Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Band 5 Occupational Therapist - Bristol

The closing date is 03 November 2025

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen to join our established Occupational Therapy Team, working on Oakwood Ward at Southmead Hospital. As part of a multi professional team providing specialised assessment & interventions to enable individuals recovery from complex mental health conditions.

As a confident and effective clinician, this is an excellent opportunity to join our team, delivering both groups and 1:1's with a focus on recovery and client centred care in a fast paced environment. You will need to be flexible , creative and versatile in a team that expects high standards for our service users.

This post will provide the opportunity to develop and use a broad range of your OT skills. Knowledge of the VdT Model of Creative Ability, MOHO and Allen's Cognitive Disability Model together with the use of a sensory approach to meet service users' needs would also be beneficial.

You will be supported by senior OTs to use and further develop your professional skills. You will be expected to be a reflective practitioner, committed to lifelong learning. You will participate in activities related to your own CPD and also the team development, keeping abreast of and implementing, current evidence based intervention. Regular supervision and appraisal are an integrated part of our practice.

We expect to be moving to our main site at Callington Road Hospital over the next 12- 18 months.

Previous experience of working within mental health or with vulnerable people would be advantageous.

Main duties of the job

To develop and implement occupational therapy treatment plans and provide advice to service users to enable them to maintain, restore or create a balance between their abilities and the demands of their occupation and environment in the areas of self-care, productivity and leisure.Service users have a range of mental health conditions or learning disabilities.

To work compassionately with service users and carers to achieve identified occupational therapy goals and to promote social inclusion, independence and well-being through a client-centred approach.

About us

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust):a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

AWP is committed to support and create a positive research and evidence-based environment and culture, which can have a beneficial impact on everyone who works for the organisation and the care we provide to those who use our services.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Date posted

20 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

342-BR171-1025

Job locations

Southmead Hospital

AWP Gloucester House, Southmead Hospital, Westbury On Trym

Bristol

BS10 5NB

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as part of the Occupational Therapy team within Oakwood Ward at Southmead Hospital.

To carry out assessments under the direction of the Senior OT.

To work compassionately with service users and carers to achieve identified occupational therapy goals and to promote social inclusion, independence and well-being through a client-centred approach.

To provide the best possible experience for service users, carers and families.

Please see attached job description for further information.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as part of the Occupational Therapy team within Oakwood Ward at Southmead Hospital.

To carry out assessments under the direction of the Senior OT.

To work compassionately with service users and carers to achieve identified occupational therapy goals and to promote social inclusion, independence and well-being through a client-centred approach.

To provide the best possible experience for service users, carers and families.

Please see attached job description for further information.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Degree/diploma in Occupational Therapy
Experience of working in mental health setting/lived experience
Registration with HCPC or application in progress
Excellent communication skills with patients, carers and colleagues
Demonstrated experience in both groups and individuals
Ability to understand & use assessment tools & skills

Desirable

Able to understand & apply appropriate risk assessment and management
Flexible & adaptable approach with awareness of differing needs of service users
Ability to work under pressure, prioritisation skills

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Degree/diploma in Occupational Therapy
Experience of working in mental health setting/lived experience
Registration with HCPC or application in progress
Excellent communication skills with patients, carers and colleagues
Demonstrated experience in both groups and individuals
Ability to understand & use assessment tools & skills

Desirable

Able to understand & apply appropriate risk assessment and management
Flexible & adaptable approach with awareness of differing needs of service users
Ability to work under pressure, prioritisation skills

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

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Southmead Hospital

AWP Gloucester House, Southmead Hospital, Westbury On Trym

Bristol

BS10 5NB

Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Southmead Hospital

AWP Gloucester House, Southmead Hospital, Westbury On Trym

Bristol

BS10 5NB

Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)