Specialist Occupational Therapist

Transformation Unit; Knowsley; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 6 Specialist Occupational Therapist for the inpatient acute service at Knowsley. The post involves holistic assessments, goal setting, and intervention within a multi-disciplinary team in Rydal Ward, Knowsley Resource and Recovery Centre, Whiston Hospital.

The role requires autonomous practice, leadership for junior staff, and contribution to care pathways and discharge planning. Flexible working options may be considered.

Qualifications

• Ability to utilise assessment skills and tools effectively
• Ability to communicate in a variety of settings
• Ability to formulate relevant reports
• Delegation and coordination

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload autonomously using evidence-based, patient-centred principles.
• Follow the inpatient OT pathway and conduct timely assessments.
• Assist in discharge planning to enable timely and safe discharge.
• Provide professional supervision and development for OT staff.
• Maintain accurate client records and outcome measures.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of service pathways.

Skills

Assessment skills

Communication

Teamwork

Leadership

Education

HCPC registration

Job description

Main area Occupational Therapy Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm) Job ref 350-MHC8405628

Employer Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Rydal Ward, Knowsley Resource and Recovery Centre, Whiston Hospital Town Prescot Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 23/11/2026 23:59

Specialist Occupational Therapist

Band 6

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Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust celebrates diversity and promotes equal opportunities; we are committed to challenging and eliminating racism and other forms of discrimination and advancing and promoting equality of opportunity in the provision of services and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

We take positive action to support disadvantaged groups and also particularly encourage applications from ethnically diverse, disabled and LGBTQIA+ people that are under-represented in our workforce. Furthermore we welcome applications from reservists and ex-armed forces personnel as we recognise the benefits of the values, skills, training and experience that they bring to their work with us. We encourage all applicants to share their equality information with us.

Using AI to support your application

AI can be a useful tool to support the preparation of your application. However, all information submitted must be accurate, truthful and reflect your own skills, experience and achievements. Applications should include personal examples demonstrating how you meet the person specification. Applications that appear mostly or fully generated by AI, without clear personal examples linked to the person specification, may be rejected.For tips and guidance, please refer to our applicant guidance.

Identity verification

Candidates attending interview will be required to provide original photographic identification where available. Where suitable photographic identification is not available, a photograph will be taken at interview for identity verification purposes. Successful candidates will also be required to complete digital identity and right to work checks via TrustID, including facial recognition and image matching technology, to verify their identity throughout the recruitment and onboarding process. Identity verification will also be undertaken on the first day of employment in line with NHS employment check requirements.

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Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a for a highly motivated Band 6 Specialist Occupational Therapist to join our inpatient acute service in Knowsley.

Rydal Ward is a 12 bedded mixed older adult inpatient acute ward, at Knowsley Resource and Recovery Centre, Whiston Hospital.

The post holder will be required to undertake holistic multi-factorial evidence-based assessments, in a clinic setting. These will include assessments regarding mental and physical health, which lead to occupational formulation, goal setting, and intervention. There is a clear OT pathway in place to support OT assessment and intervention on the ward.

OTs are also involve in the provision of group therapeutic activities by means of assessment and treatment, home visits to support discharge and individual work with service usersto support their recovery.

The successful post holder will work within a supportive MDT including medics, nursing staff, psychology staff, the wider AHP team, administrators and social workers. The post holder will also work with family members and carers.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be expected to effectively manage a caseload of patient’s comorbidities as an autonomous practitioner, using evidence based/ patient centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions of the patient group. The post holder will provide leadership for junior staff when appropriate, through supervision and appraisal.

The post holder take a holistic approach in the assessment and treatment of service users / patients, being responsible for the provision of appropriate, high quality care to a defined caseload which may be of a complex nature, using the appropriate model of care and evidenced based practice.

Work in partnership with other professionals to enable patients / clients to be discharged to an appropriate environment, thus avoiding hospital readmission.

Working for our organisation

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Work in a professional and collaborative manner with the multi-disciplinary team.

Follow the OT inpatient pathway, including screening all patients in a timely manner, assessing patients where indicated, formulating occupational need, goal setting and care planning, and facilitating intervention for patients.

Critical role in supporting safe and timely discharge for patients.

Provide information, education and support for family members, carers and other relevantprofessionals.

Participate and promote positive intra-agency working.

Participate in case load supervision to monitor the standards of service user care and ensurerecord keeping is in accordance with Professional and Trust standards.

Participate in regular clinical supervision with Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist, as per Trust policy.

Contribute to the development and implementation of integrated care pathways, including appropriate service user assessments/referrals and models of care.

Contribute to client related developments and therapeutic interventions carried out by the whole team, including delegating interventions to Occupational Therapy Assistants and supporting other staff to promote occupational independence.

Compile and maintain effective client records and record outcome measures in conjunctionwith clients and in accordance with Professional and Trust policies, procedures and standards.

Participate in the induction, training or education of a variety of staff, students or volunteers attached to the team/service.

Undertake occupational therapy assessments, addressing occupational performance and skill deficits in areas of self-care, productivity and leisure.

Plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, using selected and graded activity to develop the client’s skills in identified areas of deficit.

Assist in the organisation and planning of OT service delivery e.g. OT recruitment panels, ensuring OT staff/service cover.

Provide professional advice as required, for performance management of OT staff e.g.competency monitoring.

Contribute to the writing and implementation of practice guidelines, policies and procedures, and use specialist knowledge to propose service changes.

Contribute to staff participation in the formulation of new ideas/suggestions to improve service user care and service delivery.

Ensure the principles of Clinical Governance are incorporated in service delivery by maintaining a High-quality service based on agreed clinical standards.

Contribute to the strategic development of the OT services.

Provide specialist professional/clinical leadership to occupational therapists and support staff.

Liaise with and develop effective working links with the wider multi-disciplinary team. Attend professional meetings as required.

Maintain an effective supervision structure, and provide professional supervision for designated OT staff, addressing clinical, personal and professional issues.

Assist in the induction of OT staff to the service.

Participate in the performance monitoring of services in accordance with national and localtargets.

Provide statistical information on workforce and service user activity as required.

Be responsible for the care, maintenance and monitoring of equipment used by clients andbring any defects or deficits to the attention of the appropriate authority. E.g. ADL equipment.

Ensure requirements for health and safety and safe working practice are met throughformal and regular risk assessments and communications as required. E.g. Cascade of HSAalerts.

Assist in the maintenance and updating of the unit’s equipment inventories and service schedules. Ensure regular servicing, maintenance, repair or replacement as required adhering to Health & Safety, COSHH and Medical Devices Agency regulations.

Responsibilities for all staff:

All post holders will agree to:

Commit to the vision of supporting Mersey Care in becoming a leading organisation in the provision of community services, mental health care and learning disability care.

Role model the values of the Trust – Continuous Improvement, Accountability, Respectfulness, Enthusiasm, and Support – in all activities and interactions.

Challenge the stigma associated with mental health and learning disabilities.

Comply with the Duty of Candour, working across professional and organisational boundaries to improve services.

Uphold and protect the reputation of the Trust both inside and outside of work, ensuring that actions and behaviours reflect the values and standards of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust at all times.

Value the contribution of the patient and service user’s voice, as well as the views of families and carers.

Maintain their specific knowledge base and develop new skills.

Observe statutory duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of adults and children.

Actively participate in creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels equally valued, respected and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives.

Commit to Mersey Care’s mission of being an actively anti-racist health care provider and employer.

Take responsibility for the accurate and timely collection and recording of data.

Operate within organisational codes of practice, comply with all health and safety legislation, organisational policies and operating procedures.

Understand and embrace the role of digital technology in the workplace.

Comply with the NHS Constitution in relation to staff responsibilities.

Support the creation of a positive environment and Restorative Just and Learning Culture, participate in related events, share concerns about safety and quality, and speak up against incivility while taking a collaborative approach to improve civility and respect.

This job description provides an outline of general activities and is not exhaustive. It will be reviewed as the Trust’s needs change, in consultation with the post holder

Person specification

Skills

• Ability to utilise assessment skills and tools effectively
• Ability to communicate in a variety of settings
• Ability to formulate relevant reports
• Delegation and coordination
• Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
• Flexible approach/creative thinking
• Able to move and handle clients
• Ability to network and influence decision making

Knowledge

• Effective team working within a multi-agency framework
• Experience using both group and individual treatment skills
• Demonstrate experience of problem-solving approaches
• Audit and research practices relevant to clinical area
• Assisting with effective budgetary management
• Evidence based and experience of reflective practice
• Recovery Model of Care
• Model of Human Occupation
• Safeguarding Children
• Mental Health Act 1983
• Mental Capacity Act
• Effective Care Coordination
• Relevant national policies and guidance
• Up to date clinical knowledge relevant to the care environment
• Audit and research methods
• Awareness of own strengths and limitations
• Wider range of statutory and non-statutory services

Experience

• Previous experience in relevant health settings
• Supervision of staff
• Experience of service development
• Post graduate clinical experience, within mental health services

Qualifications

• Current HCPC registration

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The Trust expects all post holders who require an enhanced DBS for their role and work in Children’s & Young People services to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. You will be required to enrol for this service for a fee of £15 per year and maintain registration.

The Trust uses TrustID digital identity verification, including facial matching technology, to confirm that identity documents belong to the individual attending interview and commencing employment.

Please note: new entrants to the NHS will commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.

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 Emma Pickup Job title Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist Email address [e-mail]