Senior Occupational Therapist

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Senior Occupational Therapist to join their Crisis team. This role involves managing complex client caseloads, providing occupational therapy in various settings, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. The ideal candidate should have significant experience working with mental health conditions, strong leadership skills, and the ability to implement evidence-based interventions. The position offers a salary ranging from £40,617 to £48,778 per annum, depending on experience.

Benefits

27 to 33 days holiday

NHS pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Opportunities for additional training

Qualifications

• Experience in an acute mental health setting is essential.
• Broad knowledge of mental health conditions required.
• First line management training preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of clients with complex OT needs.
• Provide leadership for junior staff.
• Plan and evaluate OT services.

Skills

Experience of working with diverse mental health conditions

Ability to assess and implement interventions

Leadership skills

Group work interventions

Education

State registration with HCPC

Completion of Preceptorship at Band 5 level

Evidence of continuing professional development

Tools

Model of Human Occupation assessment tools

Sensory integration tools

Job description

Go back Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 04 January 2026

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Occupational Therapists to join our Crisis team based in Ware to provide occupational therapy in reach into our new Crisis House in Buntingford. This is a new role to support Waythrough staff to ensure occupational needs are met for people who need enhanced level of support when in crisis.

The post holder will provide occupational therapy expertise within the multi-disciplinary team, including specialist assessment, individual and group work intervention in a variety of settings and will work closely with the other CRHT O.T.s across the county. They will form part of the CRHTT within the South East working alongside another Occupational Therapist. The post holder will have the opportunity to reach in the new Crisis House in Buntingford where HPFT is working jointly with Waythrough to provide an enhanced Crisis Service for people who need that enhanced input. The post holder will develop strong relationships with the Waythrough staff and provide training and support around goal focused, personalised occupational based care and input. There is an opportunity to take a lead in the development of the use of sensory integration within the house.

Main duties of the job

• To manage a caseload of clients with complex OT needs, using evidence-based/client-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions in clinic and community settings and on home visits.
• To provide leadership for junior staff, through supervision and appraisal
• To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of OT services, holding responsibility for defined projects where appropriate.
• To regularly supervise OT students on practice placement
• To select and apply Occupational Therapy assessments for a designated caseload, addressing occupational performance and skill deficits, enabling the client in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.
• To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment for clients with multiple needs in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.

In return, we can offer you:

• 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service) plus bank holidays (pro rata where applicable)
• One of the UK's best pension schemes
• Special leave for family and personal reasons
• NHS Car Lease Scheme (for substantive staff)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Opportunities for additional training

Previous experience of working in acute mental health is essential.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission.

Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Job responsibilities

• To select and apply Occupational Therapy assessments for a designated caseload, addressing occupational performance and skill deficits, enabling the client in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.
• To work using a problem-solving approach to reduce risk at home.
• To work with clients to identify OT goals as part of the overall care plan.
• To plan and implement individual interventions, in collaboration with the client, using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.
• To demonstrate and apply a broad level of understanding of the effect of disability and recommend adaptations to the clients physical and social environment.
• to provide specialist OT skills and education for Waythrough Crisis House staff.
• To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment for clients with multiple needs in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
• To review and reflect on personal practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
• To work alongside the exsisting OT to provide a collaborative, joined up OT provision across the crisis service in the SE.
• To demonstrate basic leadership skills through the management of designated projects.
• To participate in the induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting as appropriate.
• To participate in the supervision of junior staff as appropriate
• To monitor and evaluate treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of the intervention and feedback to appropriate forum.

For a more detailed description, please see attached JD and PS.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING

• State registration with HCPC
• Completion of Preceptorship at Band 5 level. Evidence of completed preceptorship
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• To have an understanding of OT interventions used in mental health and have a broad knowledge of mental health conditions.
• Membership of BAOT and/or specialist section
• First line management training
• Solution Focussed Brief Therapy training
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy training
• Post registration experience in a relevant clinical setting
• Broad base of clinical experience

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

• Experience of working with people living with a wide range of mental health conditions.
• Post registration experience in an acute mental health setting
• Experience of providing both individual and group work interventions
• Knowledge and experience of using the Model of Human Occupation and associated assessment tools.
• Experience in providing advice, support and clinical supervision to junior staff and/or students
• Experience of other specialist Occupational Therapy assessment tools, e.g. Sensory integration
• Previous experience of having worked at Band 6 level
• Experience in research or audit

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.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

£40,617 to £48,778 a yearPer annum, Pro rata (5% HCAS Included)