Job summary
It's a great time to be joining BDCFT as we are strengthening how we deliver our Mental Health Rehabilitation Services to reduce any health inequalities and improve the health and social care outcomes for individuals in our communities with severe mental illness SMI).
Utilising your specialist therapy skill set you will display and perform advanced therapy role functions and clinical leadership in a small specialist pilot team and be pro-active in developing processes to identify, engage and facilitate the recovery, rehabilitation and habilitation of those service users stuck within acute inpatient beds, or inappropriate residential placements, experience in or facing cycles of re-admission from community placements. This is your opportunity to be there at the beginning of our new approach and influence an emerging mental health rehabilitation service squarely aimed at improving the quality of life of people in our communities.
Closing Date: 28th December 2025
Shortlisting Date: W/C 29th December 2025
Interview Date: W/C 5th January 2026
Main duties of the job
This is a specialised Occupational Therapy clinical role and if successful you will maintain and develop your core clinical skill as a therapist, to deliver holistic functional assessment and evidence-based interventions. We are seeking a candidate who will provide sound reasoning to support and enable admission avoidance or timely step down into a variety of settings including NHS rehab provision, the new Hollingwood Lane rehab supported housing unit, the wider supported housing provision, or more independent community settings.
You will be proactive in working closely with a variety of professional multi-organisational teams in our place such as care coordinators, clinical leads, peer support workers and the rehabilitation programme manager to develop referral pathways and a 'no wrong door' approach to access our services. Stepping provision up and down as required, recognising opportunities for wider service and pathways developments to meet NG 181 and GIRFT recommendations.
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
Essential
- Occupational Therapy (BSc or MSc)
- Registration with Health Care Professions Council
- Training in clinical supervision, appraisal and recruitment (or willingness to undertake within an agreed timescale)
Desirable
- Training and Qualifications in Leadership
- Professional Practice Educators qualification - APPLE Accreditation
- Evidence of higher level professional development e.g. accredited modules at post-graduate or Masters level in Occupational Therapy or related subject
Experience
Essential
- Specialist clinical experience of direct occupational therapy clinical work with people with mental health problems
- Experience working within in-patient or community services.
- Understanding of the role of Occupational Therapy in transition work
- Experience of using highly specialist occupational therapy assessments and interventions relevant to the clinical area
Desirable
- Experience of project management / service development.
- Experience of leadership.
- Experience in design and delivery of staff training and development activity
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Occupational Therapy (BSc or MSc)
- Registration with Health Care Professions Council
- Training in clinical supervision, appraisal and recruitment (or willingness to undertake within an agreed timescale)
Desirable
- Training and Qualifications in Leadership
- Professional Practice Educators qualification - APPLE Accreditation
- Evidence of higher level professional development e.g. accredited modules at post-graduate or Masters level in Occupational Therapy or related subject
Experience
Essential
- Specialist clinical experience of direct occupational therapy clinical work with people with mental health problems
- Experience working within in-patient or community services.
- Understanding of the role of Occupational Therapy in transition work
- Experience of using highly specialist occupational therapy assessments and interventions relevant to the clinical area
Desirable
- Experience of project management / service development.
- Experience of leadership.
- Experience in design and delivery of staff training and development activity
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.
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.
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).
