Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 07 September 2025

Job summary

We are seeking to recruit a passionate, knowledgeable and dynamic Occupational Therapist to join our Dementia and Older Persons Mental Health Team based in Haywards Heath. This community-based team supports people over the age of 70 years who have mental health difficulties, and also supports people of any age with dementia. The OTs working in the DOPMHS teams take referrals for OT specific assessment and intervention, and you ill have a key role in offering occupational formulation and OT consultation to the multidisciplinary team. We are striving to establish clear OT pathways and processes in our community teams, and to effectively articulate and communicate the unique contribution of OT in this setting. We are keen to continually develop and improve, and this role would suit someone who is motivated and enthusiastic to establish a strong OT offer in the team, and also participate more widely to OT development within the older adult service in West Sussex.

You will be supported by colleagues within the team as well as by the wider West Sussex older-adult OT team, which meet regularly for practice development CPD sessions. You will also have regular professional/clinical supervision, and have access to other CPD opportunities including the Trust's AHP training offer.

Main duties of the job

To provide occupational therapy interventions for referred clients using evidence based, client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.To promote and develop the role of Occupational Therapy within the clinical area.To act as a care coordinator if appropriate.

This role will suit individuals with a passion for supporting older adult's mental wellbeing, and who enjoy the autonomy of working in a community role. We can offer you development opportunities including group planning and facilitation skill development, experience using a range of standardised assessments, embedding occupational formulation, and training in specific intervention approaches. As your career develops we can provide you with leadership experiences, and opportunities to develop specialist skills and interests (for example utilising sensory approaches, Recovery through Activity, and Life Story work).

About us

Welcome from our Chief Executive

Our organisation is expanding and we're looking for people with the right values, skills and/or potential to join us. We need people with energy, expertise, enthusiasm to help us provide the very best possible specialist NHS mental health and learning disability care. This involves helping us achieve our strategy to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve through People, Prevention and Partnerships.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Date posted

22 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per anum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

354-AN-20847

Job locations

Linwood

Haywards Heath

RH16 4BE

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description.

To manage a caseload of clients. To provide specialist clinical advice and input for clients with complex problems and needs. To ensure occupational therapy contribution to the provision of quality clinical care and performance standards. To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of occupational therapy and local multi-professional services.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy
Evidence of post graduate level study/training
Registration with the HPC as an occupational therapist
Management/Leadership training
Training in the use of standardised occupational therapy assessment tools

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

Experience as a qualified occupational therapist in mental health
Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
Experience of both group and individual work
Experience of multidisciplinary working
Experience of supervising staff and students
Experience as a Care Coordinator
Experience in a clinical area related to the post
Leadership experience
Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of occupational therapy clinical approaches used in mental health

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy
Evidence of post graduate level study/training
Registration with the HPC as an occupational therapist
Management/Leadership training
Training in the use of standardised occupational therapy assessment tools

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

Experience as a qualified occupational therapist in mental health
Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
Experience of both group and individual work
Experience of multidisciplinary working
Experience of supervising staff and students
Experience as a Care Coordinator
Experience in a clinical area related to the post
Leadership experience
Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of occupational therapy clinical approaches used in mental health

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).