Senior Occupational Therapist

Job summary

Join our dynamic Crisis Response and Home Treatment Team as a Band 6 Senior Occupational Therapist , where you will play a vital role in supporting adults experiencing mental health crises to remain safely at home and avoid hospital admission.

Based at Rochford Mental Health Unit , you will deliver person-centred, recovery-focused interventions, helping service users regain independence, improve daily functioning, and achieve their goals within their community. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated Occupational Therapist to work within a multidisciplinary team, providing specialist assessments, therapeutic interventions, and clinical leadership.

You will have the opportunity to shape care pathways, support service development, supervise junior staff and students, and contribute to innovative crisis care services that make a real difference to people's lives. If you are passionate about mental health, collaborative working, and empowering individuals through meaningful occupation, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

Undertake comprehensive occupational therapy assessments and develop person-centred care plans. Deliver evidence-based interventions to support recovery and independence. Provide crisis assessment and treatment for service users in the community. Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality care. Support hospital admission avoidance and facilitate early discharge where appropriate.

Manage a defined caseload and coordinate care for service users. Assess and manage risk, ensuring safe and effective care delivery. Provide supervision, mentorship, and support to junior staff and students. Maintain accurate clinical records and contribute to service audits and development. Promote recovery, social inclusion, and engagement in meaningful daily activities.

These duties offer an excellent opportunity to make a real difference to people experiencing mental health crises while developing advanced clinical and leadership skills.

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you. Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential. Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks. If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.

Benefits 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service. Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay. Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits. £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Job responsibilities

As a Band 6 Occupational Therapist within the Home Treatment Team, you will provide specialist assessments and recovery-focused interventions for adults experiencing mental health crises. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will support individuals to remain safely in the community, promote independence, manage risk, and contribute to high-quality, person-centred care. You will also provide clinical leadership, support junior colleagues, and contribute to service development.

Person Specification

Skills · Essential

At least 2 years post-qualification experience in mental health In-depth knowledge of working with people with mental health problems Knowledge of Safeguarding issues and child protection requirements/legislation and how these apply to the role In depth knowledge of wider policy and service issues relating to mental health and relevant legislation

Desirable

Experience of working in the community / lone-working

Knowledge · Essential

Experience of working closely and developing relationships with other agencies Ability to assess clinical situation quickly, use initiative and appropriate treatment intervention Ability to work under pressure and ability to contain and manage the stress of others and oneself Full Driving license and access to a car

Desirable

Knowledge of occupational therapy models, including Sensory Integration and the Model of Creative Ability, and their application within mental health services.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) . From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).