Senior Occupational Therapist

NHS; Little Plumstead; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a committed Senior Occupational Therapist to join their dynamic team. The role involves managing a caseload of patients with learning disabilities, contributing to discharge planning, and delivering therapeutic interventions. Candidates should have a relevant occupational therapy qualification and experience in a clinical setting. This position offers a salary range of £38,682 to £46,580 per year, emphasizing professional development and teamwork.

Qualifications

• Post registration experience in relevant clinical setting.
• Experience providing individual and group interventions.
• Familiarity with Recovery principles related to OT.

Responsibilities

• Hold a caseload of patients with learning disabilities.
• Participate in discharge planning and MDT meetings.
• Deliver therapeutic interventions and case management.

Skills

Communication Skills

Analytical Skills

Teamwork

Clinical Judgement

Problem Solving

Education

BSc/MSc/PG Dip Occupational Therapy

HCPC registration

Evidence of post-graduate training

Tools

Microsoft Office

Model of Human Occupation Assessment

Job description

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 21 December 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, dynamic, and committed Senior Occupational Therapist to join our Award-Winning Norfolk Forensic Community Learning Disability (NFC-LD) team. This is a fantastic career development opportunity within the Adult Forensic Learning Disability community service working alongside an established and experienced team of clinicians and practitioners to contribute to high-quality service provision, including consultation and advice, completion of specialist risk assessment, assessment and formulation, therapeutic interventions, and delivery of training, all within the overall framework of the service's policies and provision.

We are a nurturing, supportive and forward-thinking team, with great peer networks; we actively promote learning and professional development with opportunities in both clinical and leadership fields of work.

You will be actively involved in supporting plans for accelerated transformation in forensic learning disability services with a focus on improving continuity of care for patients. The expectation is that this approach will not only lead to reductions in length of hospitalisation for patients within forensic learning disability units, but also minimise the need for inpatient admissions in the first place.

Main duties of the job

This post is based within the Norfolk Forensic Community Learning Disability (NFC-LD) Team; however, a key feature of the team is its close working relationship with the Broadland Clinic, a Medium Secure Forensic Learning Disability Inpatient Service, which sits within the Learning Disability and Forensic Division of Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. The team is actively involved in the discharge planning process.

The Integrated Community Forensic Learning Disability team has multi-disciplinary participation. It has a stepped service offer which includes:

• Training packages on a range of Forensic Learning Disability topics
• Consultancy and advice to community learning disability teams, care providers and in-patient units.
• To undertake specialist risk assessments (with training).
• To deliver a range of community-based therapeutic interventions.
• Remain involved and be a source of continuity for people who get admitted to such in-patient settings.
• Monitor progress and participate pro-actively in discharge planning to less restrictive settings.
• To hold an active case management of service users identified as having high risk forensic needs
• To deliver effective evidence-based practice to adults with learning disabilities requiring specialist forensic services.

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 4500 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.

The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Our Trust values are:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!

Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?

Job responsibilities

As a band 6 Occupational Therapist, you will hold a caseload of patients who have a learning disability and may have co-morbid mental health issues.

You will work as part of the MDT and represent OT at team and professional meetings.

You will work with the patients to use a range of MOHO based assessments and goal setting and interventions.

You will work with the patients from initial assessment, throughout their treatment pathway and on to discharge.

You will support with training packages.

You will deliver supervision as appropriate.

You will contribute to specialist risk assessments (with training).

You will offer student placements.

You will raise awareness of Occupational Therapy and offer staff training as appropriate.

You will have access to a wide range of training opportunities in line with your development needs.

See Job description and personal spec for full details

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS / EDUCATION / TRAINING

• BSc/MSc/PG Dip Occupational Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office, Teams and associated packages
• Completion of preceptorship and/or evidence of having met the full KSF Gateway for Band 5 OTs
• Evidence of relevant post grad training.
• Membership of RCOT, including specialist section
• First line management training
• Solution Focused Brief Therapy training
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy training
• AMPS/ESI/SI training
• Broad base of clinical experience

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

• Post registration experience in relevant clinical setting e.g. inpatient mental health or learning disability
• Applied experience of providing both individual and group work interventions
• Specialist knowledge and experience of using the Model of Human Occupation assessment tools, or others appropriate to area
• Experience of other specialist Occupational Therapy assessment tools
• Documented evidence of continuing professional development
• Experience in providing advice, support and clinical supervision to junior staff and/or students
• Applied knowledge of Recovery principles and how these relate to OT
• Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disability in a variety of health and social care settings
• Previous experience of having worked at Band 6 level
• Experience in research or audit

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• Strong communication skills, written and verbal and the ability to persuade and negotiate with peers and senior colleagues
• Proven track record of working within a multidisciplinary team and an understanding of team dynamics
• Knowledge and application of key policy, health legislation and guidelines which impact on OT and mental health/LD practice.
• Ability to provide and receive sensitive and difficult information regarding service users care and social situation
• Knowledge of and effective use of appropriate professional relationships and boundaries
• High level of ability to grade and adapt practical skills
• Evidence of delivery of training and professional development sessions

ANALYTICAL SKILLS

• Ability to apply broad knowledge of current best practice in OT and mental health
• A high level of problem solving/clinical judgement skills and the ability to analyse professional and ethical issues
• Ability to respond and adjust appropriately to the changing needs of service users
• Highly developed Observational skills
• Specialist knowledge and experience of using the Model of Human Occupation Assessment tools and or equivalent in area
• Highly developed ability to evaluate group interventions and outcomes
• Highly developed case formulation skills to guide own OT intervention plan and those of others
• Experience of audits/evaluations of interventions and direct involvement of implementation of any subsequent changes to practice.
• Experience of PBS formulation
• Experience of sensory 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.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

£38,682 to £46,580 a year Per annum, Pro rata