Specialist Occupational Therapist - Occupational Therapy Learning Disability

NHS Ayrshire & Arran; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Learning and development opportunities

NHS discounts

Job summary

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is recruiting a Band 6 Specialist Occupational Therapist to join the Adult Community Learning Disability Team in Glasgow. The role involves managing a complex clinical caseload, conducting specialist assessments and delivering interventions to promote independence and participation in daily living activities.

The post is permanent, based in Glasgow with core hours Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, and a 36-hour week (RWW).

Qualifications

• Degree in Occupational Therapy and HCPC registered.
• Experience in Learning Disability and/or Mental Health services.
• Experience managing a complex clinical caseload.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multi-agency environment.
• Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Manage a clinical caseload of adults with learning disabilities who have complex health and social care needs.
• Undertake specialist OT assessments and recommend adaptations and equipment.
• Contribute to environmental design and provision of equipment.
• Deliver interventions on individual and group basis to maximise independence.
• Provide leadership, supervision and support to junior staff and students.
• Support audit, research and service development activities.

Skills

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Communication skills

Independence promotion

Professional development

Audit/research involvement

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy

HCPC registration

Job description

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full-time Band 6 Specialist Occupational Therapist to join the Adult Community Learning Disability Team in Glasgow. The service is undergoing an ambitious Learning Disability Change Programme, redesigning services to ensure people receive the right care at the right time and are supported to live healthy, happy and independent lives within their communities. Occupational Therapy plays a vital role in this vision, supporting individuals with learning disabilities by assessing the impact of their condition on occupational performance and promoting independence, wellbeing and participation in meaningful activities.

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern

Permanent Role

Based at Petershill Park Business Centre, 28-30 Adamswell Street, G21 4DD

Core hours Monday – Friday, 9am - 5pm Work pattern to be agreed to achieve 36 hpw (RWW)

Key Responsibilities

The postholder will manage a clinical caseload of adults with learning disabilities who have complex health and social care needs, including mental health needs, physical disabilities, sensory processing difficulties and behaviours that challenge. The role involves undertaking specialist occupational therapy assessments, recommending and providing adaptations and equipment, contributing to environmental design, and delivering interventions on both an individual and group basis to maximise independence and participation in daily living activities. Working as part of a multi-agency team, the successful candidate will contribute to audit, research and service development activities, provide specialist advice to colleagues, carers and partner agencies, and support the ongoing development of the occupational therapy service. The postholder will also provide leadership, supervision and support to junior occupational therapy staff and students while maintaining their own professional development through continuous learning opportunities.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job

Essential

• Degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent qualification.
• Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Significant experience working within Learning Disability and/or Mental Health services.
• Experience managing a complex clinical caseload.
• Knowledge of assessment and intervention for individuals with learning disabilities and complex needs.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary and multi-agency environment.
• Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills.
• Experience of supporting individuals to maximise independence and participation within their community.
• Commitment to continuous professional development and evidence-based practice.

Desirable

• Experience of providing specialist adaptations and equipment.
• Knowledge of sensory processing difficulties and environmental assessment.
• Experience of audit, research and service evaluation activities.
• Experience supervising, mentoring or supporting junior staff and students.
• Experience contributing to service development and quality improvement initiatives.

What We Offer

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application, but your answers must be your own.

• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
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• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you, not an AI tool.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as “various”, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.

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