Occupational Therapist

SWLStG; Springfield (MA); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust is recruiting an enthusiastic Band 6 Occupational Therapist for the North East Wandsworth Integrated Recovery Team based at Trinity Building, Springfield Hospital, London. You will manage a busy OT caseload and contribute to service development within a supportive MDT.

The role offers flexible working, opportunities for professional development and close collaboration with partners to support adults with complex mental health needs on

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy.
• Registration to practise in the UK.
• Evidence of post registration training relevant to mental health practice.
• Practice placement educators course within one year of appointment.
• Apple registration.

Responsibilities

• Provide OT clinical care to a caseload of service users with complex needs.
• Lead on OT projects within the Community Team and supervise junior staff.
• Engage with service users, carers, and multidisciplinary teams to promote recovery and participation.
• Supervise OT students on practice placements (two students per year).

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Education

Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy

Registration to practice in the UK

Evidence of post registration training relevant to mental health practice

Practice placement educators course within one year of appointment

Apple registration

Job description

Site Springfield University Hospital Town London Salary £47,951 - £56,863 per annum inclusive of inner London HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 11/10/2026 23:59

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We provide a full range of local mental health services to the Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth London boroughs, as well as specialist forensic mental health services, including specialised services such as national deaf adults and CAMHS inpatients and OCD.

We are committed to providing high quality integrated health and social care for local people with mental health problems in South West London and more specialist mental health services for people throughout the UK. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ however we aim to be ‘outstanding’.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values; being consistent, compassionate, collaborative, respectful and open is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is "making life better together".

When you join us, you’ll be part of something special – an innovative and rapidly growing organisation that is helping to redefine the Mental Health, education and social care landscape in the UK.

As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

North East Wandsworth Integrated Recovery Team is based at Trinity Building, Springfield Hospital, Tooting. We are looking for an enthusiastic Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our team. We will also consider Band 5’s who have completed their Preceptorship and are looking at transition to a Band 6 role through our Preceptorship Plus programme.

This satisfying and rewarding role sits within our Community Service Line, which includes all community based mental health teams, such as our Integrated Recovery Hubs, Recovery and Support Teams and Early Intervention services. Our teams are expanding with new and exciting roles post Transformation, and this is providing an environment in which Occupational Therapists (OTs), can at last, fully use their innovation and creativity to support clients with complex mental health needs to recover and step down from Mental Health Services.

The OT will also promote working with our partners in the Involvement Team, to encourage service users and carers to feel supported and involved in the development with our services and their experiences, as well as developing relationships with wider and external community organisations, such as social prescribers and peer support workers

Main duties of the job

To provide Occupational Therapy for team clients, with a maximum of one day duty cover for the team once every two weeks.

To manage an OT caseload of clients with complex needs, using evidence based /client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.

To take responsibility for completing standardised assessments using The Model of Human Occupation and other frameworks as agreed by the Therapy Leads.

To offer manualised interventions, both group and individual for example, GLOW (Graduated Living Outside of the Ward) and IPEL (Increasing Participation in Everyday Life) to help support step down of services for clients and preparation for discharge.

To offer Sensory Profiling/interventions for clients with sensory challenges.

To offer advice to the team and promote access and reasonable adjustments for Service Users with sensory challenges wishing to use our services.

To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of OT services within the Community Team, holding responsibility for defined projects.

To engage with the OT referrals process, identifying and prioritising the need for OT specific interventions.

To provide leadership to junior staff through supervision and appraisal.

To regularly supervise OT students on practice placement (expected standard is two students per year).

Working for our organisation

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ - we aspire to be ‘outstanding’.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.

Unless expressly stated in the job advert the role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of disability on occupational performance and provide training and advice on lifestyles changes and adaptations to the client’s social and physical environment.

To promote social inclusion and physical and mental well-being using evidence-based practice. This is underpinned by the principles of hope and recovery, health promotion and staying well.

To independently manage an OT clinical caseload of service users with complex mental health needs, demonstrating clinical professional judgement and liaising closely with team manager where relevant.

Communication

To establish and maintain effective communication networks with users and carers, team members, occupational therapy colleagues and other agencies.

To communicate with people in a manner consistent with their culture, background and preferred ways of communicating.

To work as a member of the inter-professional team, attending meetings and contributing to decisions with regard to the care and treatment of service users.

Documentation

To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards.

To provide specialist occupational therapy reports on a regular basis in line with professional guidance and relevant clinical pathways.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications

If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.

Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.

Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.

Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.

Person specification

Education, Training & Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy
• Registration to practice in the UK
• Evidence of post registration training relevant to mental health practice
• Practice placement educators course within one year of appointment
• Apple registration

Experience

• Experience of carrying a caseload in a mental health setting
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of maintaining a written record of continual professional development
• Experience of individual and groupwork
• Experience of participating in a service development project
• Experience of working in a range of mental health settings
• Experience of supervising junior staff

Knowledge and Skills - Communication

• Developed interpersonal skills enabling therapeutic alliances to be developed & maintained with service users who have multiple & complex needs
• Ability to promote & maintain the profile of OT within an MDT & the wider organisation

Knowledge and Skills - Health, Safety & Security

• Ability to work in a way that minimises risks to health, safety & security of self, service user & members of the public
• Ability to monitor work areas & practices to maintain a healthy, safe and secure working environment.

Knowledge and Skills - Quality

• Applied knowledge of current national legislation, policies & guidelines relevant to clinical area
• Good personal management skills in order to manage a clinical caseload & varied workload
• Ability to work effectively within a team and understanding of the importance of collaborative working in the delivery of good quality services

At South West London St Georges Mental Health Trust we are committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Committed Employer, and welcome applications from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We are Members of Stonewall Diversity Champions and Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion.

As part of the Trust's commitment to Equalities and Diversity, the Trust supports the establishment of Staff Networks groups to promote diversity in the workplace:

• BME (Evolve) Staff Network
• DiverseAbility
• Mental Health Staff Forum
• Women's Staff Network
• LGBTQIA+

We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and has signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

We provide reasonable adjustments to the interview process for any candidates with a disability.

Please note:

• That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received
• That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3 rd party e-recruitment system
• That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
• That priority consideration for applications may be given to at‑risk NHS employees
• That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
• That your employment is offered subject to successful completion of a Probationary Period depending on your Band (except medical roles)
• That we are a smoke‑free Trust

South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including job applications, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. The contact details published on our official website are the Trust’s authorised contact channels and should be used for all recruitment communications, job applications, and verification of employment offers.

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.

Name Clare Cooper Job title Lead Occupational Therapist Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07870 375158

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Springfield University Hospital,
61 Glenburnie Rd,
London SW17 7DJ
Telephone [phone]