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Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist Learning Disabilities

The closing date is 05 February 2026

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Job summary

This is a clinical and leadership role for a specialist, dynamic and experienced Band 7 Occupational Therapist to join our Community Team for People with a Learning Disability (CTPLD). The postholder will be the lead for the Occupational Therapy service for adults with a learning disability across Berkshire, this includes providing clinical and professional leadership to all Occupational Therapists within the CTPLD services, managing referrals to the service and ensuring evidence-based practice is implemented.

You will be an enthusiastic, suitably skilled and experienced health care professional to undertake the role of Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist for the Learning Disabilities Service. You will support the ongoing development of our community-based specialist health services, for people with learning disabilities across Berkshire aimed at supporting people to remain in their communities and minimising admissions.

A commitment to supporting effective team work, with an excellent value base will be crucial to your success in this role.

Work with us to ensure: -the best care in the right place for people with learning disabilities

Main duties of the job

  1. The postholder will lead and deliver high quality,advanced,evidence based Occupational Therapy assessment and interventions for a caseload of clients with complex needs.
  2. The post holder will contribute to service development, quality improvements and transformation initiatives within learning disability services.
  3. The post holder will understand that service users and their carers'are our number one focus and will want to work to provide the best level of care possible.
  4. The postholder will be able to demonstrate a strong track record in ensuring the delivery of high quality, effective and personalised services to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities.

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

23 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

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

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CFS634-B

Job locations

University of Reading, Earley Gate

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must have's for this role:

  1. You should be self-motivated with excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritize your workload.
  2. A commitment to supporting effective teamwork, with an excellent value base will be crucial to your success in this role.
  3. A key strength will be your ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in written form with the people we support and their families/carers, our staff teams, the multi-disciplinary team and other wider stakeholders.
  4. A full UK driving license and access to a car are essential to this post.

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.

We're 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 don't hesitate to email: Lisa Hollis,Service Manager, Learning Disability Services (Adults),lisa.hollis@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll 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 have's for this role:

  1. You should be self-motivated with excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritize your workload.
  2. A commitment to supporting effective teamwork, with an excellent value base will be crucial to your success in this role.
  3. A key strength will be your ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in written form with the people we support and their families/carers, our staff teams, the multi-disciplinary team and other wider stakeholders.
  4. A full UK driving license and access to a car are essential to this post.

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.

We're 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 don't hesitate to email: Lisa Hollis,Service Manager, Learning Disability Services (Adults),lisa.hollis@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll 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

  • Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
  • HCPC registration

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Evidence of ongoing professional development
  • Evidence of CPD activities relevant to the clinical area

Desirable

  • Postgraduate learning in sensory based approaches

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Significant post qualification experience
  • Experience of working with people with a learning disability
  • Experience of using sensory based approaches with patients
  • Experience in the assessment and prescription of equipment
  • Experience of supervising junior members of staff
  • Experience of undertaking audits, data collection and data reporting

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Advanced clinical reasoning skills
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Experience of providing training and education for students and colleagues
  • Organisational and leadership skills
  • Knowledge of relevant OT models, clinical assessments, interventions and outcome measures
  • Ability to work autonomously, in MDTs and with wider stakeholders
  • Knowledge of relevant policies, national drivers and guidelines relevant to the service area

Desirable

  • Research activity

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to travel to multiple sites efficiently
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
  • HCPC registration

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Evidence of ongoing professional development
  • Evidence of CPD activities relevant to the clinical area

Desirable

  • Postgraduate learning in sensory based approaches

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Significant post qualification experience
  • Experience of working with people with a learning disability
  • Experience of using sensory based approaches with patients
  • Experience in the assessment and prescription of equipment
  • Experience of supervising junior members of staff
  • Experience of undertaking audits, data collection and data reporting

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Advanced clinical reasoning skills
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Experience of providing training and education for students and colleagues
  • Organisational and leadership skills
  • Knowledge of relevant OT models, clinical assessments, interventions and outcome measures
  • Ability to work autonomously, in MDTs and with wider stakeholders
  • Knowledge of relevant policies, national drivers and guidelines relevant to the service area

Desirable

  • Research activity

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to travel to 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.

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

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

University of Reading, Earley Gate

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

University of Reading, Earley Gate

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Service Manager

Lisa Hollis

lisa.hollis@berkshire.nhs.uk

07929185186

Details

Date posted

23 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

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

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CFS634-B

Job locations

University of Reading, Earley Gate

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Supporting documents

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