Job summary
We are seeking a motivated and compassionate Occupational Therapist to join our team within a Low Secure Hospital setting. The successful candidate will be responsible for assessing occupational needs and delivering, implementing, and evaluating therapeutic programmes that support recovery, rehabilitation, transformative learning, and transition.
This role offers the opportunity to work both autonomously and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team. You will supervise students and contribute to the development of unqualified staff, acting as a mentor and preceptor where appropriate. You may also be required to represent Senior Therapists or the Occupational Therapy Professional Lead.
Newly qualified Occupational Therapists will undertake a structured preceptorship programme. During this period, responsibilities will be negotiated with their preceptor and gradually expanded as objectives are met.
Main duties of the job
- Manage and prioritise a clinical caseload under the supervision of a senior Occupational Therapist.
- Deliver occupational therapy interventions that promote recovery, rehabilitation, social inclusion, and the development or maintenance of life skills and roles across all occupational domains.
- Promote independence while managing risk appropriately.
- Apply the occupational therapy process using recognised models and specialist assessments.
- Conduct holistic assessments in appropriate settings, including hospital, community, home, or workplace environments.
- Use relational and recovery-based approaches to assess rehabilitation potential, behavioural patterns, and post-discharge support needs.
- Contribute to Care Act assessments, liaising with Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs) and housing providers, and represent the service at funding panels when required.
- Analyse complex information and use clinical reasoning to determine appropriate interventions.
- Support service delivery and contribute to ongoing service improvement initiatives.
- Participate in audit and quality assurance activities
Closing Date: 15th August 2025
Shortlisting Date: w/c 18th August 2025
Interview Date: 28th August 2025 (Subject to change)
About us
Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: -
We Care- We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
We Listen- We understand people's views and respond to their individual needs
We Deliver- We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners
We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :
Increase mileage rates for > 3500
A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
Plus many more.
We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidate's best interest to apply as soon as possible
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.
Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.
Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Degree or equivalent pre-registration award in occupational therapy State registered with the Health Care Professions Council
Desirable
- Professional Practice education accreditation
- Short specialist course/s with relevance to specialist clinical area
Experience
Essential
- Experience of using occupational therapy models and applying the occupational therapy process to enable recovery
- Experience of individual case management and theoretical or practical experience of running groups
Desirable
- Experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems.
- Experience of working with complex needs
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of occupational therapy models and the occupational therapy process
- knowledge of particular occupational challenges of the forensic population
- To be able to comply with the correct implementation of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
- Basic theoretical concepts in team working.
Desirable
- Experience/ Understanding of the following approaches: oRecovery / WRAP oPsycho-social interventions oCBT/DBT oMotivational interviewing oSolution Focused Therapy oCoaching
- Research awareness.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Degree or equivalent pre-registration award in occupational therapy State registered with the Health Care Professions Council
Desirable
- Professional Practice education accreditation
- Short specialist course/s with relevance to specialist clinical area
Experience
Essential
- Experience of using occupational therapy models and applying the occupational therapy process to enable recovery
- Experience of individual case management and theoretical or practical experience of running groups
Desirable
- Experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems.
- Experience of working with complex needs
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of occupational therapy models and the occupational therapy process
- knowledge of particular occupational challenges of the forensic population
- To be able to comply with the correct implementation of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
- Basic theoretical concepts in team working.
Desirable
- Experience/ Understanding of the following approaches: oRecovery / WRAP oPsycho-social interventions oCBT/DBT oMotivational interviewing oSolution Focused Therapy oCoaching
- Research awareness.
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).
