Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 12 October 2025

Job summary

Are you a registered Occupational Therapist? Are you looking for a new challenge with the opportunity to be involved in developing a new service?

We are seeking to recruit an experienced and creative Occupational Therapist to join an exciting new development of an enhanced crisis / home treatment 7 day a week service as an alternative to inpatient admission for Children and Young People (CYP) who are experiencing acute mental health difficulties.

You will be part of an exciting development to give children and young people living in Sussex a more appropriate integrated range of services to meet their clinical needs. As an Occupational Therapist this will be providing timely, targeted assessment and effective interventions as alternative to hospital admissions including looking at occupational barriers to participation through individual's values, roles and interests alongside environment barriers.

The aim of the Crisis Outreach and Acute Support Team (COAST) is to provide an alternative to admission to support the local network around the young person (aged 12-18) whilst they are in the acute stage of mental health difficulties. You will be working closely and supporting the Occupational Therapy staff as well as alongside nursing, psychiatry, psychologists, family therapy, social worker and mental health practitioners.

Due to the nature of the acute community service, car and drive license are strongly recommended.

Main duties of the job

Working alongside Occupational Therapy colleagues as part of the Sussex COAST team, you will be responsible for the provision of Occupational Therapy assessment, consultation and interventions. In addition, supporting the professional and clinical supervision for the occupational therapy staff and Support Worker.

You will support the young person alongside their parent/carer to explore and/or return to meaningful and valued activity through the provision of support to understand sensory need, sensory strategies, adaptive strategies, re-motivational process and occupational adaptation and environmental modifications.

About us

SPFT provides mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex. The trust is rated as 'good' overall and 'outstanding' for caring by the CQC.

SPFT encourage flexible working. We know that a positive work/life balance brings about huge health related benefits, which has a positive impact on the care we provide. Please speak to us about flexible working, for example, flexible start/finish times. If it works for you and works for the role, we'll do our best to make it happen.

You will receive supervision from the CAMHS Occupational Therapy professional lead within the wider CAMHS services and have opportunities to network with Occupational Therapists across Child and Adolescent Mental Health services in Sussex.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation

This is an excellent time for Occupational Therapists to be joining Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust as we have launched our first AHP Strategy and can offer the following to you:

Regular professional supervision

The opportunity to participate in a range of quality improvement work and service innovations.

Access to a wide range of training and CPD opportunities including

oA programme of AHP specific training

oQuarterly Occupational Therapy CPD Hubs

oCommunities of Practice (Recovery through Activity and Sensory Strategies)

Have a look at our AHP strategy and view our film athttps://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/AHP

Details

Date posted

26 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

354-CS-21773

Job locations

Chalkhill

Chalkhill Based On The Princess Royal Hospital Site Lewes Road, Haywards Heath RH16 4NQ

Haywards Heath

RH16 4NQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

In order to be a successful Occupational Therapist in our team you will be:

  • Registered with HCPC
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced and varied role
  • Able to communicate effectively in complex and challenging circumstances to support professional decision making
  • Adaptable, organised, compassionate and a team player
  • Experienced working in a multi-disciplinary children and young person's environment
  • Experienced working with families who are facing tough times and have a particular affinity for working with young people.

It would also be advantageous if you have your own car as the role will involve direct work with young people and their families in their homes and communities across Sussex.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role.

You will receive supervision from the CAMHS Occupational Therapy professional lead within the wider CAMHS services and have opportunities to network with Occupational Therapists across young people services in Sussex.

Job description

Job responsibilities

In order to be a successful Occupational Therapist in our team you will be:

  • Registered with HCPC
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced and varied role
  • Able to communicate effectively in complex and challenging circumstances to support professional decision making
  • Adaptable, organised, compassionate and a team player
  • Experienced working in a multi-disciplinary children and young person's environment
  • Experienced working with families who are facing tough times and have a particular affinity for working with young people.

It would also be advantageous if you have your own car as the role will involve direct work with young people and their families in their homes and communities across Sussex.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role.

You will receive supervision from the CAMHS Occupational Therapy professional lead within the wider CAMHS services and have opportunities to network with Occupational Therapists across young people services in Sussex.

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
  • Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of occupational therapy clinical approaches used in mental health
  • Leadership experience
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
  • Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of occupational therapy clinical approaches used in mental health
  • Leadership experience

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

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Chalkhill

Chalkhill Based On The Princess Royal Hospital Site Lewes Road, Haywards Heath RH16 4NQ

Haywards Heath

RH16 4NQ


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Chalkhill

Chalkhill Based On The Princess Royal Hospital Site Lewes Road, Haywards Heath RH16 4NQ

Haywards Heath

RH16 4NQ


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead OT for COAST

Nicola Twilley

nicola.twilley@nhs.net

07471034148

Details

Date posted

26 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

354-CS-21773

Job locations

Chalkhill

Chalkhill Based On The Princess Royal Hospital Site Lewes Road, Haywards Heath RH16 4NQ

Haywards Heath

RH16 4NQ


Supporting documents

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