Specialist Occupational Therapist

Job summary

Would you like to work as part of a dynamic Occupational Therapy Service on a beautiful Island off the English South Coast with an amazing variety of leisure and recreational opportunities and good ferry connections to the mainland.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a qualified, registered band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our small OT department for a fixed term ending on 31 December 2025.

The successful candidate will be required to work in the older adults acute inpatients ward which accommodates patients with psychiatric and dementia diagnoses.

This is a post offering varied experience in older adult mental health, with opportunity to embed OT in an exciting continuation of the establishment of OT in the multidisciplinary team. You should be readily adaptable, and you must also have a flexible approach to your work. Supervision is offered on a regular basis along with CPD meetings and ongoing training.

The Occupational Therapy service on the Isle of Wight is a small team of motivated, experienced practitioners with a strong professional identity.

We strive for best practice standards and will provide you with excellent opportunities such as

• Clinical and peer supervision
• A supportive network of Band 6 Occupational Therapists across the Health Service
• Active continuing professional development
• Fieldwork supervision of student placements from Southampton University
• Opportunities for participation in research and development of services

Main duties of the job

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Applicants should be proficient in assessing holistically, formulating care plans, and working 1 to 1 with clients to achieve their occupational goals. Familiarity with the Model of Human Occupation assessments will be useful.
• You should have an excellent working knowledge of the main psychiatric conditions, along with an approachable, pleasant and professional attitude towards both patients and members of staff. Knowledge of dementias is preferred but not essential.
• You may be required to assess for minor aids and adaptations so you should be up to date with assessment and provision of these when needed. Most of this work will be in patients homes and a clean driving licence is desirable.
• You will be expected to facilitate OT groups as required, either on a regular basis or to cover for absence.
• You will supervise support staff in their daily work and may provide clinical supervision to junior staff if needed.

The islands mental health services have recently linked with Solent and Southern NHS Trusts to form the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and we are committed to building strong links with our Allied Health Professional colleagues for excellent and seamless service.

To discuss this vacancy within the Isle of Wight Mental Health Occupational Therapy Team, please contact Sarah Smith, Team Lead Mental Health, Phone 01983 534077.

About us

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a newly established organisation, bringing together expertise from across mental health, learning disabilities, community, and physical health services. We are dedicated to delivering compassionate, high-quality, and accessible care to the diverse communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

With over 13,000 dedicated staff working across more than 300 sites, we place patients and staff at the centre of everything we do. Our goal is to create an integrated healthcare system that improves accessibility and ensures more consistent care for patients. By working together, we aim to improve patient outcomes, drive innovation, and meet the unique needs of the populations we serve.

Our Trust unites services from Southern Health, Solent NHS Trust, Isle of Wight NHS Trusts community and mental health teams, as well as Hampshire CAMHS, originally part of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. This transformation enables us to deliver more seamless care across the region, ensuring that patients receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

Join us as we embark on this exciting journey to shape the future of healthcare across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. We are deeply committed to our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence, and offer outstanding opportunities for career development, training, and collaborative working.

Employer details

Employer name

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sevenacres

Parkhurst Road

Newport

Isle of Wight

PO30 5TG

Employer's website

https://hiowhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

---

Employer details

Employer name

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sevenacres

Parkhurst Road

Newport

Isle of Wight

PO30 5TG

Employer's website

https://hiowhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

---