Job summary
Are you an Occupational Therapist who believes in the power of meaningful occupation to transform lives? Are you an Occupational Therapist with a passion for meaningful, purpose-driven rehabilitation? Do you want to work in a national programme that blends psychology, trauma-informed care and multi-agency partnership to create real change for people with complex needs?
Do you thrive in environments where creativity, resilience, and hope matter every single day?
If you're looking for a role where your skills genuinely change futures -- this is it.
? Why this role is different
The Hive at HMP Ranby Nottinghamshire, is part of the NHS England Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway, your work becomes part of something bigger -- improving wellbeing, reducing reoffending, and creating safer communities you won't just be supporting daily living skills -- you'll be shaping identity, purpose and possibility for men with complex trauma histories, personality difficulties and long or indeterminate sentences.
You'll be part of a nationally recognized Outstanding-rated NHS Trust and a psychologically informed service that is changing the landscape of rehabilitation and recovery. Working alongside psychologists, creative therapists, prison officers and wider agencies, you'll help create a safer, healthier, more hopeful environment for patients -- and a stronger, more compassionate society beyond the prison gates.
Main duties of the job
As an Occupational Therapist you will play a central part in delivering high-quality, psychologically informed care within The Hive, a specialist Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway service at HMP Ranby. As an autonomous clinician, you will be responsible for assessing the occupational needs of service users with complex personality, trauma-related, and psychosocial difficulties, and for designing, implementing and evaluating individualised rehabilitation plans that promote independence, purpose, and functional living skills both within custody and in preparation for eventual community reintegration.
You role will involve conducting comprehensive specialist assessments, analysing complex information, and translating this into meaningful, realistic, and collaboratively agreed treatment goals. You will deliver a wide range of interventions--including structured activities, graded therapeutic groups, and 1:1 sessions--using sound clinical reasoning and evidence-based OT practice. A key responsibility is to adapt interventions responsively, taking account of fluctuating clinical presentations, motivational barriers, emotional distress, and the unique constraints of a secure environment.
About us
NHFT is an NHS Community and Mental Health Foundation Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in hospital settings and in the community. We provide over 200 services across the county - as well as some specialist services in bordering and nearby counties. We work together with our partners to ensure that everyone who comes through our doors receives compassionate, person-centred care, regardless of their background or circumstances.
NHFT promotes a culture of learning, to improve the care and safety of our patients and colleagues. We have achieved our 'outstanding' rating by encouraging opportunity, innovation, development and growth across our workforce.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be a core member of a multidisciplinary team comprising psychologist, creative therapist, psychological practitioner, prison officers, and wider criminal justice partners and will contribute to specialist occupational insights to case discussions, risk formulations, treatment planning, and service user reviews. Participation in MDT risk assessments is central to the role, ensuring that all therapeutic activity is delivered safely and that therapeutic risktaking is appropriately planned and agreed.
You will promote a positive and professional profile of occupational therapy within the OPD service, advocating for the role of occupation in trauma recovery, identity development, and behaviour change.
Working within a secure setting, you must demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and excellent judgement, balancing therapeutic engagement with clear professional boundaries and adherence to safeguarding, security, and risk management requirements.
For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be a core member of a multidisciplinary team comprising psychologist, creative therapist, psychological practitioner, prison officers, and wider criminal justice partners and will contribute to specialist occupational insights to case discussions, risk formulations, treatment planning, and service user reviews. Participation in MDT risk assessments is central to the role, ensuring that all therapeutic activity is delivered safely and that therapeutic risktaking is appropriately planned and agreed.
You will promote a positive and professional profile of occupational therapy within the OPD service, advocating for the role of occupation in trauma recovery, identity development, and behaviour change.
Working within a secure setting, you must demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and excellent judgement, balancing therapeutic engagement with clear professional boundaries and adherence to safeguarding, security, and risk management requirements.
For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document.
Person Specification
Qualifications and experience
Essential
- Bsc Honours (or equivalent) in Occupational Therapy.
- Minimum of two years post-registration experience in a relevant clinical area(s).
- Up to date knowledge of models of Occupational Therapy practice and practical application.
- The post holder must maintain professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an Occupational Therapist
Desirable
- The post holder should have a good understanding of the power imbalances inherent in forensic settings and the impact of the restrictions of a prison environment.
- The post holder should have experience assessing complex situations and patients, often with conflicting information that requires analysis.
- Experience of working in a relevant setting, such as a prison, forensic or mental health setting.
Behaviours and Values
Essential
- Ability to engage, inspire and motivate both service users and colleagues.
- Reliable and consistent in approach, demonstrating empathy and an open communication style with all team members and service users.
- Ability to respond professionally to unpredictable situations and environments.
- Ability to reflect on own practice and openness to new learning, challenges and change.
Desirable
- Ability to deal with highly distressing and emotional circumstances or situations.
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Able to carry out Occupational Therapy assessment of patients with complex rehabilitation needs using a range of appropriate assessment tools and models of practice.
- Risk assessment skills for the safe management of complex service users.
- Experienced skills in the use of complex methods of OT assessment
Desirable
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).
- Confident IT skills and good working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages.
Person Specification
Qualifications and experience
Essential
- Bsc Honours (or equivalent) in Occupational Therapy.
- Minimum of two years post-registration experience in a relevant clinical area(s).
- Up to date knowledge of models of Occupational Therapy practice and practical application.
- The post holder must maintain professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an Occupational Therapist
Desirable
- The post holder should have a good understanding of the power imbalances inherent in forensic settings and the impact of the restrictions of a prison environment.
- The post holder should have experience assessing complex situations and patients, often with conflicting information that requires analysis.
- Experience of working in a relevant setting, such as a prison, forensic or mental health setting.
Behaviours and Values
Essential
- Ability to engage, inspire and motivate both service users and colleagues.
- Reliable and consistent in approach, demonstrating empathy and an open communication style with all team members and service users.
- Ability to respond professionally to unpredictable situations and environments.
- Ability to reflect on own practice and openness to new learning, challenges and change.
Desirable
- Ability to deal with highly distressing and emotional circumstances or situations.
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Able to carry out Occupational Therapy assessment of patients with complex rehabilitation needs using a range of appropriate assessment tools and models of practice.
- Risk assessment skills for the safe management of complex service users.
- Experienced skills in the use of complex methods of OT assessment
Desirable
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).
- Confident IT skills and good working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages.
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).
