Senior Occupational Therapist

SWLStG; Tooting; Remote; GBP 48,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust seeks an Occupational Therapist to support a forensic step-down service, delivering MOHO-informed assessments and rehabilitation for adults with complex needs. The role sits within the Forensic Outreach Service, focusing on community reintegration and recovery.

You will work in a multidisciplinary team, manage a defined caseload, supervise junior staff, and promote equality and inclusion across services, supportive of flexible working

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy (HCPC registered).
• Evidence of post-registration training relevant to mental health/forensic practice.
• RCOT membership demonstrates professional commitment.
• HCPC registration is required to practice as an OT.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist OT service within the Forensic Step-Down Service.
• Deliver evidence-based OT assessments and MOHO-informed interventions.
• Manage a defined caseload across community and clinical settings.
• Contribute to delegated OT and multidisciplinary projects with senior support.
• Act as Disability Champion, promoting equality and inclusion.
• Provide supervision to junior OT staff, support staff and students.
• Collaborate with multi-agency teams to support coordinated care.
• Participate in CPA reviews, risk management meetings and tribunals as needed.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Critical thinking

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy

HCPC Registration

Evidence of post-registration training relevant to mental health/forensic practice

RCOT membership

Job description

Site Springfield Hospital Town Tooting Salary £47,951 - £56,863 per annum inclusive of Inner London HCAs Salary period Yearly Closing 08/10/2026 23:59

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We provide a full range of local mental health services to the Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth London boroughs, as well as specialist forensic mental health services, including specialised services such as national deaf adults and CAMHS inpatients and OCD.

We are committed to providing high quality integrated health and social care for local people with mental health problems in South West London and more specialist mental health services for people throughout the UK. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ however we aim to be ‘outstanding’.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values; being consistent, compassionate, collaborative, respectful and open is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is "making life better together".

When you join us, you’ll be part of something special – an innovative and rapidly growing organisation that is helping to redefine the Mental Health, education and social care landscape in the UK.

As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Forensic Outreach Service in one of the dedicated clinical posts supporting a new forensic step-down supported living service, scheduled to open in January 2027.

The Service will be delivered as part of the SWLSTG Adult Secure discharge and step-down pathway, commissioned through the South London Partnership (SLP) Adult Secure Provider Collaborative Programme. The service will provide an integrated model of care and support through a partnership between the Forensic Outreach Service and a Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) provider. The VCS partner will deliver the supported living pathway and work closely with the SWLSTG Forensic Outreach Service which will host dedicated clinical posts.

The Service is commissioned for adults stepping down from Adult Secure inpatient services into a community setting, whose ordinary residence and Section 117 aftercare provision sits with one of the five South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) boroughs, for health and social care. It will enable people to transition safely and sustainably from secure mental health services into the community, through access to high quality accommodation and specialist, recovery-focused support delivered in a least restrictive setting.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will work within the Forensic Directorate in providing Occupational Therapy input to individuals living within the Forensic Step-Down Service. The post holder will sit within the Forensic Outreach Service.

The post holder will play a key role within the Forensic Step-Down Accommodation Service, supporting individuals with complex mental health needs and forensic histories to successfully transition from secure or inpatient settings to independent community living. The role involves delivering specialist occupational therapy assessments and interventions using evidence-based, recovery-focused approaches and the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) to promote meaningful engagement in daily activities, enhance independence, and support social inclusion. Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, the Occupational Therapist will contribute to risk assessment and management, care planning, CPA reviews, MAPPA processes, and multi-agency working, while providing clinical supervision and support to junior staff and students. The post holder will also champion equality, accessibility and inclusion, ensuring that service users are supported to achieve their recovery goals and maximise their quality of life within the community.

Working for our organisation

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ - we aspire to be ‘outstanding’.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a varietybenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Unless expressly stated in the job advert the role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide a specialist occupational therapy service within the Forensic step-down service for service users with complex mental health needs and forensic histories.

To deliver evidence-based, person-centred occupational therapy assessments, interventions and outcome measures, informed by the Model of Human Occupation and recovery-focused principles.

To manage a defined caseload, delivering interventions flexibly across a range of community and clinical settings.

To contribute to delegated occupational therapy and multidisciplinary projects within the service, with support from senior staff.

To act as Disability Champion, promoting equality, accessibility and inclusion, and supporting the team to meet disability equality standards.

To provide clinical supervision, guidance and support to junior occupational therapy staff, support staff and students on placement.

To work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary community team, liaising effectively with inpatient services, community services and external agencies to support coordinated care.

To contribute to multidisciplinary decision-making through attendance at relevant meetings, including CPA reviews, risk management meetings and tribunals where appropriate.

To contribute to multi-agency working, including participation in MAPPA processes where required.

To work within relevant legal frameworks, including the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, as appropriate to the role.

To respond flexibly to clinical demands, including prioritising urgent referrals and working jointly with colleagues as required to meet service user needs.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications

If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.

Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.

Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.

Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.

Person specification

Education, Training & Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration
• Evidence of post registration training relevant to mental health/ forensic practice
• Membership of RCOT

Experience

• Experience of carrying a caseload in a mental health setting
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience of individual and group interventions
• Experience of maintaining a continual professional development portfolio
• Experience of participating in a service development initiative
• Experience of working people with mental health needs and /or forensic population
• Experience of supervising junior staff or students
• Completion of preceptorship
• Experience of using mental health services as a service user, or carer, relative, friend of a service user.

Knowledge and Skills

• Effective interpersonal and communication skills to develop therapeutic relationships with complex service users
• Strong written communication and report writing skills
• Ability to reflect on and critically evaluate own practice
• Ability to build effective clinical relationships across multi- disciplinary and multi-agency teams

At South West London St Georges Mental Health Trust we are committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Committed Employer, and welcome applications from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We are Members of Stonewall Diversity Champions and Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion.

As part of the Trust's commitment to Equalities and Diversity, the Trust supports the establishment of Staff Networks groups to promote diversity in the workplace:

• BME (Evolve) Staff Network
• DiverseAbility
• Mental Health Staff Forum
• Women's Staff Network
• LGBTQIA+

We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and has signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

We provide reasonable adjustments to the interview process for any candidates with a disability.

Please note:

• That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received
• That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3 rd party e-recruitment system
• That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
• That priority consideration for applications may be given to at‑risk NHS employees
• That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
• That your employment is offered subject to successful completion of a Probationary Period depending on your Band (except medical roles)
• That we are a smoke‑free Trust

South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including job applications, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. The contact details published on our official website are the Trust’s authorised contact channels and should be used for all recruitment communications, job applications, and verification of employment offers.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.