Senior Occupational Therapist

NHS; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare trust in the UK is looking for a passionate Senior Occupational Therapist to join their team. You will manage a clinical caseload, provide therapeutic interventions, and supervise staff within a mental health inpatient setting. Ideal candidates are HCPC registered with strong communication skills and a commitment to recovery-focused practice. This part-time, permanent role offers a salary ranging from £38,682 to £46,580 annually.

Qualifications

• Demonstrate continued professional development to maintain professional registration.
• Experience of working in mental health with acute and longer-term conditions.
• Knowledge of Occupational Therapy interventions and evidence-based practice.

Responsibilities

• Manage a clinical caseload and provide group and individual interventions.
• Plan, implement, and lead a high-quality Occupational Therapy service.
• Clinically supervise Occupational Therapy staff within the team.

Skills

Excellent skills in Occupational Therapy assessment

Effective risk assessment and management skills

Ability to lead the Occupational Therapy team

Diplomatic, caring & empathetic

Ability to work as part of a team

Education

Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy

Job description

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 08 December 2025

Are you an enthusiastic and motivated Occupational Therapist with a passion for work within an inpatient mental health setting.

Then we want to hear from you!

We are seeking a proactive, compassionate, caring and recovery focused HCPC registered Occupational Therapist with excellent communication skills to join our existing multidisciplinary teams to be involved in holistic assessments and interventions to support the planning and delivery of patient care.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

Main duties of the job

As a Senior Band 6 Occupational Therapist you will be expected to manage a clinical caseload as well as provide group and individual interventions. To effectively plan, implement and lead a high-quality Occupational Therapy Service with service users on the acute wards at Highbury Hospital (Willows Male Acute).

The post holder will clinically supervise Occupational Therapy staff within the team and other support staff as required providing guidance and focus to their work, ensuring safe working practices.

You will receive managerial supervision from the Ward Manager. You will undertake the role of Practice Placement Educator for Occupational Therapy students providing student placements in accordance with local agreements and standards and will support students from other disciplines. You will liaise with a range of agencies and services across Nottingham.

About us

#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.

We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in‑house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.

The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net‑zero commitment.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for the day to day safe and effective running and the provision of Occupational Therapy on the wards. The post holder will co‑ordinate the Occupational Therapy Service and will clinically supervise Occupational Therapy staff within the team and other support staff as required providing guidance and focus to their work, ensuring safe working practices.

This role requires the individual to be able to assess service users needs, identify effective OT plans and implement these effectively. To do this, you will need an understanding of the acute and complex needs and treatment approaches relevant to this client group. You will need to communicate effectively with a wide range of multi‑disciplinary colleagues and agencies and be able to take the complex needs of individuals and the varying requirements of the post into account in order to prioritise work undertaken and provide effective guidance for other staff.

You will lead the staff in the Occupational Therapy team to provide therapy services to the acute wards. The team includes: a physiotherapist, a dietician, speech and language therapists, sports instructor, peer support workers, carer peer support workers and activity coordinators.

You will actively work to continually develop the Occupational Therapy Service in client centered, recovery focused, evidence‑based context and influence wider teams development.

To represent and promote the specialist role of occupational therapy including service planning and development and supporting practice placements for occupational therapy students and support students from other disciplines.

Please note that this post does not meet the pay level required for a Skilled worker visa.

Successful applicants with no prior NHS experience would normally be placed at the bottom of the band in line with Agenda for Change. This salary is below the minimum salary required for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. In these circumstances the Trust would not, therefore, be able to sponsor for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa.

Applicants requiring a Skilled Worker Visa can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship against the relevant criteria here https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Person Specification

Conractual Requirements

• A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010.
• Ability to work to meet the needs of the service.

Qualifications

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• Further specialist knowledge/post registration experience in specific service area or formal training.
• Demonstrate continued professional development to maintain professional registration

Experience

• Experience commensurate with this senior post.
• Experience of working in mental health with acute and longer-term conditions
• Recovery focused practice

Knowledge

• Knowledge of Occupational Therapy interventions, practice, models, and evidence-based practice.
• Knowledge and understanding of current legislation and understanding of clinical risk assessment.
• Excellent skills in Occupational Therapy assessment, intervention, and evaluation of OT practice
• Experience of supervising and leading staff

Skills

• Excellent skills in Occupational Therapy assessment, intervention, and evaluation of OT practice.
• Effective risk assessment and management skills.
• Ability to lead the Occupational Therapy team.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Clinical supervision skills
• Diplomatic, caring & empathetic.
• Ability to be flexible and handle conflict issues.

Values & Behaviours

• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust Values - Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork.
• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation.

Physical requirements

• Able to undertake training in the management of violence reduction.
• Has the physical ability to perform the full range of Occupational Therapy duties

Training

• Willingness to undertake clinical practices, education and training that will enhance service delivery.

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.

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Highbury Hospital- Willows (Acute Male Ward)

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum (pro rata for part time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part‑time

Reference number

186-1380-25-MH

Job locations

Highbury Hospital- Willows (Acute Male Ward)