Senior Occupational Therapist

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust; Scarborough; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Occupational Therapist to lead a complex caseload in Cross Lane Hospital, covering two 13-bed wards. The role requires independent assessment and specialist interventions, with a focus on psychosocial care and a co-productive approach with individuals and families.

You will work within a multidisciplinary team, supervise assistants, contribute to service improvements and uphold trust policies while delivering evidence-based

Qualifications

• Appropriate professional qualification for occupational therapy role.
• Current registration with HCPC.
• Postgraduate training in relevant specialist area.

Responsibilities

• Receive referrals for Occupational Therapy, triage and prioritise these.
• Complete evidence-based assessments and interventions to address key occupational areas.
• Implement co-produced negotiated occupational goals with service users and families/carers.
• Supervise Occupational Therapy Assistant and Activity Co-ordinators.
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary team working and service improvement initiatives.
• Use the Trust electronic patient record system.
• Adhere to all Trust policies and procedures and respond flexibly to challenges.

Skills

Clinical reasoning

Leadership

Team supervision

Risk assessment

Communication

Education

Registered Occupational Therapist

Postgraduate specialization

Job description

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 01 November 2026

A secondment for 12 months has become available at Cross Lane Hospital. This is for maternity cover.

The post holder will cover a 13 bedded female acute ward and a 13 bedded male ward.

As a Senior Occupational Therapist you will manage a complex caseload independently, assessing occupational performance and delivering robust specialist occupational assessment and interventions. You will demonstrate adherence to the Trust Values at all times and operate as a leader in the team, service and organisation.

We are looking for an OT who can work flexibly to meet service need and has the vision, energy and inspiration to develop creative, imaginative solutions to working with adults and their families/ carers .

The postholder will implement a psychosocial model of care delivery to support individuals with a range of mental health needs, and varying health needs including behaviours that challenge. The senior occupational therapist is a key member of the wider Multi-Disciplinary-Team and will work collectively with other professionals and stakeholders alongside promoting co‑production with the individual and their support system.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for receiving referrals for Occupational Therapy, triaging and prioritising these, completing evidence-based assessments and interventions to address key occupational areas.

Ensure occupational therapy intervention is based on current riskassessment, evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and whole systemsupport requirements, taking into account relevant physical, social, cultural, psychological, spiritual, genetic, and environmental factors.

Implementation of co‑produced negotiated occupational goals and evaluation of these with service users and their families / carers collaboratively.

The postholder will also :-

• Participate in clinical/professional and management supervision
• Supervision of Occupational Therapy Assistant and Activity Co‑ordinators.
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary team working
• Contribute to and lead on service improvement and quality initiatives
• Use the Trust electronic patient record system
• Abide by all Trust policies and procedures
• Be able to respond flexibly and creatively to challenges

About us

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care --our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won't rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Job responsibilities

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Candidates must have a minimum 18 months post qualifying experience of occupational therapy delivery (at the point of application)

Please see attached Job Description which provides an extensive overview of the position you are applying for including essential and desirable criteria..

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Appropriate professional qualification for occupational therapy role
• Current relevant registration with specific regulatory body
• Post graduate training in relevant specialist area

Experience

• Minimum of 18 months post qualifying experience of occupational therapy delivery (at the point of application)
• Experience of supporting people with mental health issues, learning disability or autism
• Experience of working in Multidisciplinary Team

Knowledge

• Understanding of the needs of people who use our services with mental health conditions or learning disabilities.
• Clinical risk assessment and application in practice
• Knowledge of evidence based practice in designated specialist area
• Post graduate training in specialist area if applicable to post (e.g. dysphagia, autism diagnostics)
• Experience of managing complex occupational therapy cases

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.

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust