Senior Community Occupational Therapist

Job Overview

South Kensington and Chelsea Community Mental Health Hub are seeking a motivated and experienced Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a therapist who is ready to take the next step in their career and develop their Occupational Therapy skills in a community mental health setting. We are looking for someone who is passionate about delivering high‑quality care, proactive, engaged, and committed to supporting people in their mental health recovery.

The successful candidate will join an Occupational Therapy service that prides itself on innovation, excellent service delivery and continued learning. Further you will join a Hub of services that includes Nursing, Psychology, Community Navigators, Lived Experience Practitioners and Employment Specialists.

This post is based in Nightingale Place, South Kensington, but you will be required to visit patients across the Boroughs depending on service demand.

We operate a five‑day service and working hours run from 9 am to 5 pm.

View this webpage and video for more information about Occupational Therapy in CNWL Occupational Therapy :: Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

CNWL Occupational Therapy Recruitment (FINAL) | Videos & Movies on Vimeo

Main duties of the job

• To provide the multi-disciplinary team with an Occupational Therapy service and expertise, this will include individual and group work, assessment, intervention and evaluation in accordance with the Royal College of OT Code of Ethics.
• To utilise evidence-based assessment tools such as those described in the Model of Human Occupation, to establish a baseline functional assessment from which recommendations can determine further ongoing care and treatment to enable optimum functioning.
• To integrate evidence-based practice and skilful use of assessments & interventions with personal recovery principles to improve the service users’ quality of life and to support them to do the things they want to do and live the life they want to lead.
• To Key Work a caseload of service users and provide specialist occupational therapy interventions for individuals who have identified occupational performance needs within the Team
• To provide group work and build partnerships with local organisations to support individuals on their recovery journey and to improve their health and wellbeing.
• To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of mental illness and physical conditions; providing training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the service user’s social and physical environment.
• To provide leadership for junior staff through supervision and appraisal as required. To act as practice educator to students on practice placement.
  
  

Working for our organisation

Central and North West London NHS Trust expects all staff to act in a way which shows you understand our core values and are willing to put them into practice with service users, their friends, family, carers, and also other staff members.

As a member of the clinical team, we expect you to show COMPASSION, contribute to a caring and kind environment and recognise that what you do and say helps can make the lives of others better.

We expect you to RESPECT everyone and acknowledge and welcome people’s differences rather than ignore them or see them as problematic.

We expect you to EMPOWER others and continually try to provide information, resources and support to help others make their own decisions and meet their own needs.

We expect you to work in PARTNERSHIP and behave in a way that shows that you recognise that commissioners and users of our services are the people who generate and pay for our work.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

See attached Job description and Person Specification for further information on the job role requirements.

Person specification

Education And Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• Registered with HCPC
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Membership of RCoT/specialist section.
• Post-graduate training in mental health
  
  

Previous Experience

Essential criteria

• Application of core OT skills and OT process using standardised assessment tools
• Experience of group facilitation
• Supervision of Occupational Therapists, OT students or non-qualified staff
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Experience working as a Band 6 Occupational Therapist
• Experience in a community mental health setting
  
  

Skills and Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Demonstrates clear application of the occupational therapy process within a mental health setting, including the use of appropriate standardised and non‑standardised assessment tools to inform intervention planning and evaluation
• Experience of managing an occupational therapy caseload, including prioritisation, care planning, delivery, and review of interventions for service users with mental health needs
• Demonstrates a clear understanding of risk assessment and risk management within a mental health setting, including working within organisational policies and contributing to multidisciplinary risk management processes.
• Ability to assess the impact of mental and physical health conditions on functional ability and occupational performance, and to make appropriate recommendations regarding equipment, aids, and environmental adaptations.
• Demonstrates respect and dignity in all interactions with service users, applying a culturally sensitive, person‑centred approach that informs assessment, care planning, and occupational therapy interventions.
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Has experience of managing a waiting list
• Has experience of group protocol development and implementation
  
  

Attitudes, aptitudes and personal characteristics

Essential criteria

• Demonstrates the ability to build and sustain effective working relationships with colleagues, service users, and carers, with an understanding of diversity and inclusive practice.
• Demonstrates the ability to actively promote Occupational Therapy within the multidisciplinary team and with service users, encouraging participation and engagement.
• Demonstrates the ability to manage and resolve conflict constructively and professionally