South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Occupational Therapist (developmental post) (Band 5-6)

The closing date is 11 August 2025

Job summary

Hello, my name is Kim Somerford and I am the Lead Occupational Therapist (OT) for the Forensic In-patient Services in Wakefield. We are looking to appoint an OT to our therapy team at Newton Lodge, medium male admission pathway. The service promotes hope and recovery through a supportive approach which involves service users in their care pathway. The post is a developmental opportunity, Band 5 to Band 6.

Our therapy team prides itself on providing a high standard of patient centred care. We play an important role in facilitating the safe and effective discharge of service users and are a valued part of the forensic care groups service provision.

We pride ourselves on being an open and honest Trust and strive to provide the best possible care to our service users and would love for you to come and work with us where you will be well supported to develop your clinical and professional competencies. The organisation has a well established professional leadership structure led by a Chief AHP, with access to strong professional networks and a wide range of profession specific training and career progression opportunities.

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a motivated OT who is ready to progress from Band 5 to Band 6 with robust objective setting and supervision within 6-12 months. Applicants must have completed their preceptorship. You will have your own caseload providing specialist assessments and therapeutic interventions for service users and will be responsible for supporting others through supervision and providing learning opportunities.

Alongside this post, the MSU team also has a team manager, 2 Specialist Practitioners, 5 Band 5 OTs,and 3 technical Instructors. The therapy teams across the Forensic Care Group work closely together. We are a supportive team and work closely with the wider MDT and local partners to meet the needs of our service users. We adopt a recovery based approach, using evidence based interventions and professional models (e.g MOHO) to inform our practice. A range of 1:1 interventions and therapeutic groups are provided.

We welcome prospective applicants to make contact and discuss the role further.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Date posted

28 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£31,049 to £46,580 a year This is a development post, dependant on experience.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9378-CK2280

Job locations

Hepworth, Newton Lodge,

Fieldhead Hospital, Ouchthorpe Lane,

Wakefield

WF1 3SP

Job description

Job responsibilities

Band 5:

The post holder will be required to work as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team, providing occupational therapy assessment and treatment for service users in receipt of in-patient care. Enabling service users to engage in a range of in-patient and community based treatment activities and supporting safe and effective discharge. You will be actively involved in the promotion of occupational therapy within the service area. The post holder will be required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service and the client group, and this will include weekends and evening working.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

Core Functions

1. Clinical

1.1 To provide occupational therapy assessments for people accessing the service, prioritising on the nature, complexity and urgency of each individual case.

1.2 To plan and implement an occupational therapy treatment programme on an individual and/or group basis, using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.

1.3 To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.

1.4 To adopt a client centred and sensitive approach to therapy, collaborating with clients (and / or carer(s) where appropriate) in all aspects of the therapy process.

1.5 To select and conduct occupational therapy assessments, addressing the physical, psychosocial, behavioural, perceptual, cognitive, sensory and environmental needs of clients.

1.6 To demonstrate a broad knowledge of the impact of disability, and to provide training and advice on lifestyles changes and adaptations to the clients psychosocial and physical environment, making referrals where appropriate.

1.7 To work proactively alongside other staff and clients in meeting their needs and to assist each individual to integrate within the local community as fully as possible, using practical and creative problem solving approaches to gain the active participation of services users.

1.8 To participate in the discharge process identifying appropriate resources and/or support in order to facilitate effective discharge

1.9 To provide occupational therapy reports on assessment and treatment by written and verbal reports to Consultants, GPs and other agencies involved, and to ensure that all correspondence relating to caseload is dealt with promptly.

1.10 To provide occupational therapy perspective in multi-disciplinary team meetings, ward rounds, clinics and case conferences as required.

1.11 To work to the standards and comply with professional ethics for occupational therapy practitioners as laid down by The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT 2015), relevant DoH and other local and national standards.

1.12 To ensure that up to date records and activity data are maintained in accordance with professional and Trust standards and policies.

2. Management and Leadership

2.1 To manage your own caseload and day to day activities.

2.2 To assist in the co-ordination of day to day activities of unqualified staff in the service area.

2.3 To work effectively as a team member, operating flexibly to meet the needs of the service and collaborating with other team members.

2.4 Ensure the Team Manager is kept informed of all aspects of the work, especially the development needs of the service.

2.5 To participate in service development.

3. Communication

3.1 To contribute and receive information as part of a multi-disciplinary/multi-agency team to provide a co-ordinated and effective service to clients and carers.

3.2 To communicate accurate and sensitive information to clients and carers using an appropriate and accessible medium, taking into consideration relevant factors such as background, culture, gender, age and any physical, sensory or learning difficulties, adopting an empathic approach at all time.

3.3 To provide advice and information regarding occupational therapy and communicate clinical skills and knowledge to others.

3.4 To promote and understanding of the role of occupational therapy within the specialist area, negotiating priorities as appropriate.

Band 6:

The post holder will be part of a cohesive and enthusiastic multi-disciplinary team. You will be involved in providing specialist occupational therapy assessment and treatment for individuals receiving in-patient care enabling service users to engage in a wide range of individual and group based treatment activities. You will be actively involved in the promotion of occupational therapy within the service area.

The post holder will be part of a well recognised service that places emphasis of staff support and professional development and you will be expected to participate in staff training and supervision.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

Clinical

1. To manage an individual caseload, providing Occupational Therapy assessments for service users receiving in-patient care and within the community, prioritising clinical needs and providing an effective service.

2. To work with service users to identify Occupational Therapy goals as part of the overall care plan, using occupational therapy assessment tools based on current evidence based best practice.

3. To plan and implement a client centred Occupational Therapy treatment programme on an individual and/or group basis, using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.

4. To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.

5. To demonstrate a broad level of understanding of the effect of disability and provide training and advice on lifestyles changes and adaptations to the clients social and physical environment.

6. To be responsible for providing Occupational Therapy advice in the multidisciplinary team assessment of service users and carers to ensure that an integrated approach to assessment and treatment is achieved and maintained.

7. To work proactively alongside ward staff, community agencies and voluntary agencies to provide a seamless service for service users.

8. To maintain an effective communication network within the team, and to liaise with other agencies and disciplines from the voluntary and statutory sectors to ensure that service user needs are met.

9. To maintain up to date service user records and activity data in accordance with professional and Trust standards.

10. To provide an Occupational Therapy perspective in multi-disciplinary team meetings, ward rounds, clinics and case conferences as required.

11. To provide Occupational Therapy reports (as prequired) on assessment and treatment by written and verbal reports to Consultants, GP's and other agencies involved, and to ensure that all correspondence relating to caseload is dealt with promptly.

12. To empower families and carers to support individuals with mental health problems.

13. To involve clients in all aspects of assessment, treatment and evaluation of treatment programmes.

14. To promote the positive health and well being of the individual.

Managerial

1. To manage own caseload and day-to-day activities.

2. To co-ordinate the day-to-day activities of junior staff in the service area.

3. To provide effective guidance and supervision for junior staff.

4. To take responsibility for risk management within the areas of occupational therapy practice.

5. To co-ordinate statistical collections in line with Trust policies.

6. To ensure responsible management of petty cash

7. To participate in the recruitment, appointment and induction of staff, ensuring that practice in these areas are anti-discriminatory.

Leadership

1. To promote the benefits of the service to the people and organisations affected by it.

2. To work effectively as a team member, sharing skills and knowledge and collaborating with other team members.

3. To act as a role model to all staff, demonstrating and encouraging healthy working relationships.

4. To demonstrate open and honest communication and to seek to develop dialogue in times of difficulty, working towards consensus decisions.

5. To promote awareness of the role of Occupational Therapy within the team, negotiating priorities where appropriate.

6. To participate in development and improvement of the Occupational Therapy service and develop evidence-based practice in the service.

7. Ensure the Team Leader is kept informed of all aspects of the work, especially the development needs of the service.