Ward Based Occupational Therapist

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave + bank holidays

Annual appraisal and ongoing training

Flexible working where possible

Employee assistance programme 24/7

Job summary

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in Derby invites applications for a full-time Band 5 Occupational Therapist to join the Ward Based team on Ward 36. The post is based on a male acute ward, with direct support to adult services, and involves MDT collaboration and discharge planning.

The role offers 37.5 hours per week, with shifts between 8am and 8pm across seven days, and includes access to supervision and a development pathway within a dynamic mental health team.

Qualifications

• Degree in Occupational Therapy and HCPC registration.
• Knowledge of MOHO framework and occupational therapy theories.
• Understanding of NHS practice standards and recovery principles.

Responsibilities

• Conduct occupational assessments and deliver therapy on the ward.
• Support MDT to plan safe discharge back to the community.
• Develop and deliver activity-based interventions aligned with recovery.

Skills

Autonomous practitioner

Multidisciplinary team

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy

HCPC Registration

MOHO Framework

L'APPLE Accreditation

Level 2 Food Hygiene

Job description

View our current vacancies by professional area below, or view all our vacancies at healthjobsuk.com

Main area Ward Based Band 5 Occupational Therapist Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Service covers 7 days per week. Shifts cover from 8am to 8pm.) Job ref 383-ACA-7642-26-A

Site Ward 36 Town Derby Salary £32,073 - £39,043 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 05/10/2026 23:59

Want to make a real difference and have a truly rewarding career? Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.

We’ve been rated ‘good’ overall by the CQC, with some outstanding services. The CQC commented at our most recent inspection on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.

We are passionate about making equality, diversity and inclusion part of our DNA. We take pride in our “People First Culture” which creates a workplace where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging, difference is celebrated, and people are comfortable to bring their whole selves to work. We value the richness that comes from having colleagues that are fully representative of the local community. We welcome people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, protected characteristics, and with all backgrounds and experiences.

Job overview

We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for a full-time Band 5 Occupational Therapist to join the team at the Radbourne Unit.

This role is based on one of our male acute wards. The service is designed to offer direct support to adult acute mental health patients.It’s a great time to join Derbyshire Healthcare and be part of a dynamic, supportive team making a real difference in mental health care.

The role of an Occupational Therapist on the ward focuses on the assessment therapeutic interventions and deliver care to national recommendations, to support patients to be discharged back into the community.

This is a great opportunity for you to support shaping the service and build on MDT working, alongside the Ward Manager and other senior leaders. You will work with others to develop the OT service on this ward and collaborate with an innovative and forward-thinking ethos. The service as a whole has a large OT group, who will support you with your development and offer clinical supervision (and preceptorship programme, if needed).

The post is 37.5 hours a week between Mon-Sun and shifts are expected to be 7.5 hours, ranging from earlies and lates, covering times between 8am to 8pm.

Patterns of work can be discussed upon recruitment.

Main duties of the job

As a member of the Ward Occupational Therapy Team, you will be expected to adopt the policies and philosophy of the service and provide occupational assessment and treatment using a range of appropriate interventions based on the recovery philosophy and the Model of Human Occupation.

Additionally, you will be expected to work and support the wider MDT to provide a safe and effective discharge plan back into the community.

Working for our organisation

Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.

DHCFT is an NHS Foundation Trust that strives for innovation and improvement for the service and individuals that work within it.

Our Visionis to make a positive difference in people’s lives by improving health and wellbeing.

Our Objectivesare to provide great care, be a great place to work and best use of money.

Our Valuesof People first, Respect, Honesty, & Do your best are why our workforce chose to work for the NHS & DHCFT.

CQC rated us as 'GOOD’ overall, commenting on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the Trust.”

Benefits include:

• Commitment to flexible working where this is possible
• 27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years’ service
• Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training
• Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
• Health service discounts and online benefits
• Incremental pay progression
• Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7
• Access to our LGBT+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network
• Health and wellbeing opportunities
• Structured learning and development opportunities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As part of the MDT, the Occupational Therapist will work flexibly in an occupation focused way by developing and delivering meaningful activity within an individual and group environment that focuses on person centred care and recovery principles. The post holder will ensure each assessment and treatment is delivered in a person-centred manner ensuring the gender, sexual orientation, ethnic, cultural and spiritual needs of service users are adhered to and support the Care Programme Approach including enabling service users/carers/significantothers to become involved in decision making processes for the implementation and evaluation of treatment.

Within the role you will need to have the ability to work independently to develop and deliver an Occupational Therapy Service on the ward for inpatients and support the Occupational Therapy care pathway based on evidence-based practice. You will need the show initiative, drive and ability to think creatively for solutions. You will actively manage your own workload, effectively and efficiently prioritising competing demands. Therefore, the post holder will be required to be a dynamic clinician and demonstrate a range of skills, including effective communication,empathy, self-awareness and critical, self-reflection skills.

DHCFT can offer both personal and clinical development opportunities, in addition to regular professional and clinical supervision, personal development plans, and support for continual professional development activities.

As a member of the team you will be expected to adopt the policies and philosophy of the service and provide occupational assessment and treatment using a range of appropriate interventions based on the recovery philosophy and the Model of Human Occupation. They will promote social inclusion, enabling independence and enhancing the autonomy of the service user. This will involve being proactive in initiating and sustaining a respectful, consistent, and reliable therapeutic relationship with service users that enhances their ability to build social networks and work in partnership with other agencies.

You will be aware of and work within all legislative requirements relevant to occupational therapy (Mental Health Act, Code of Practice, Human Rights Act, Disability Discrimination Act etc), and ensure that Child and Adult protection procedures are followed.

You will also nurture a culture of respect for others, and an environment that values and is pro-actively respectful of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, culture and individuality for service users and staff. Whilst also ensuring Trust policies, procedures, and legislative directives are adhered to e.g. Equal Opportunities, Human Rights Act, Disability Discrimination Act, Race Relations, Sex Discrimination etc.

They should:

• Demonstrate the ability to monitor personal practice ensuring that Health Professions Council registration is maintained.
• Ensure personal professional development promotes good practice, prevents poor practice, and intervenes in unacceptable practice.
• Working with service users within the limitations of inpatient environments and being aware of potential hazards.
• Taking responsibility for utilizinglocal support systems as necessary e.g. manual handling, management of violence and aggression, lone worker policy etc.

This job description will be reviewed annually with you according to the needs and development of the service; alterations will only be made after consultation and agreement. You may be asked to undertake duties not directly highlighted within this job description. This will only be done when the skills and experience of the post holder meet the requirements of the job.

Person specification

Education

• Degree in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration
• MOHO Framework
• L'APPLE Accreditation
• Level 2 Food Hygiene

Experience

• Working Mental Health Experience
• Group work and planning
• Experience of using the recovery approach
• Good Understanding of NHS and relevant national standards

Skills

• Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner
• Effective working with the Multidisciplinary Team

Additional Information

Flexible Working

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for our service and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that's job share, part time or another flexible pattern.

Disability Confident Employer

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you in the recruitment process please let us know.

DBS Checks

The cost of undertaking a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) disclosure will be met by the individual. The Trust will meet the initial costs of the disclosure which will be deducted from your first month’s salary.

This job may close early if a large number of applications are received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid missing your chance to apply.

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.

Information about joining our bank of temporary workers

Information on the support and education we provide to junior doctors during their years of clinical training

Information about the agreed set of commitments that employees can each expect from the Trust, and give in return