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Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Senior Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 11 November 2025

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Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a registered Occupational Therapist to play a pivotal role in designing, developing and leading the OT provision in our adult community mental health services in Bracknell.

We are looking for a registered Occupational Therapist who is driven and passionate to be part of a busy and vital team during an exciting period of community mental health transformation.

There is currently no OT provision within the team and so the successful candidate will be able to shape and create how Occupational Therapy can enhance and inform the support and interventions offered by the service to individuals with severe mental illness.

The role will offer autonomy, variety and development opportunities, both for leadership and clinical skills. The role will also offer flexibility, with the successful candidate able to benefit from a hybrid approach to working, if desired.

Main duties of the job

  • The successful candidate will be responsible for the formulation, execution and evaluation of a care plan for a designated number of patients who may present with significant complexity within a multidisciplinary team.

  • Assessment of the occupational therapy needs of the defined client group and establish and evaluate appropriate treatment programmes.

  • Taking responsibility for identifying the specific interventions and skills required from the multidisciplinary team to deliver the plan of care and expected health/social outcomes which are evidence based and lead to recovery and minimise risk.

  • Operating within the principles of recovery and as such supporting each patient to develop a recovery plan and reduce dependence on Secondary Mental Health Services. As part of this, the successful candidate will support a planned integration into local community facilities and discharge as part of the patient's recovery plan.

  • This role does not include care co-ordination.

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

  • Caring for and about you is our top priority
  • Committed to providing good quality, safe services
  • Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

  • Flexible working options to support work-life balance
  • 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
  • Generous NHS pension scheme
  • Excellent learning and career development opportunities
  • 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
  • Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
  • Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
  • Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
  • Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
  • Free parking across Trust sites

Details

Date posted

21 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£50,008 to £56,908 a year per annum (inc. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS899

Job locations

Church Hill House

Bracknell

RG12 7FR


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for you to be considered for this role:

  • A registered Occupational Therapist with recognised degree-level qualification and HCPC registration.
  • Specialist knowledge and application of OT standardised assessments and interventions relevant to mental health.
  • Dynamic and proactive, and excited to take on a new challenge.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed. We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Joanne Davies on 0118 904 6800 or email Joanne.Davies@Berkshire.nhs.uk, who will be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for you to be considered for this role:

  • A registered Occupational Therapist with recognised degree-level qualification and HCPC registration.
  • Specialist knowledge and application of OT standardised assessments and interventions relevant to mental health.
  • Dynamic and proactive, and excited to take on a new challenge.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed. We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Joanne Davies on 0118 904 6800 or email Joanne.Davies@Berkshire.nhs.uk, who will be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Diploma/Degree or equivalent professional qualification in OT
  • HCPC Registrations
  • Membership of relevant professional body
  • Post-graduate training in management/leadership or equivalent experience

Desirable

  • Membership of relevant national networks and associations
  • Formal post-graduate qualification in a relevant area
  • Membership of relevant Special Interest Group
  • Post-graduate training in a relevant area relevant to adult mental health

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Evidence of own self development through CPD/PDP
  • Ability to develop others through CPD/PDP/In-service training

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Specialist knowledge of therapy in the management of patients with highly complex mental health conditions
  • Supervision of qualified, unqualified staff and students
  • Understanding national policies/guidelines relevant to the area e.g. National Service Frameworks for specific mental health conditions
  • Involvement in service improvement initiatives
  • Ability to work autonomously
  • Excellent inter-personal skills
  • Knowledge of audit and research within the NHS
  • Proven clinical leadership ability
  • Presentation skills
  • Use of standardised assessments
  • To have an extensive repertoire of relevant interventions for adults in mental health

Desirable

  • Knowledge and participation in clinical governance relevant to this clinical role

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Highly specialist knowledge of therapeutic and recovery activities in the management of patients with highly complex conditions
  • Knowledge of current key frameworks and policies within the wider NHS relevant to mental health
  • Demonstrated application of risk assessment and management in clinical practice
  • Understanding and clinical application of the Model of Human Occupation
  • Drive and enthusiasm for clinical excellence and clinical development of the team
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills
  • Good time management
  • Flexible and adaptable
  • Clear and effective planning and decision-making skills
  • Able to maintain judgement under pressure and set priorities
  • Ability to lead a team and professionally role model, empower and motivate staf
  • Ability to work well within a multi-disciplinary team

Desirable

  • Able to demonstrate a strong professional identity and maintain the profile of therapeutic and recovery focused activities within a multi-disciplinary setting
  • Involvement in social services processes where required

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Disclosure and Barring Service clearance
  • Satisfactory reference checks
  • Ability to travel between multiple sites efficiently
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Diploma/Degree or equivalent professional qualification in OT
  • HCPC Registrations
  • Membership of relevant professional body
  • Post-graduate training in management/leadership or equivalent experience

Desirable

  • Membership of relevant national networks and associations
  • Formal post-graduate qualification in a relevant area
  • Membership of relevant Special Interest Group
  • Post-graduate training in a relevant area relevant to adult mental health

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Evidence of own self development through CPD/PDP
  • Ability to develop others through CPD/PDP/In-service training

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Specialist knowledge of therapy in the management of patients with highly complex mental health conditions
  • Supervision of qualified, unqualified staff and students
  • Understanding national policies/guidelines relevant to the area e.g. National Service Frameworks for specific mental health conditions
  • Involvement in service improvement initiatives
  • Ability to work autonomously
  • Excellent inter-personal skills
  • Knowledge of audit and research within the NHS
  • Proven clinical leadership ability
  • Presentation skills
  • Use of standardised assessments
  • To have an extensive repertoire of relevant interventions for adults in mental health

Desirable

  • Knowledge and participation in clinical governance relevant to this clinical role

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Highly specialist knowledge of therapeutic and recovery activities in the management of patients with highly complex conditions
  • Knowledge of current key frameworks and policies within the wider NHS relevant to mental health
  • Demonstrated application of risk assessment and management in clinical practice
  • Understanding and clinical application of the Model of Human Occupation
  • Drive and enthusiasm for clinical excellence and clinical development of the team
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills
  • Good time management
  • Flexible and adaptable
  • Clear and effective planning and decision-making skills
  • Able to maintain judgement under pressure and set priorities
  • Ability to lead a team and professionally role model, empower and motivate staf
  • Ability to work well within a multi-disciplinary team

Desirable

  • Able to demonstrate a strong professional identity and maintain the profile of therapeutic and recovery focused activities within a multi-disciplinary setting
  • Involvement in social services processes where required

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Disclosure and Barring Service clearance
  • Satisfactory reference checks
  • Ability to travel between multiple sites efficiently

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Church Hill House

Bracknell

RG12 7FR


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Church Hill House

Bracknell

RG12 7FR


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Community Services Manager

Joanne Davies

joanne.davies@berkshire.nhs.uk

01189046800

Details

Date posted

21 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£50,008 to £56,908 a year per annum (inc. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS899

Job locations

Church Hill House

Bracknell

RG12 7FR


Supporting documents

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