload. You will have the opportunity to develop supervisory skills through supervising more junior staff and participate in education of students on placement within the team.

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust. We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ – we aspire to be ‘outstanding’.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti‑racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co‑produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.

Key Responsibilities

• To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of disability on occupational performance and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the client’s social and physical environment.


• To promote social inclusion and physical and mental well‑being using evidence‑based practice, underpinned by the principles of hope and recovery, health promotion and relapse prevention.


• To work with a designated caseload identifying occupational therapy goals as part of the overall care plan, using specialist mental health and occupational therapy assessments, including MOHO tools.


• To consider both physical and mental health needs as part of the occupational therapy assessment.


• To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions collaboratively, to enable service users to achieve valued goals and satisfactory occupational performance outcomes.


• To promote and signpost individuals/carers towards the Recovery College and embed recovery into all interventions.


• To promote equality of outcome for service users that reflect their mental health needs and those of ethnicity, gender, culture, physical health and age.


• To exercise clinical professional judgement in complex clinical cases and difficult clinical situations, referring to senior staff when necessary.


• To identify any significant risk factors in line with local policies, with support from senior staff.


• To contribute to and work within clinical pathways and protocols.


• To establish and maintain effective communication networks with users and carers, team members, occupational therapy colleagues and other agencies.


• To communicate with people in a manner consistent with their culture, background and preferred ways of communicating.


• To work as a member of the inter‑professional team, attending meetings and contributing to decisions with regard to the care and treatment of service users.


• To work in partnership with ICB, LA, voluntary and other relevant agencies to promote a seamless service.


• To educate service users and carers on occupational therapy interventions, for example, the use of equipment.


• To promote awareness of the role of occupational therapy within the team, negotiating priorities where appropriate.

This advert closes on Tuesday 30 Dec 2025.