Senior Occupational Therapist

Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A health service provider in Sheffield is looking for a Senior Occupational Therapist to manage a caseload and provide supervision and leadership to junior staff. The role requires a professional qualification in Occupational Therapy and at least two years of mental health experience. Candidates should possess knowledge of therapeutic models and a commitment to high-quality care. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to clinical governance and improve service delivery.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in Occupational Therapy required.
• 2+ years of mental health experience preferred.
• Advanced qualifications and relevant training evidence required.

Responsibilities

• Manage a defined caseload with occupational therapy skills.
• Supervise junior staff and students.
• Develop treatment plans and assess service users.

Skills

Assessment and prioritization of health needs

Knowledge of therapeutic models in Occupational Therapy

Team collaboration

Individual and group work experience

Supervision and leadership

Education

Professional Qualification in Occupational Therapy

Job description

Go back Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 06 October 2025

Responsibilities

• To manage a defined caseload of service users, using evidence based, service user centred occupational therapy skills to assess, formulate, implement, and evaluate specialist interventions.
• To provide effective guidance, supervision and leadership for junior staff, as delegated by the Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist.
• To regularly supervise Occupational Therapy students on practice placement.
• To deputise for the Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist as required.

Job responsibilities

• To select and apply occupational therapy assessments for a designated caseload, addressing occupational performance and skill deficits, enabling the service user in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.
• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of work.
• To undertake the OT assessment of service users using investigative and analytical skills to formulate individual treatment plans.
• To accept clinical responsibility under supervision for a designated caseload some with complex presentations prioritising need and taking on the role of co-ordinator where relevant.
• To plan and implement service user centred individual and group interventions, using clinical reasoning and a range of treatment interventions to achieve therapeutic goals.
• To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment for service users in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
• To demonstrate an understanding of the effect of disability and recommend adaptations to the service users social and physical environment.
• To provide occupational therapy services in working conditions which may be hazardous e.g., exposure to body fluids, aggressive persons, visits to high-risk areas and associated travel risks.
• To assess capacity gain valid informed consent and work within a legal framework with service users who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
• To undertake therapeutic moving and handling of service users and equipment, utilising moderate physical effort within clinical and non clinical settings.
• To work with service users, carers and relatives who may have distressing social/clinical circumstances.
• To demonstrate effective communication skills with service users, carers, other health workers and agencies.
• To develop presentation skills in a variety of settings.
• To develop skills in communicating complex sensitive and contentious information to service users and carers as appropriate.
• To promote awareness of the role of Occupational Therapy within the team and locally.
• To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with professional and trust standards.
• To comply with the RCOT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and national and local policies and procedures.
• To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of service users and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
• To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
• To undertake the supervision and appraisal of junior staff as delegated by a senior member of staff.
• To demonstrate basic leadership skills through involvement in designated projects.
• To support volunteers and Peer Support Work staff whilst on the ward.
• To participate in the planning and implementation of the induction, training and education of students and other staff.
• To be regularly responsible for the supervision and written assessment of occupational therapy students on practice placement within the trust.
• To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within the service area.
• To participate in the delivery of the occupational therapy/ AHP development plan.
• To apply skills and knowledge to establish professional competence and fitness to practise as a senior occupational therapist.
• To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio.
• To contribute to the trust and teams clinical governance arrangements.
• To demonstrate understanding of national guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care in mental health service provision.
• To demonstrate an understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply to the work situation.
• To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.
• To co-ordinate day-to-day activities of junior staff where applicable.
• To be actively involved in the collation of appropriate data and statistics as required.
• To deputise for the Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist as required.
• To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply to practice and disseminate findings at a local level.
• To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects.

About us

Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust is a major employer and provider of services. Our Service Users, Carers and Staff are central, and our Values are important, to the delivery of high-quality care. We actively seek out individuals who share these values:

• We are respectful and kind
• We are inclusive
• We work together
• We keep improving

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Professional Qualification in Occupational Therapy

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to assess and prioritise health and wellbeing needs
• Knowledge of therapeutic models relating of Occupational Therapy within Mental health
• Ability to plan and manage caseload and to link with the other skills of teams members to promote best possible care
• Previous work experience and knowledge of working with people with mental health needs
• Evidence of advance qualification
• Evidence of other relevant training

Experience

• Individual and group work experience
• Designing and delivering specialist intervention
• Experience supervising and leading a team
• 2 or more years of mental health experience

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.

Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust