Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Divisional Occupational Therapy Lead

The closing date is 29 July 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated, expert and creative individual to join the Mental Health Care Division as our Divisional Lead Occupational Therapist. The successful post holder will work across the in-patient, community and urgent care service lines within the Mental Health Care Division.

Responsible to and working in alignment with the Head of Allied Health Professionals, continuing the transformation of the Occupational Therapy provision across the MHCD footprint through quality excellence.

Main duties of the job

To work collaboratively with operational management colleagues to ensure quality, safe and efficient Occupational Therapy provision across the divisional footprint.

To provide professional advocacy and representation for Occupational Therapy.

Ensure patient safety and quality is at the centre of productive and efficient service delivery.

Identify and implement quality improvement initiatives, focusing on Divisional and National priorities.

About us

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Details

Date posted

22 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

350-MHC7334028

Job locations

V7

Kings Business Park

Prescot

L34 1PJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see job description and person specification for detailed main responsibilities of the Divisional Lead Occupational Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see job description and person specification for detailed main responsibilities of the Divisional Lead Occupational Therapist

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

  • HCPC Registered Occupational Therapist
  • Diploma/Degree or equivalent Occupational Therapy qualification
  • Relevant post graduate training to Masters level or equivalent

Desirable

  • Evidence of post-qualified study/short courses and Continuing Professional Development
  • Leadership/management qualifications
  • Membership of Professional Body (RCOT)
  • Membership /Activity of special interest group/networks

KNOWLEDGE/ EXPERIENCE:

Essential

  • Extensive experience working in the appropriate clinical/service area
  • Experience at a management level leading and supporting people and resources and budget management skills
  • Providing clinical supervision and training of staff and students
  • Development of Occupational Therapy services
  • Application of Occupational Therapy Models of Practice and Standardised Assessments and Outcome Measures
  • Implementation of polices/guidelines and ability to make recommendations
  • Involvement in research and clinical audit
  • Current legislation and national initiatives related to clinical area
  • Clinical and environment assessment & management of clinical risk
  • Knowledge of Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended by Mental Health Act 2007) and Mental Capacity Act (2005)
  • Knowledge of Royal College of Occupational Therapy Guidance
  • Knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessment and interventions which is evidence based

Desirable

  • Post registration experience in a range of clinical settings
  • Practice Educator Qualification
  • Research experience and research skills
  • Teaching / training experienceLine management of nonOccupational Therapy workforce
  • Participation in regional / national forums
  • Line management of nonOccupational Therapy workforce

VALUES

Essential

  • Continuous Improvement
  • Accountability
  • Respectfulness
  • Enthusiasm
  • Support
  • High professional standards
  • Responsive to service users
  • Engaging leadership style
  • Strong customer service belief
  • Transparency and honesty
  • Discreet
  • Change oriented

SKILLS

Essential

  • Leadership qualities
  • Managerial skills
  • Ability to provide training, advice and guidance to staff/service users
  • Ability to complete assessments and clinical reports in line with service requirements and Royal College of Occupational Therapy guidance
  • Demonstrates depth of clinical skills and implementation Occupational Therapy clinical practice and ability to hold a complex caseload
  • Ability to identify and implement clinical and service developments
  • Ability to be an effective role model
  • Ability to work autonomously as well as effectively with team members and other agencies.
  • Clear effective written & verbal communication, report writing and presentation skills
  • Detailed knowledge and application of clinical governance and patient safety
  • Ability to negotiate, develop and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of professionals and agencies
  • Demonstrable effective leadership skills and the ability to develop o Designing and implementing research projects o Ability to reflect and critically appraise own and others performance 31/05/2023 staff and the overall service
  • Excellent organisational, planning and time management skills and the ability to work independently seeking supervision where appropriate
  • Ability to set priorities, meet deadlines and deal with complex work pressures
  • Ability to deal professionally with distressing/difficult situations, and support team members
  • Ability to develop business and strategic plans and manage budgets within resource limits Competent in use of IT systems, MS Office packages and internet

Desirable

  • Designing and implementing research projects
  • Ability to reflect and critically appraise own and others performance

OTHER

Essential

  • Able to demonstrate a strong professional identity and work within professional boundaries
  • Actively participates in own supervision
  • Takes responsibility for own CPD
  • High levels of initiative, innovation and self-motivation
  • Willingness to work flexibly
  • Ability to travel around the North West
  • Willing to be an authorised Trust lease vehicle driver
  • Ability to complete personal safety service training course at induction and annual refreshers thereafter
Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

  • HCPC Registered Occupational Therapist
  • Diploma/Degree or equivalent Occupational Therapy qualification
  • Relevant post graduate training to Masters level or equivalent

Desirable

  • Evidence of post-qualified study/short courses and Continuing Professional Development
  • Leadership/management qualifications
  • Membership of Professional Body (RCOT)
  • Membership /Activity of special interest group/networks

KNOWLEDGE/ EXPERIENCE:

Essential

  • Extensive experience working in the appropriate clinical/service area
  • Experience at a management level leading and supporting people and resources and budget management skills
  • Providing clinical supervision and training of staff and students
  • Development of Occupational Therapy services
  • Application of Occupational Therapy Models of Practice and Standardised Assessments and Outcome Measures
  • Implementation of polices/guidelines and ability to make recommendations
  • Involvement in research and clinical audit
  • Current legislation and national initiatives related to clinical area
  • Clinical and environment assessment & management of clinical risk
  • Knowledge of Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended by Mental Health Act 2007) and Mental Capacity Act (2005)
  • Knowledge of Royal College of Occupational Therapy Guidance
  • Knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessment and interventions which is evidence based

Desirable

  • Post registration experience in a range of clinical settings
  • Practice Educator Qualification
  • Research experience and research skills
  • Teaching / training experienceLine management of nonOccupational Therapy workforce
  • Participation in regional / national forums
  • Line management of nonOccupational Therapy workforce

VALUES

Essential

  • Continuous Improvement
  • Accountability
  • Respectfulness
  • Enthusiasm
  • Support
  • High professional standards
  • Responsive to service users
  • Engaging leadership style
  • Strong customer service belief
  • Transparency and honesty
  • Discreet
  • Change oriented

SKILLS

Essential

  • Leadership qualities
  • Managerial skills
  • Ability to provide training, advice and guidance to staff/service users
  • Ability to complete assessments and clinical reports in line with service requirements and Royal College of Occupational Therapy guidance
  • Demonstrates depth of clinical skills and implementation Occupational Therapy clinical practice and ability to hold a complex caseload
  • Ability to identify and implement clinical and service developments
  • Ability to be an effective role model
  • Ability to work autonomously as well as effectively with team members and other agencies.
  • Clear effective written & verbal communication, report writing and presentation skills
  • Detailed knowledge and application of clinical governance and patient safety
  • Ability to negotiate, develop and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of professionals and agencies
  • Demonstrable effective leadership skills and the ability to develop o Designing and implementing research projects o Ability to reflect and critically appraise own and others performance 31/05/2023 staff and the overall service
  • Excellent organisational, planning and time management skills and the ability to work independently seeking supervision where appropriate
  • Ability to set priorities, meet deadlines and deal with complex work pressures
  • Ability to deal professionally with distressing/difficult situations, and support team members
  • Ability to develop business and strategic plans and manage budgets within resource limits Competent in use of IT systems, MS Office packages and internet

Desirable

  • Designing and implementing research projects
  • Ability to reflect and critically appraise own and others performance

OTHER

Essential

  • Able to demonstrate a strong professional identity and work within professional boundaries
  • Actively participates in own supervision
  • Takes responsibility for own CPD
  • High levels of initiative, innovation and self-motivation
  • Willingness to work flexibly
  • Ability to travel around the North West
  • Willing to be an authorised Trust lease vehicle driver
  • Ability to complete personal safety service training course at induction and annual refreshers thereafter

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

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

V7

Kings Business Park

Prescot

L34 1PJ


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

V7

Kings Business Park

Prescot

L34 1PJ


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of AHPs - Mental Health Care Division

Hannah Davies

Hannah.Davies@merseycare.nhs.uk

07795827163

Details

Date posted

22 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

350-MHC7334028

Job locations

V7

Kings Business Park

Prescot

L34 1PJ


Supporting documents

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