Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Community Mental Health Practitioner – Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 10 September 2025

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for an occupational therapist to work as part of an experienced and established integrated multidisciplinary team. This team is made up of a Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Nurses, Occupational Therapist, Support Time Recovery Worker, Employment Support Worker with further support of Admin.

If you are looking for a challenging, varied and rewarding job this could be the post for you and we would welcome you to come and meet us and apply.

This post is for 4 days a week and this can be flexible

We are looking for someone who is reliable, committed, dynamic, and a motivated professional with excellent communication, organisational skills and the ability to prioritise work.

Having experience of working in a community mental health environment would be useful, but not essential, you will need to be able to apply the philosophies of engagement and recovery within your work with service users.

The team is based at 1 Abbey Walk in Shaftesbury and covers the surrounding area. The post holder will need to have a valid driving licence and use of a car as they will be required to assess and monitor patients in their own homes and within other community settings as well as the CMHT base.

Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

Main duties of the job

The post holders will work as part of an established integrated multi-disciplinary team. This team is made up of a Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Non-Medical Prescriber, Nurses, Occupational Therapist, Support Time Recovery Worker, Employment Support Worker, with further support of Admin.

To provide a comprehensive accessible and responsive mentalhealth service to Adults and their families within a definedlocality.

To support the team and locality leader in implementation of theDHUFT Mental Health Strategy.

To continually develop clinical, team and service evaluation anddelivery of service.

To contribute to effective multi-disciplinary working within the Community Mental Health Service and to build up effective liaison with community, primary, other secondary and tertiary services and agencies within the locality to provide holistic carepackage based on individual's need and service development.

Provision of informal and formal clinical and managerial supervision to other members of staff, qualified and unqualified health care support workers and students.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we are on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We are a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it is one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It is also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you are looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do, and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We are all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities, and we celebrate diversity. We are an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you will be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you will be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion, and expertise in all we do.

Details

Date posted

27 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£30,945 to £37,264 a year p.a.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

152-M248.25

Job locations

Shaftesbury Adult CMHT

1 Abbey walk

Shaftesbury

SP7 8BB


Job description

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification.When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Job description

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification.When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TRAINING

Essential

  • Registered Occupational Therapist
  • Registered Occupational Therapist
  • Evidence of recent professional development in an up to date portfolio

Job Specific Experience

Essential

  • Experience at Practitioner Band 5 level
  • Experience of working in Community Mental Health

Desirable

  • Recent previous experience within a comparable role
  • Experience of managing change

PERSONAL QUALITIES/ATTRIBUTES

Essential

  • Evidence of demonstrating the Trust's values and behaviours.
  • Able to communicate effectively at different levels of the organisation and with staff, patient/service users, visitors or external organisations both verbally and in writing in the exchange of highly complex, sensitive or contentious information which may require the use of negotiating and/or persuasive skills.
  • Able to overcome barriers to understanding where there are physical or mental disabilities
  • Able to analyse and assess situations and to interpret potentially conflicting situations and determine appropriate action, where there is a range of options and judgement is required.

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to a standard which enables the post holder to carry out the full range of duties and responsibilities of the role effectively.
Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TRAINING

Essential

  • Registered Occupational Therapist
  • Registered Occupational Therapist
  • Evidence of recent professional development in an up to date portfolio

Job Specific Experience

Essential

  • Experience at Practitioner Band 5 level
  • Experience of working in Community Mental Health

Desirable

  • Recent previous experience within a comparable role
  • Experience of managing change

PERSONAL QUALITIES/ATTRIBUTES

Essential

  • Evidence of demonstrating the Trust's values and behaviours.
  • Able to communicate effectively at different levels of the organisation and with staff, patient/service users, visitors or external organisations both verbally and in writing in the exchange of highly complex, sensitive or contentious information which may require the use of negotiating and/or persuasive skills.
  • Able to overcome barriers to understanding where there are physical or mental disabilities
  • Able to analyse and assess situations and to interpret potentially conflicting situations and determine appropriate action, where there is a range of options and judgement is required.

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to a standard which enables the post holder to carry out the full range of duties and responsibilities of the role effectively.

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.

UK Registration

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

Additional information

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.

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Shaftesbury Adult CMHT

1 Abbey walk

Shaftesbury

SP7 8BB


Employer's website

https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Shaftesbury Adult CMHT

1 Abbey walk

Shaftesbury

SP7 8BB


Employer's website

https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Leader

Felicity Graham

felicity.graham@nhs.net

01747856711

Details

Date posted

27 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£30,945 to £37,264 a year p.a.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

152-M248.25

Job locations

Shaftesbury Adult CMHT

1 Abbey walk

Shaftesbury

SP7 8BB


Supporting documents

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