Specialist Occupational Therapist

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Ellesmere Port; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an enthusiastic Specialist Occupational Therapist (Band 6) to join the PARALEL service in Ellesmere Port on a fixed-term 18-month contract. You will provide specialist OT support to adults with eating disorders across community and inpatient settings.

You will manage a caseload, deliver individual and group interventions, support discharge planning and contribute to developing the new service in line with recovery-focused care.

Qualifications

• Diploma or BSc in Occupational Therapy.
• Registration with Health Professions Council.
• Accreditation as Practice Placement Educator or working towards accreditation.
• CLAIT/ECDL or equivalent.
• Postgraduate clinical training relevant to the post.
• Leadership or management training.

Responsibilities

• Specialist Occupational Therapy assessment and rehabilitation.
• Deliver interventions across community and inpatient settings.
• Caseload management including complex cases.
• Support discharge planning and transitions from inpatient care.
• Facilitate group and individual interventions, including psychoeducation.
• Contribute to development of the PARALEL service and new pathway.

Skills

Specialist clinical skills

Caseload management

Verbal and written communication

Care coordination

Clinical governance

Moving and handling

Training and facilitation

Research experience

Education

Diploma or BSc in Occupational Therapy

Health Professions Council registration

Accreditation as Practice Placement Educator or working towards

CLAIT/ECDL or equivalent

Postgraduate clinical training relevant to the post

Leadership or management training

Job description

Main area Specialist Occupational Therapist Grade Band 6 Contract Fixed term: 18 months (until 31st March 2028 due to funding) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday between 8:00am and 7:00pm (rota basis)) Job ref 373-SMH2757

Site Pioneer House and Springview hospital Town North Road Ellesmere Port Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 16/09/2026 23:59

Job overview

Are you an enthusiastic and motivated Occupational Therapist looking to make a difference? Join PARALEL, an innovative rehabilitation, relapse prevention and alternative to admission service supporting adults with eating disorders across community and inpatient settings. As part of a developing multidisciplinary team, you will provide specialist Occupational Therapy support to help people maintain recovery and remain safely within their communities.

The role will include:

• Completing complex Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions.
• Managing a caseload, including individuals with complex needs.
• Delivering individual and group interventions.
• Supporting discharge planning, transitions from inpatient care and relapse prevention.
• Facilitating therapeutic activities, including psychoeducation, cooking, shopping and social eating.
• Working with service users in community settings, at home and virtually where appropriate.
• Supporting the development of the PARALEL service and alternative to admission pathway.

The successful candidate will have a good understanding of Occupational Therapy, mental health and eating disorders, and be committed to delivering compassionate, recovery-focused care within a developing service.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will play a key role within the multidisciplinary team, providing specialist Occupational Therapy assessment, intervention and rehabilitation for adults with eating disorders. Interventions will be delivered using recovery-focused, person-centred approaches across community settings, including face-to-face, remote and home-based appointments.

The post holder will contribute to multidisciplinary working, support service development and help shape the ongoing delivery of the alternative to admission pathway within the Eating Disorder Service.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a friendly, supportive and innovative service.
• Help shape and develop an exciting new service model.
• Benefit from ongoing professional development, including:
  • Clinical supervision
  • Annual appraisal
  • Practice placement education
  • A wide range of training opportunities
  • Regular peer support

Who We're Looking For

We're seeking an individual who is:

• Passionate about mental health and improving lives.
• Organised and able to manage a varied caseload.
• Caring, enthusiastic, adaptable and eager to learn.
• Motivated to contribute to a developing service.
• Able to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Experience and knowledge of eating disorders and mental health would be desirable.

Working for our organisation

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you’ll find something to suit you at CWP.

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.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: [e-mail] or by calling 01244 393100.

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.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Person specification

Qualifications

• Diploma or BSc in Occupational Therapy
• Registration with Health Professions Council
• Accreditation as Practice Placement Educator or working towards accreditation
• CLAIT/ECDL or equivalent
• 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
• 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 Staff Performance and Development 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

Trust Values

• : Demonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C’s: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency)

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 Mandy Eardley Job title Team Manager/Occupational Therapist Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07500065765 Additional information

Want to Know More?

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for more information.

We encourage all applicants to contact Mandy Eardley (team manager) to book a visit.

If a visit cannot be arranged, a phone call is welcomed for an opportunity to find out more information about the role.

If you consider yourself Neurodivergent and need help to complete your application form, please contact [e-mail] or telephone [phone]

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?

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