Specialist Occupational Therapist

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust; Pontefract; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust is seeking a Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join the Core Team in Pontefract, delivering specialist OT services within a trauma-informed framework. You will work autonomously with support from senior OTs, supervise junior staff, and participate in multi-disciplinary collaboration to promote recovery in the community.

The role emphasises group and individual interventions, supervision responsibilities, and ongoing professional development within a

Qualifications

• Diploma/degree in Occupational Therapy and HCPC registration are required.
• Leadership/first line management certificate is desirable.
• Experience in mental health, community settings or related fields is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist occupational therapy assessment and treatment as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Work autonomously alongside senior staff and OT assistants; supervise junior staff and students where appropriate.
• Engage in peer, clinical and managerial supervision; facilitate OT groups.

Skills

Autonomous practitioner

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Leadership

Trauma informed practice

Education

Diploma/degree in Occupational Therapy

HCPC registration

Leadership/first line management certificate

Job description

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Specialist Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 10 November 2026

An exciting opportunityhas arisen for a Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join the Core Team, based atBaghill House Health and Wellbeing Centre, Pontefract.

You will be part of afully established Multi-Disciplinary Team that supports people in the localcommunity on their recovery journey, utilising trauma informed principles.

Main duties of the job

You will work as an autonomous practitioner alongsideSenior Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants as well asall other members of the Multi-disciplinary team. There will be an emphasis ofworking in a trauma informed way, utilising OT Core skills and assessments andan expectation to supervise junior staff and students; gaining PEAPqualification if not already achieved.

You will have opportunities to engage in peer,clinical and managerial supervision. The role will also involve facilitation ofOccupational Therapy Groups.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged tohave their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

At the time of advertising,this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration tosponsor candidates to work in the UK.

About us

Weare a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental healthand learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale,Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and arethe lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission isto help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do thisby providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employstaff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make adifference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourageand welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we valuediversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Beinga foundation Trust means were accountable to ourmembers, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people(including staff) are members of our Trust.

Joinus and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improvingthe mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet andhelp each year.

Weare committedto safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people andvulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share thiscommitment.

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

The post holderwill be required to work as an integral member of the multi-disciplinaryteam, providing specialist occupational therapy assessment and treatment forservice users in receipt of care from community services. Enabling service users to engage in a rangeof individual and group community based treatment activities. You will be actively involved in thepromotion of occupational therapy within the service area. The post holder will be required towork flexibly to meet the needs of the service and the client group.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

1.Clinical

1.1.Toundertake specific standardised and non-standardised assessments to formulateeffective treatment plans in conjunction with the service user, family andcarer.

1.2.Tointerpret the assessment results in order to plan and implement a clientcentred occupational therapy treatment programme on an individual and/or groupbasis using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.

1.3.Toensure therapeutic interventions are of a high professional standard, informedby evidence based practice and involves the service user and carer in allaspects of the care programme.

1.4. Todemonstrate knowledge and understanding of the effect of disability providingtraining and advice on lifestyle changes/adaptations to the clients social andphysical environments.

1.5. Toact as the care programme co-ordinator as required and to offer carers anassessment and care plan where appropriate.

1.6. Tocontribute to a co-ordinated team approach throughout the assessment and inmeeting the service users needs including developing and maintaining closeworking relationships with all relevant services, and agencies within thevoluntary sector.

1.7. Toregularly evaluate the effectiveness of group and individual occupationaltherapy interventions by undertaking specific audits and using outcome measuressuch as standardised / other relevant assessments and service user satisfactionquestionnaires.

1.8. Tocontinue treatment interventions where necessary to assist in the transition ofskills from an inpatient setting to living independently within the community.

1.9. Towork effectively within the multi-agency team ensuring that both written andverbal communication is clearly maintained to ensure a seamless service.

1.10. Tobe responsible for the maintenance of appropriate clinical records concernedwith service user treatment, in accordance with risk management documentationguidelines.

1.11. Toarrange/attend appropriate clinical team meetings, referral meetings, caseconferences, care programme approach meetings and any other as required byclinical need and as direct by the Line/Service Manager.

1.12. Toprovide accurate and timely reports, statistical data through the electronic recordingsystem and other information as required.

1.13. Toparticipate in monthly clinical and managerial supervision and to provideclinical supervision to other occupational therapy staff/ support staff.

1.14To work as an autonomous practitioner.

For full job description, please see attached supportingdocuments.

We are aware that an increasing number ofapplicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job applicationforms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is stronglydiscouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selectingcandidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance yourapplication, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Training

• Practice Education/Practice Assessor Preparation Certificate (or to achieve within 12 months)
• To be willing to undertake post graduate training to further skills, knowledge and expertise
• Post graduate training relevant to mental health such as, psychosocial interventions, cognitive behavioural / counselling skills / standardised assessment

Experience

• Documented evidence of continuing professional development
• Supervision of staff and / or students
• Experience of a range of mental health/learning disabilities settings

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Qualifications

• Diploma/degree in Occupational Therapy
• Health Care Professions Council registration
• Leadership / first line management certificate

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Specialist knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions relevant to mental health
• Extensive clinical practice skills including individual and group work
• Understanding of occupational therapy outcome measures
• Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities
• Ability to analyse professional and
• ethical issues
• Supervisory / appraisal skills
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
• Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information
• Ability to build effective working
• relationships
• Detailed knowledge of mental health/learning disabilities legislation and current practice including policy drivers
• Detailed knowledge of clinical governance and its application

Personal Attributes

• Values contribution of others
• Ability to motivate self and others
• Organisational skills
• Effective communication skills, verbal and written
• Willingness to work flexibly
• A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability)

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.

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Baghill House Health and Wellbeing Centre

Baghill House Health and Wellbeing Centre