Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapist (Low Secure Unit)

The closing date is 27 January 2026

Job summary

We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for a full-time Band 5 Occupational Therapist to join the team at the Kedleston Unit.

It's a great time to join Derbyshire Healthcare and be part of a dynamic, supportive team making a real difference in mental health care.

This role is based at our secure inpatient unit. The service is designed to offer direct support to mental health patients in a secure setting.

The role of an Occupational Therapist on this unit focuses on the assessment, therapeutic interventions and the delivery of care based on national recommendations, to support patients to be discharged into the community.

This is a great opportunity for you to support shaping the service and build on MDT working, alongside the Ward Manager and other senior leaders. You will work with others to develop the OT service on this ward and collaborate with an innovative and forward-thinking ethos. The service as a senior occupational therapist who will support you with your development and offer clinical supervision (and preceptorship programme, if needed).

Main duties of the job

As a member of the Occupational Therapy Team, you will be expected to adopt the policies and philosophy of the service and provide occupational assessment and treatment using a range of appropriate interventions based on the recovery philosophy, the Model of Human Occupation and other relevant occupational therapy interventions.

Additionally, you will be expected to work and support the wider MDT to to support patients and provide a safe and effective discharge plan back into the community.

About us

Join Team Derbyshire Healthcare and become part of a talented, compassionate, and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of "making a positive difference in people's lives".

CQC rated us as 'GOOD' overall, commenting on how our colleagues "treated patients with compassion and kindness" and "felt positive and proud about working for the trust."

We pride ourselves on being a values-led organisation, as expressed through our Trust Strategy for 2024-28. Our Trust values are as follows:

Caring, Inclusive, Ambitious, Belonging & Collaborative.

"As an employer and sponsor licence holder, to be able to provide sponsorship to overseas nationals via the Skilled Worker route we must ensure that we adhere to the sponsorship requirements set by UK Visa's and Immigration. Please note without previous NHS Service you will commence at the bottom of the pay band which currently does not meet the minimum salary requirement for sponsorship for this post. For details on eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link to the gov.uk website Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)"

Details

Date posted

15 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

383-ACA-6372-25

Job locations

Kedleston Unit

Derby

DE22 3LZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please review the Job Description and Person Specification. To apply, please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB - this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.

As part of the MDT, the Occupational Therapist will work flexibly in an occupation focused way by developing and delivering meaningful activity within an individual and group environment that focuses on person centred care and recovery principles. The post holder will ensure each assessment and treatment is delivered in a person-centred manner ensuring the gender, sexual orientation, ethnic, cultural, and spiritual needs of service users are adhered to and support the Care Programme Approach including enabling service users/carers/significant others to become involved in decision making processes for the implementation and evaluation of treatment.

Within the role you will need to have the ability to work independently to develop and deliver an Occupational Therapy Service and support the Occupational Therapy care pathway based on evidence-based practice. You will need the show initiative, drive and ability to think creatively for solutions. You will actively manage your own workload, effectively and efficiently prioritising competing demands. Therefore, the post holder will be required to be a dynamic clinician and demonstrate a range of skills, including effective communication, empathy, self-awareness and critical, self-reflection skills.

DHCFT can offer both personal and clinical development opportunities, in addition to regular professional and clinical supervision, personal development plans, and support for continual professional development activities.

As a member of the team you will be expected to adopt the policies and philosophy of the service and provide occupational assessment and treatment using a range of appropriate interventions. They will promote social inclusion, enable independence and enhancing the autonomy of the service user. This will involve being proactive in initiating and sustaining a respectful, consistent, and reliable therapeutic relationship with service users that enhances their ability to build social networks and work in partnership with other agencies.

You will be aware of and work within all legislative requirements relevant to occupational therapy (Mental Health Act, Code of Practice, Human Rights Act, Disability Discrimination Act etc) and ensure that Child and Adult protection procedures are followed. You will also nurture a culture of respect for others, and an environment that values and is pro-actively respectful of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, culture and individuality for service users and staff. Whilst also ensuring Trust policies, procedures, and legislative directives are adhered to e.g. Equal Opportunities, Human Rights Act, Disability Discrimination Act, Race Relations, Sex Discrimination etc.

They should:

Demonstrate the ability to monitor personal practice ensuring that Health Professions Council registration is maintained. Ensure personal professional development promotes good practice, prevents poor practice, and intervenes in unacceptable practice. Working with service users within the limitations of inpatient environments and being aware of potential hazards. Taking responsibility for utilizing local support systems as necessary e.g. manual handling, management of violence and aggression, lone worker policy etc.

This job description will be reviewed annually with you according to the needs and development of the service; alterations will only be made after consultation and agreement. You may be asked to undertake duties not directly highlighted within this job description. This will only be done when the skills and experience of the post holder meet the requirements of the job.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please review the Job Description and Person Specification. To apply, please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB - this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.

As part of the MDT, the Occupational Therapist will work flexibly in an occupation focused way by developing and delivering meaningful activity within an individual and group environment that focuses on person centred care and recovery principles. The post holder will ensure each assessment and treatment is delivered in a person-centred manner ensuring the gender, sexual orientation, ethnic, cultural, and spiritual needs of service users are adhered to and support the Care Programme Approach including enabling service users/carers/significant others to become involved in decision making processes for the implementation and evaluation of treatment.

Within the role you will need to have the ability to work independently to develop and deliver an Occupational Therapy Service and support the Occupational Therapy care pathway based on evidence-based practice. You will need the show initiative, drive and ability to think creatively for solutions. You will actively manage your own workload, effectively and efficiently prioritising competing demands. Therefore, the post holder will be required to be a dynamic clinician and demonstrate a range of skills, including effective communication, empathy, self-awareness and critical, self-reflection skills.

DHCFT can offer both personal and clinical development opportunities, in addition to regular professional and clinical supervision, personal development plans, and support for continual professional development activities.

As a member of the team you will be expected to adopt the policies and philosophy of the service and provide occupational assessment and treatment using a range of appropriate interventions. They will promote social inclusion, enable independence and enhancing the autonomy of the service user. This will involve being proactive in initiating and sustaining a respectful, consistent, and reliable therapeutic relationship with service users that enhances their ability to build social networks and work in partnership with other agencies.

You will be aware of and work within all legislative requirements relevant to occupational therapy (Mental Health Act, Code of Practice, Human Rights Act, Disability Discrimination Act etc) and ensure that Child and Adult protection procedures are followed. You will also nurture a culture of respect for others, and an environment that values and is pro-actively respectful of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, culture and individuality for service users and staff. Whilst also ensuring Trust policies, procedures, and legislative directives are adhered to e.g. Equal Opportunities, Human Rights Act, Disability Discrimination Act, Race Relations, Sex Discrimination etc.

They should:

Demonstrate the ability to monitor personal practice ensuring that Health Professions Council registration is maintained. Ensure personal professional development promotes good practice, prevents poor practice, and intervenes in unacceptable practice. Working with service users within the limitations of inpatient environments and being aware of potential hazards. Taking responsibility for utilizing local support systems as necessary e.g. manual handling, management of violence and aggression, lone worker policy etc.

This job description will be reviewed annually with you according to the needs and development of the service; alterations will only be made after consultation and agreement. You may be asked to undertake duties not directly highlighted within this job description. This will only be done when the skills and experience of the post holder meet the requirements of the job.

Person Specification

Education

Essential

  • Degree in Occupational Therapy
  • HCPC Registration

Desirable

  • MOHO
  • L'APPLE Accreditation
  • Level 2 Food Hygiene

Experience

Essential

  • Working Mental Health Experience
  • Group work and planning
  • Experience of using the recovery approach

Desirable

  • Good Understanding of NHS and relevant national standards
  • Inpatient experience

Skills

Essential

  • IT skills
  • Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner
  • Good communication skills
  • Effective working with the Multidisciplinary Team
Person Specification

Education

Essential

  • Degree in Occupational Therapy
  • HCPC Registration

Desirable

  • MOHO
  • L'APPLE Accreditation
  • Level 2 Food Hygiene

Experience

Essential

  • Working Mental Health Experience
  • Group work and planning
  • Experience of using the recovery approach

Desirable

  • Good Understanding of NHS and relevant national standards
  • Inpatient experience

Skills

Essential

  • IT skills
  • Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner
  • Good communication skills
  • Effective working with the Multidisciplinary Team

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

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Kedleston Unit

Derby

DE22 3LZ


Employer's website

http://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Kedleston Unit

Derby

DE22 3LZ


Employer's website

http://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior OT

Velmer Boreland

Velmer.Boreland@nhs.net

01332980145

Details

Date posted

15 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

383-ACA-6372-25

Job locations

Kedleston Unit

Derby

DE22 3LZ


Supporting documents

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