East London NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 03 August 2025

Job summary

The Bedfordshire and Luton Occupational Therapy service are seeking an occupational therapist to join our Older Adults Community Mental Health & Memory Assessment Team as a Band 6, working within Luton and across South-Bedfordshire.

We are looking to recruit an OT with past experience of working with older people with a mental health diagosis and/or dementia. You will demonstrate sound clinical assessment skills and offer specialist OT interventions utilising assessment and evaluation tools drawn from the Model of Human Occupation.

We would consider applications from newly qualified/Band 5 OT's as we do offer a Band 5 development programme to support skill progression over an 18month period to progress to a Band 6.

Main duties of the job

Within the role, you will primarily manage a community caseload within the Older Persons Luton/South-Bedfordshire area as well as providing day-to-day management of junior staff within the team and supporting with service development. There may be times where you will be expected to support with clinical cases countywide (across Bedfordshire & Luton). The role will provide opportunity to work across both the community mental health teams and the memory assessment services.

We are a dynamic and forward thinking team that actively encourages and supports professional and service development. We are looking for a Band 6 Occupational Therapist who is enthusiastic about working in mental health, and can demonstrate sound clinical and leadership skills. We would require you to have the ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team, and to have good workload management skills and a compassionate approach to service users and staff.

About us

Regular managerial and professional supervision will be provided and we also provide monthly opportunities to participate in OT Service-wide CPD events. Professional development and training are actively encouraged through the appraisal process, and we also offer specialist training opportunities and a Band 6 Support and Development programme.

Benefits of working for the Trust include an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and Health & Well-being support.

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Details

Date posted

18 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

363-BED7315996

Job locations

Beech Close Resource Centre

Beech Road

Dunstable

LU6 3SD


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To work as an integral member of the multi-disciplinary team for the Luton and Bedfordshire Older Peoples community mental health teams, supporting the teams to deliver and develop functional and organic services. There may be times were you will be required to work across Luton and Bedfordshire to support the wider OT Older Adult Team and service users.

  • The OT will provide specialist bio-psycho-social assessments and interventions to clients referred to the CMHT/Memory Assessment Service

  • To provide expert advice to the Community Mental Health Team on Occupational Therapy issues and to raise the profile of Occupational Therapy approaches to care within the Team.

  • To manage a caseload that reflects the need for specialist O.T skills. This may include supporting care coordinators in evidencing the need for social care packages.

  • To develop and facilitate, therapeutic 1-1 and group interventions within the community; according to the needs of clients and service.

  • To work in collaboration with the Head OT in the development of clinical and professional practice and support the implementation of research, evidence based practice, quality standards and audit within the OT service / MDT.

  • The post holder will provide leadership, advice, support and clinical supervision to the OT team.

  • To develop and maintain links with relevant, statutory and non-statutory agencies with particular reference to day care services, user led initiatives, voluntary bodies and Primary Care Providers

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To work as an integral member of the multi-disciplinary team for the Luton and Bedfordshire Older Peoples community mental health teams, supporting the teams to deliver and develop functional and organic services. There may be times were you will be required to work across Luton and Bedfordshire to support the wider OT Older Adult Team and service users.

  • The OT will provide specialist bio-psycho-social assessments and interventions to clients referred to the CMHT/Memory Assessment Service

  • To provide expert advice to the Community Mental Health Team on Occupational Therapy issues and to raise the profile of Occupational Therapy approaches to care within the Team.

  • To manage a caseload that reflects the need for specialist O.T skills. This may include supporting care coordinators in evidencing the need for social care packages.

  • To develop and facilitate, therapeutic 1-1 and group interventions within the community; according to the needs of clients and service.

  • To work in collaboration with the Head OT in the development of clinical and professional practice and support the implementation of research, evidence based practice, quality standards and audit within the OT service / MDT.

  • The post holder will provide leadership, advice, support and clinical supervision to the OT team.

  • To develop and maintain links with relevant, statutory and non-statutory agencies with particular reference to day care services, user led initiatives, voluntary bodies and Primary Care Providers

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy
  • State HCPC Registration
  • Fieldwork Educator Training
  • Full driving licence and access to a vehicle

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a mental health and/or community setting
  • Experience of working with Older People with mental health and/or dementia diagnosis
  • Experience of working as part of a MDT.
  • Ability to undertake clinical risk - assess, manage and reduce potential risks

Desirable

  • Experience of assessing for physical health needs/equipment
  • Experience of developing and facilitating groups
  • Previous service development activities and role development

Skills/Knowledge

Essential

  • Use of the Model of Human Occupation and/or other standardised assessments in practice
  • Ability to manage a clinical caseload and work independently
  • ability to use IT to support with role
  • Good organisational and time management skills
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy
  • State HCPC Registration
  • Fieldwork Educator Training
  • Full driving licence and access to a vehicle

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a mental health and/or community setting
  • Experience of working with Older People with mental health and/or dementia diagnosis
  • Experience of working as part of a MDT.
  • Ability to undertake clinical risk - assess, manage and reduce potential risks

Desirable

  • Experience of assessing for physical health needs/equipment
  • Experience of developing and facilitating groups
  • Previous service development activities and role development

Skills/Knowledge

Essential

  • Use of the Model of Human Occupation and/or other standardised assessments in practice
  • Ability to manage a clinical caseload and work independently
  • ability to use IT to support with role
  • Good organisational and time management 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

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

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Beech Close Resource Centre

Beech Road

Dunstable

LU6 3SD


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Beech Close Resource Centre

Beech Road

Dunstable

LU6 3SD


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head Occupational Therapist

Isobel Clough

isobel.clough@nhs.net

07741703824

Details

Date posted

18 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

363-BED7315996

Job locations

Beech Close Resource Centre

Beech Road

Dunstable

LU6 3SD


Supporting documents

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