Specialist Occupational Therapist

NHS; St Albans; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust is looking for a Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join their Adult Community Mental Health Team in St Albans. In this role, you will manage a clinical OT caseload, delivering high-quality, evidence-based interventions in various community settings. The position offers competitive benefits, including ample holiday and a strong pension scheme, as well as opportunities for professional development and supervision.

Benefits

5% on top of basic salary high cost allowance

27 days holiday rising to 33 days

One of the UK's best pension schemes

NHS Discounts

Qualifications

• Post registration experience in relevant clinical setting.
• Applied knowledge of Recovery principles related to OT.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Managing a clinical OT caseload.
• Delivering evidence-based interventions using the Model of Human Occupation.
• Assessments and interventions in homes and community.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Clinical judgement

Teamwork

Education

BSc/MSc/PG Dip Occupational Therapy

HCPC registration

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Summary

Base: Adult Community Mental Health Team in St Albans

Do you want to develop your OT career working in mental health?

Would you like to know that you have made a difference to people who have a number of challenges to their health and wellbeing?

This is a great and unique opportunity for a band 6 OT or band 5 OT looking to progress into a band 6 role.

Unlike many community mental health posts this role is solely OT focused allowing the OT team to concentrate on providing a high quality service benefiting both service users and the wider team as well as enhancing personal job satisfaction.

In return, we can offer you:

• 5% on top of basic salary high cost allowance supplement (subject to a minimum and a maximum payment pro rata)
• 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service) plus bank holidays (pro rata where applicable)
• One of the UK's best pension schemes
• Special Leave for family and personal reasons
• NHS Car Lease Scheme (for substantive staff)
• Eye Care Vouchers
• Employee Assistance Programme
• NHS Discounts

Main Duties of the Job

• Managing a clinical OT caseload
• Carrying out comprehensive assessments
• Delivering evidence based interventions using the Model of Human Occupation.

Assessments and Interventions take place at the unit, in service users homes, or in the community.

There is the opportunity to develop both individual and group interventions to help the service user achieve their personal and recovery goals.

The OT team consists of a Band 6 Occupational Therapist and two OT Assistant Therapy Practitioners. The team offers 1‑1 and group interventions and has successfully facilitated a number of face to face, and virtual groups using the Recovery Through Activity framework developed by Sue Parkinson. The OT team have made links with several community resources enhancing the quality OT provision. The post holder would have the opportunity to develop this further, expanding on the current groups provided.

High quality supervision is an integral part of all OT posts and there are many CPD opportunities and access to OT in‑service training events which happen throughout the year. The in‑service training often includes outside speakers who are at the forefront of our profession. Car driver essential as a majority of the posts are community based, you must hold a full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes – including business insurance (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

About Us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

Our family of over 4000 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.

The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers – everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Position Details

Date posted: 24 November 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 6

Salary: £40,617 to £48,778 a year per annum, pro rata (inclusive of 5% HCAS)

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Part‑time

Reference number: 367‑ACMS‑9877

Job locations: St Albans ACMHS, Waverley Road, St Albans, AL3 5TQ

Job Responsibilities

See attached job description and person specification. We welcome an informal chat or visit if you would like to find out more about the role!

Person Specification

Qualifications / Training (Essential)

• BSc/MSc/PG Dip Occupational Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office and associated packages.
• Completion of preceptorship and/or evidence of having met the full KSF Gateway for Band 5 OT's
• Evidence of relevant post grad training

Desirable

• Membership of RCOT, including specialist section
• First line management training
• Solution Focussed Brief Therapy training
• Broad base of clinical experience

Travel (Essential)

• Car driver

Previous Experience (Essential)

• Post registration experience in relevant clinical setting
• Applied experience of providing both individual and group work interventions.
• Specialist knowledge and experience of using the Model of Human Occupation assessment tools, or others appropriate to area.
• Documented evidence of continuing professional development
• Experience in providing advice, support and clinical supervision to junior staff and/or students
• Applied knowledge of Recovery principles and how these relate to OT

Desirable

• Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disability in a variety of health and social care settings
• Previous experience of having worked at Band 6 level
• Experience in research or audit

Communication Skills (Essential)

• Strong communication skills, written and verbal and the ability to persuade and negotiate with peers and senior colleagues
• Proven track record of working within a multidisciplinary team and an understanding of team dynamics
• Knowledge and application of key policy, health legislation and guidelines which impact on OT and mental health/LD practice.
• Ability to provide and receive sensitive and difficult information regarding service users care and social situation
• Knowledge of and effective use of appropriate professional relationships and boundaries
• High level of ability to grade and adapt practical skills
• Evidence of delivery of training and professional development sessions

Analytical Skills (Essential)

• Ability to apply broad knowledge of current best practice in OT and mental health
• A high level of problem solving/clinical judgement skills and the ability to analyse professional and ethical issues
• Ability to respond and adjust appropriately to the changing needs of service users
• Specialist knowledge and experience of using the Model of Human Occupation Assessment tools and or equivalent in area
• Highly developed ability to evaluate group interventions and outcomes
• Highly developed case formulation skills to guide own OT intervention plan and those of others

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer Details

Employer name: Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address: St Albans ACMHS, Waverley Road, St Albans, AL3 5TQ

Website: https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/