Occupational Therapist Team Lead

NHS; Thatcham; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An established healthcare provider is seeking a dedicated Occupational Therapist to join their dynamic team. This role focuses on delivering high-quality patient care by managing a personal caseload and mentoring junior staff. You'll collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient outcomes, ensuring that care is tailored to individual needs. With flexible working hours and a commitment to professional development, this position offers a supportive environment for those passionate about making a difference in community health services. Join a forward-thinking organization that values inclusivity and excellence in care.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days annual leave

Generous NHS pension scheme

Excellent learning and career development opportunities

'Cycle to Work' scheme

Access to wellbeing tools and services

Discounts at popular retailers

Staff networks for diversity and inclusion

Generous parental leave

Free parking across Trust sites

Qualifications

• Qualified OT with current HCPC registration and significant post-qualification experience.
• Leadership experience at Band 6 or Band 7, ideally in physical health.

Responsibilities

• Support a team of OTs while managing a personal caseload and mentoring junior staff.
• Plan and deliver Occupational Therapy for patients with diverse presentations.

Skills

Occupational Therapy

Leadership

Patient Assessment

Clinical Governance

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy

HCPC Registration

Tools

Assistive Technology

Job description

Job summary

• Support a team of OTs while managing a smaller personal caseload. Your focus will be on mentoring junior staff and assisting with more complex cases.

• Collaborate for better care: Work closely with the Therapy Team Leads to develop and improve patient care.

• Flexible working: Enjoy standard Monday to Friday hours, with flexible working and part-time options from 30 hours per week

Main duties of the job

• A clinical expert in your specialist area, you'll support with leading the Occupational Therapy contribution to the multidisciplinary team (MDT) on inpatient wards.

• Plan and deliver Occupational Therapy for patients with wide ranging physical conditions and diverse presentations, taking lead responsibility for their care.

• Autonomously manage a caseload of patients, some with highly complex needs, conducting assessments and developing patient-centred care plans.

• Work as part of the MDT, including case conferences and discharge planning, ensuring patient information is managed professionally in line with confidentiality and data protection standards.

• Supervise and support Band 5 Occupational Therapists, OT assistants, and multi-therapy assistants, ensuring ongoing supervision, appraisals, and training to maintain high-quality service.

• Provide professional training and support to the MDT in your specialist area.

• Lead the implementation of changes in clinical practice, including planning, developing, and evaluating services, and managing projects such as audits and research.

• Foster key relationships with various healthcare teams, including acute care, secondary care, primary care and GPs, intermediate care teams & social services, clinical governance & patient safety managers community matrons, case managers and district nurses.

About us

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 are:

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

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• 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

Date posted

28 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CHS1009

Job locations

WBCH Inpatient Wards

Thatcham

RG18 3AS

Job description Job responsibilities

The must haves for you to be considered for this role:

• Qualified OT with current HCPC registration

• Significant post qualification experience - ideally in physical health, including complex conditions

• Leadership experience at Band 6 or Band 7 (or equivalent)

• A clear understanding of the NHS

• Ability to travel between multiple sites efficiently

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.

Were 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.

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.

Job description Job responsibilities

The must haves for you to be considered for this role:

• Qualified OT with current HCPC registration

• Significant post qualification experience - ideally in physical health, including complex conditions

• Leadership experience at Band 6 or Band 7 (or equivalent)

• A clear understanding of the NHS

• Ability to travel between multiple sites efficiently

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.

Were 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.

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.

Person Specification Education/Qualifications/Training Essential

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration

Desirable

• RCOT Membership
• Membership of relevant special Interest Group

Continuous Professional Development Essential

• Post-graduate training in a relevant clinical speciality
• Evidence of ongoing CPD relevant to the role

Previous Experience Essential

• Relevant post graduate NHS experience
• Experience in the management of patients with highly complex conditions
• Knowledge and participation in clinical governance relevant to this clinical area and to Occupational Therapy
• Experience of working independently and as part of an MDT
• Experience in the use of standardised assessments
• To have an extensive repertoire of mobilisation and facilitation skills for therapeutic handling of patients
• Experience of the development of staff and teaching others
• Clinical leadership experience
• Experience of working with external agencies e.g. social services

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Essential

• Highly specialist knowledge of Occupational Therapy in the management of patients with highly complex conditions
• Understanding national policies and guidelines relevant to area
• Knowledge and participation in clinical governance relevant to this clinical area
• Knowledge of Assistive technology
• Ability to work independently and alone in the community.
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of audit and research
• Presentation skills
• IT skills
• Drive and enthusiasm for clinical excellence and clinical development of the team
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage competing demands and adapt to the needs of the service
• Able to maintain judgement under pressure and set priorities
• Ability to lead a team
• Ability to work well within a team

Additional Requirements Essential

• Must be a car driver
• Must have access to a suitable car for work purposes.
• Must be physically able to load/unload equipment in and out of a car boot (following individual and specific risk assessment).

Person Specification Education/Qualifications/Training Essential

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration

Desirable

• RCOT Membership
• Membership of relevant special Interest Group

Continuous Professional Development Essential

• Post-graduate training in a relevant clinical speciality
• Evidence of ongoing CPD relevant to the role

Previous Experience Essential

• Relevant post graduate NHS experience
• Experience in the management of patients with highly complex conditions
• Knowledge and participation in clinical governance relevant to this clinical area and to Occupational Therapy
• Experience of working independently and as part of an MDT
• Experience in the use of standardised assessments
• To have an extensive repertoire of mobilisation and facilitation skills for therapeutic handling of patients
• Experience of the development of staff and teaching others
• Clinical leadership experience
• Experience of working with external agencies e.g. social services

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Essential

• Highly specialist knowledge of Occupational Therapy in the management of patients with highly complex conditions
• Understanding national policies and guidelines relevant to area
• Knowledge and participation in clinical governance relevant to this clinical area
• Knowledge of Assistive technology
• Ability to work independently and alone in the community.
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of audit and research
• Presentation skills
• IT skills
• Drive and enthusiasm for clinical excellence and clinical development of the team
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage competing demands and adapt to the needs of the service
• Able to maintain judgement under pressure and set priorities
• Ability to lead a team
• Ability to work well within a team

Additional Requirements Essential

• Must be a car driver
• Must have access to a suitable car for work purposes.
• Must be physically able to load/unload equipment in and out of a car boot (following individual and specific risk assessment).

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).

Additional information 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

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

WBCH Inpatient Wards

Thatcham

RG18 3AS

Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

WBCH Inpatient Wards

Thatcham

RG18 3AS

Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)