Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 16 October 2025

Job summary

Surrey and Borders is looking for an Occupational Therapist who delivers high quality and evidence based occupational therapy assessments, interventions and consultations to enable people who access services to reach their full potential.

Location: Victoria Ward Farnham Rd Hospital, Farnham Rd, Guildford GU2 7LX

Shift Pattern: Monday- Friday 9-5 or 8-4

Main duties of the job

This post is suitable for an individual who is creative and passionate about working with people in a person-centred, compassionate and inclusive way to enable them to achieve their goals and live meaningful lives.

The post holder will deliver high-quality, evidence-based occupational therapy assessments and interventions for individuals with complex needs, working collaboratively with service users, carers, and members of the multi-disciplinary team.

They will be responsible for managing a defined caseload, contributing to service development, promoting the role of occupational therapy within the Trust, and supporting junior staff, students, and support workers through supervision and mentoring.

The role also involves representing occupational therapy within the service and supporting the delivery of continuing professional development opportunities to enhance the quality and effectiveness of care provision.

About us

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of health and social care services for people of all ages with mental ill-health and learning disabilities in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We also provide social care services for people with a learning disability in Croydon and ASD and ADHD assessment services in Hampshire.

We actively seek to engage people who use our services and our communities in improving the mental wellbeing of the local population. We work closely with other NHS and voluntary sector organisations who provide services and support people who use services and carers.

Surrey is a beautiful county lying just 30 minutes away from Central London and from the South Coast.

Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our excellent road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach.

For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.

Would you like to work in an organisation that sits in the top 10 best NHS Mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Services Trusts to work for? This ranking is based on staff feedback in the 2023 NHS Staff Survey.

Details

Date posted

09 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£25.01 an hour Pa Pro Rata

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

384-Occupational Therapist

Job locations

Victoria Ward Farnham Rd Hospital, Farnham Rd,

Guildford

GU2 7LX


Job description

Job responsibilities

Leadership

  • Contribute to service development, quality improvement projects, and audits.

  • Provide supervision, mentoring, and professional guidance to junior occupational therapy staff, apprentices, activity coordinators, and support workers.

  • Represent occupational therapy within multi-disciplinary team meetings, locality, sector, and divisional forums.

  • Advocate for and promote occupational therapy across the Trust and within the wider professional network.

  • Support the delivery and facilitation of CPD activities across services and divisions.

  • Provide high-quality learning experiences and clinical placements for occupational therapy students.

  • Contribute to the development, implementation, and review of policies, protocols, and care pathways.

  • Lead or co-lead project work relevant to the team or service, with support from the Lead Occupational Therapist.

  • Support staff recruitment, induction, and workforce planning for the occupational therapy service.

Clinical
  • Demonstrate expertise and specialist skills in occupational identity, engagement, environmental adaptation, volition, and the development and maintenance of occupational skills.

  • Undertake comprehensive, person-centred occupational therapy assessments, adapting approaches to meet individual needs.

  • Plan and deliver evidence-based individual and group interventions in line with the occupational therapy pathway.

  • Use clinical reasoning and formulation skills to develop collaborative, person-centred care plans.

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and adjust plans accordingly.

  • Complete comprehensive risk assessments and management plans in line with Trust safeguarding procedures.

  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of current evidence-based practice, research, and national guidelines within the relevant clinical area.

  • Act as lead professional or care coordinator for individuals during occupational therapy involvement.

  • Use therapeutic use of self effectively within all interventions.

  • Understand and apply group theory and systemic principles when delivering services.

  • Communicate complex or sensitive information compassionately with individuals, carers, and professionals.

  • Manage a complex caseload independently, prioritising workload effectively and ensuring timely triage and intervention.

  • Work collaboratively with other community services and external agencies to ensure continuity of care.

Professional
  • Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of clinical practice in accordance with HCPC standards, professional codes of conduct, and Trust policies.

  • Adhere to the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act (2005), and all relevant legislation.

  • Comply with Safeguarding Adults and Child Protection Policies and procedures.

  • Engage in continuous professional development to maintain clinical competence and ensure delivery of high-quality care.

  • Maintain accurate, clear, and timely documentation in line with Trust policy and professional standards.

  • Actively participate in supervision, appraisal, and reflective practice.

  • Ensure confidentiality is maintained in accordance with Trust policy and data protection legislation.

  • Promote a healthy and safe working environment by adhering to health and safety regulations and Trust policies.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Leadership

  • Contribute to service development, quality improvement projects, and audits.

  • Provide supervision, mentoring, and professional guidance to junior occupational therapy staff, apprentices, activity coordinators, and support workers.

  • Represent occupational therapy within multi-disciplinary team meetings, locality, sector, and divisional forums.

  • Advocate for and promote occupational therapy across the Trust and within the wider professional network.

  • Support the delivery and facilitation of CPD activities across services and divisions.

  • Provide high-quality learning experiences and clinical placements for occupational therapy students.

  • Contribute to the development, implementation, and review of policies, protocols, and care pathways.

  • Lead or co-lead project work relevant to the team or service, with support from the Lead Occupational Therapist.

  • Support staff recruitment, induction, and workforce planning for the occupational therapy service.

Clinical
  • Demonstrate expertise and specialist skills in occupational identity, engagement, environmental adaptation, volition, and the development and maintenance of occupational skills.

  • Undertake comprehensive, person-centred occupational therapy assessments, adapting approaches to meet individual needs.

  • Plan and deliver evidence-based individual and group interventions in line with the occupational therapy pathway.

  • Use clinical reasoning and formulation skills to develop collaborative, person-centred care plans.

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and adjust plans accordingly.

  • Complete comprehensive risk assessments and management plans in line with Trust safeguarding procedures.

  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of current evidence-based practice, research, and national guidelines within the relevant clinical area.

  • Act as lead professional or care coordinator for individuals during occupational therapy involvement.

  • Use therapeutic use of self effectively within all interventions.

  • Understand and apply group theory and systemic principles when delivering services.

  • Communicate complex or sensitive information compassionately with individuals, carers, and professionals.

  • Manage a complex caseload independently, prioritising workload effectively and ensuring timely triage and intervention.

  • Work collaboratively with other community services and external agencies to ensure continuity of care.

Professional
  • Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of clinical practice in accordance with HCPC standards, professional codes of conduct, and Trust policies.

  • Adhere to the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act (2005), and all relevant legislation.

  • Comply with Safeguarding Adults and Child Protection Policies and procedures.

  • Engage in continuous professional development to maintain clinical competence and ensure delivery of high-quality care.

  • Maintain accurate, clear, and timely documentation in line with Trust policy and professional standards.

  • Actively participate in supervision, appraisal, and reflective practice.

  • Ensure confidentiality is maintained in accordance with Trust policy and data protection legislation.

  • Promote a healthy and safe working environment by adhering to health and safety regulations and Trust policies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Occupational Therapy Professional Qualification
  • HCPC Registration

Desirable

  • Completion of a Fieldwork Educators' course

Experience

Essential

  • Relevant Clinical Experience
  • Experience of using relevant occupational therapy assessment and implementing interventions
  • Experience in applying knowledge of the impact of health and disability on occupational performance, participation and identity
  • Experience of using multiple occupational frames of reference and approaches

Desirable

  • Experience of contributing to service development/project work
  • Experience as a supervisor
  • Experience of group facilitation
  • Experience of supporting students on placement
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Occupational Therapy Professional Qualification
  • HCPC Registration

Desirable

  • Completion of a Fieldwork Educators' course

Experience

Essential

  • Relevant Clinical Experience
  • Experience of using relevant occupational therapy assessment and implementing interventions
  • Experience in applying knowledge of the impact of health and disability on occupational performance, participation and identity
  • Experience of using multiple occupational frames of reference and approaches

Desirable

  • Experience of contributing to service development/project work
  • Experience as a supervisor
  • Experience of group facilitation
  • Experience of supporting students on placement

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

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Victoria Ward Farnham Rd Hospital, Farnham Rd,

Guildford

GU2 7LX


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Victoria Ward Farnham Rd Hospital, Farnham Rd,

Guildford

GU2 7LX


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Manager

Nadia Gurnah

Nadia.gurnah@sabp.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

09 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£25.01 an hour Pa Pro Rata

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

384-Occupational Therapist

Job locations

Victoria Ward Farnham Rd Hospital, Farnham Rd,

Guildford

GU2 7LX


Supporting documents

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