Specialist Occupational Therapist

My Mind; Chester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) seeks a Band 6 Specialist Occupational Therapist for Bowmere Hospital in Chester. The role provides senior clinical leadership within the acute mental health inpatient team and manages a complex caseload with a focus on safe discharge.

You will supervise junior staff, coordinate the OT service on your ward and work with a multidisciplinary team to deliver evidence-based interventions and care coordination.

Qualifications

• Diploma, BSc or MSc in Occupational Therapy.
• Registration with Health Professions Council (HCPC).
• Experience as Practice Placement Educator.
• Postgraduate clinical training relevant to the post.
• Leadership or management training.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the OT service on the designated ward and carry a clinical caseload.
• Supervise Occupational Therapists and OT Technical Instructors.
• Deliver service developments with the Specialist OT team.
• Support clinical leadership and safe discharge planning.

Skills

Mental health clinical skills

Clinical leadership

Discharge planning

Team collaboration

Prioritisation under pressure

Caseload management

Governance awareness

6Cs and person-centered care

Training and facilitation

Ethics and professionalism

Education

Diploma/BSc/MSc in Occupational Therapy

HCPC registration

Practice Placement Educator experience

Postgraduate clinical training

Leadership or management training

Job description

Main area Specialist Occupational Therapist Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday) Job ref 373-SMH2695-B RR

Site Clarion Centre, Bowmere Hospital, Town Chester Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 26/11/2026 23:59

Job overview

Are you a highly motivated mental health Occupational Therapist looking for a new opportunity within acute care? We have an opportunity for a Band 6 Specialist Occupational Therapist at Bowmere Hospital as part of the Specialist Mental Health care group.

The postholder will provide senior clinical leadership within the acute care inpatient multidisciplinary team, supporting service users with specialist assessment and intervention, and support safe discharge.

As a Trust, we encourage commitment to clinical supervision, research, and practice placement education.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will be expected to coordinate the OT service on their designated ward, and carry a clinical caseload. They will be responsible for supervising Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Technical Instructors, and work alongside the Lead Occupational Therapist and other Specialist OTs in delivering service developments.

This is an ideal post for an adaptable, creative practitioner who is looking for opportunities to develop clinical leadership skills and further a specialism within mental health.

The postholder will be a skilled and experienced mental health practitioner who can take on complex cases, and can show evidence of understanding the priorities of an acute care service. This is a busy team environment requiring a high level of problem solving and organisation. The postholder will be able to supervise others in applying the 6Cs within acute care, understand governance issues and have knowledge of current evidence based practice.

Our service has an established acute care pathway and therapeutic activity program. We have a well resourced Therapy department and gym, with dedicated team office space. Our Therapy team also includes Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, and Fitness Instructors. We are a friendly team and support CPD, career progression and staff wellbeing. There are also links to the wider Occupational Therapy and Allied Health Professionals network.

Working for our organisation

Our service has an established acute care pathway and Therapeutic Activity program. We have a well resourced Therapy department and gym, with dedicated team office space. Our Therapy team also includes Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy colleagues, and Fitness Instructors. We are a friendly team and support CPD, career progression and staff wellbeing. There are also links to the wider Occupational Therapy and Allied Health Professionals network.

As a Trust, we encourage commitment to clinical supervision, research, and practice placement education.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see 'documents to download' section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the 'essential' criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer 'YES' to the question: 'Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?'

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Diploma, BSc or MSc in Occupational Therapy
• Registration with Health Professions Council
• Experience as Practice Placement Educator
• Postgraduate clinical training relevant to the post
• Leadership or management training

Knowledge and Expertise

• Specialist clinical skills relevant to the role
• Current disability equipment training or be willing to gain as appropriate for the post
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Good knowledge and awareness of current legislation and guidance pertaining to Mental Health services and implications for Occupational Therapy
• Ability to work under pressure and set priorities
• Good knowledge of effective care co-ordination and planning of treatment packages
• Ability to manage own caseload and work as part of a team
• Group leadership skills
• Excellent negotiation and organisational skills, with individuals and groups
• Working knowledge of clinical governance principles
• Skills in moving and handling
• Appreciation of the 6Cs and person-centred care.
• Training, presentation and facilitation skills
• Ability to resolve complex professional and ethical issues
• Research experience

Experience

• At least 18 months experience in mental health
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary environment
• Experience of supervising and supporting junior staff and students
• Experience of using appraisal process
• Documented evidence of Continued Professional Development
• Working knowledge of clinical audit
• Experience of introducing new and innovative interventions
• Minimum of 3 years post registration experience
• Experience of care co-ordination

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.

Name Maria Yuen Job title Lead Occupational Therapist Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01244397288 Additional information

Giving you time to care, space to think and opportunity to grow

We are Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP). We provide health and care services for local people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care - including the provision of three GP surgeries.

We have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport. We also provide specialist services for the North West as a whole.

Our services are provided in partnership with commissioners, local authorities, voluntary and independent organisations, people who access our services, their carers and families. The Trust has over 14,500 members and employs more than 4,000 staff across 62 sites, serving a population of over one million people and highly specialist services for two million people.

We offer career opportunities to staff across a range of professions, including:

• Allied health professions - including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, and speech and language therapy
• Medical - including psychiatry and general practice
• Pharmacy
• Clinical support roles
• Estates and facilities
• Support services roles - including HR, communications, ICT, finance and more

At CWP, we believe in giving our staff the time to care, the space to think and the opportunity to grow.

With vacancies across a range of professions, wherever you're at in your career journey, you'll find something to suit you. So why not join our team today?

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FT 665 subscribers