Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapist - Acute Inpatient Mental Health

The closing date is 05 April 2026

Job summary

We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for a full-time Band 5 Occupational Therapist to join the Hope and Resilience Hub team at the Radbourne Unit.

This service offers direct support to adult acute mental health patients from a centralised Hub OT team.

The role of an Occupational Therapist focuses on the assessment of therapeutic interventions and delivers care to national recommendations. The Hope and Resilience Hub provides intervention to support patients with skills development to aid with the transition back into the community.

This is a great opportunity for you to support shaping the service and build on MDT working and collaborate with an innovative and forward-thinking ethos. The acute service, as a whole, has a large OT group, who will support you with your development and offer clinical supervision (and preceptorship programme, if needed).

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!

The post is currently 37.5 hours a week Monday-Friday (8.30 - 4.30). The wider OT team is currently undergoing a review so working patterns may be subject to change. Patterns of work can be discussed upon recruitment.

Main duties of the job

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 based on the recovery philosophy and the Model of Human Occupation.

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

You will be required to offer and facilitate recovery focused intervention which supports the development of patient skill and autonomy.

You will be required to link with wider community links and support networks which support patient transition 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."

Our values:

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.

Benefits include:

    • Commitment to flexible working where this is possible
    • 27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years' service
    • Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training
    • Generous NHS pension scheme
    • Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
    • Health service discounts and online benefits
    • Incremental pay progression
    • Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7
    • Access to our LGBT+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network
    • Health and wellbeing opportunities
    • Structured learning and development opportunities

Details

Date posted

20 March 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-7183-26

Job locations

The Hope and Resilience Hub, Radbourne Unit

Royal Derby Hospital site, Uttoxeter New Road

Derby

DE22 3WQ


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.

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 autonomously to develop and deliver an Occupational Therapy Service for inpatients 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 based on the recovery philosophy and the Model of Human Occupation. They will promote social inclusion, enabling 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.

You 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 utilising 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.

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 autonomously to develop and deliver an Occupational Therapy Service for inpatients 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 based on the recovery philosophy and the Model of Human Occupation. They will promote social inclusion, enabling 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.

You 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 utilising 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 Framework
  • L'APPLE Accreditation
  • Level 2 Food Hygiene

Experience

Essential

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

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 Framework
  • L'APPLE Accreditation
  • Level 2 Food Hygiene

Experience

Essential

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

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

The Hope and Resilience Hub, Radbourne Unit

Royal Derby Hospital site, Uttoxeter New Road

Derby

DE22 3WQ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Hope and Resilience Hub, Radbourne Unit

Royal Derby Hospital site, Uttoxeter New Road

Derby

DE22 3WQ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical and Operational Lead, OT

Holly Bowers

h.bowers1@nhs.net

01332623822

Details

Date posted

20 March 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-7183-26

Job locations

The Hope and Resilience Hub, Radbourne Unit

Royal Derby Hospital site, Uttoxeter New Road

Derby

DE22 3WQ


Supporting documents

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