Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 01 March 2026

Job summary

The Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist (OT) will play a vital role within a small multi-disciplinary team (MDT) dedicated to supporting individuals with complex mental health needs who are rough sleeping or at risk of homelessness.

This position focuses on delivering specialist assessments and interventions that help people establish routines, build healthy habits, and develop essential daily living skills. You will work creatively to identify meaningful activities, interests, and training opportunities that promote independence and wellbeing.

The role demands a persistent and innovative approach to engagement, as many individuals may find it challenging to access traditional services. Strong collaboration with statutory and voluntary sector organisations is essential to ensure holistic and effective support.

Main duties of the job

Manage a clinical caseload of individuals with complex mental health needs.
Collaborate effectively within a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to deliver holistic care.
Lead the development of evidence-based OT practice within the service.
Provide specialist OT assessments and interventions through individual and group work, focusing on:
- Self-care
- Work
- Leisure
Drive service development initiatives to improve outcomes and accessibility.
Lead or participate in research, audit and quality improvement activities to inform best practice.
Apply advanced skills in crisis and risk management to safeguard service users.
Offer specialist OT advice, guidance and consultation to MDT colleagues.
Work autonomously, demonstrating accountability and professional judgement.
Maintain in-depth knowledge of OT assessment and interventions for this client group.
Provide clinical leadership and support for junior staff and supervise OT students on placement.
Contribute to the delivery and development of the Trust-wide OT service.
Undertake agreed generic responsibilities as part of the job plan.
Support service users with complex needs, including co-morbid mental health conditions, substance misuse, and physical health challenges.
Comply with Trust requirements for violence management training relevant to the clinical area.

About us

Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.

Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:

We're Kind
We're Fair
We Listen
We Care

Date posted

09 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£53,751 to £60,651 a year pa inc

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

277-7785730-CMH

Job locations

The Erith Centre

Park Crescent

Erith

DA8 3EE

Job description

Job responsibilities

Manage a capped caseload of service users with complex mental health needs, acting as lead healthcare professional (HCP) where appropriate.
Undertake street outreach and engage with service users in diverse settings (e.g., supported accommodation, community locations) who may struggle to access mainstream services.
Work collaboratively with service users to identify OT goals as part of the multi-disciplinary care plan, using specialist mental health and OT assessment tools and treatment techniques.
Create tailored, individualised programmes and graded activity plans that enable clients to achieve realistic goals and maintain consistent engagement.
Deliver specialist assessments and interventions in a variety of settings to ensure effectiveness and accessibility.
Support individuals to navigate complex systems to access housing and support services.
Ensure service users health, social, cultural, and spiritual needs are considered at all times.
Assess and provide equipment to enhance independence for service users with physical disabilities alongside mental health needs.
Monitor, evaluate, and adapt treatment plans to measure progress and achieve desired outcomes.
Plan and deliver services within the Community Mental Health Framework.
Apply advanced understanding of the impact of disability, providing training and advice on life skills to maximise functional ability.
Assess occupational needs and develop, implement, and review treatment interventions.
Identify appropriate referrals, prioritise workload, and manage effective discharge processes, ensuring all relevant parties receive necessary information.
Contribute to and carry out mental health assessments, collaborating closely with MDT colleagues.
Undertake risk assessments and develop risk management plans.
Work as an integral part of the MDT and attend all relevant clinical meetings.
The post holder will be required to work flexible hours (e.g. outside of 9am-5pm) due to the nature of the role and service need, for the purposes of meeting with service users at their sleep site.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Manage a capped caseload of service users with complex mental health needs, acting as lead healthcare professional (HCP) where appropriate.
Undertake street outreach and engage with service users in diverse settings (e.g., supported accommodation, community locations) who may struggle to access mainstream services.
Work collaboratively with service users to identify OT goals as part of the multi-disciplinary care plan, using specialist mental health and OT assessment tools and treatment techniques.
Create tailored, individualised programmes and graded activity plans that enable clients to achieve realistic goals and maintain consistent engagement.
Deliver specialist assessments and interventions in a variety of settings to ensure effectiveness and accessibility.
Support individuals to navigate complex systems to access housing and support services.
Ensure service users health, social, cultural, and spiritual needs are considered at all times.
Assess and provide equipment to enhance independence for service users with physical disabilities alongside mental health needs.
Monitor, evaluate, and adapt treatment plans to measure progress and achieve desired outcomes.
Plan and deliver services within the Community Mental Health Framework.
Apply advanced understanding of the impact of disability, providing training and advice on life skills to maximise functional ability.
Assess occupational needs and develop, implement, and review treatment interventions.
Identify appropriate referrals, prioritise workload, and manage effective discharge processes, ensuring all relevant parties receive necessary information.
Contribute to and carry out mental health assessments, collaborating closely with MDT colleagues.
Undertake risk assessments and develop risk management plans.
Work as an integral part of the MDT and attend all relevant clinical meetings.
The post holder will be required to work flexible hours (e.g. outside of 9am-5pm) due to the nature of the role and service need, for the purposes of meeting with service users at their sleep site.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualifications

Essential

Diploma/degree in OT
UK HCPC Registration

Desirable

MSc equivalent level i.e. further post-graduate training

Experience

Essential

6 years post registration experience as an OT including a minimum of 2 years as a senior/band 6 practitioner within a relevant mental health setting
Extensive clinical experience including individual and group work reflecting social inclusion
Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.

Skills/ abilities

Essential

Ability to establish rapport with difficult to engage service users/carers
Ability to work autonomously, set own priorities and manage time effectively
Awareness and acceptance of cultural diversity.

Desirable

Presentation and training skills

Effort

Essential

Ability to engage in physical activity groups and community visits.
Ability to meet the demands of a client group with complex needs which requires a high level of concentration and an ability to adapt quickly to a variety of emotional situations

Desirable

Car driver

Person Specification

Education/ Qualifications

Essential

Diploma/degree in OT
UK HCPC Registration

Desirable

MSc equivalent level i.e. further post-graduate training

Experience

Essential

6 years post registration experience as an OT including a minimum of 2 years as a senior/band 6 practitioner within a relevant mental health setting
Extensive clinical experience including individual and group work reflecting social inclusion
Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.

Skills/ abilities

Essential

Ability to establish rapport with difficult to engage service users/carers
Ability to work autonomously, set own priorities and manage time effectively
Awareness and acceptance of cultural diversity.

Desirable

Presentation and training skills

Effort

Essential

Ability to engage in physical activity groups and community visits.
Ability to meet the demands of a client group with complex needs which requires a high level of concentration and an ability to adapt quickly to a variety of emotional situations

Desirable

Car driver

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).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

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

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Erith Centre

Park Crescent

Erith

DA8 3EE

Employer's website

http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Erith Centre

Park Crescent

Erith

DA8 3EE

Employer's website

http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)