Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Occupational Therapist – Community Mental Health

The closing date is 12 October 2025

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to join our friendly, supportive, highly skilled Community Mental Health Team.

You should have experience of working with adults with complex mental health needs, ideally in a community-based setting. You will need to possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, be highly organised and able to work both independently and as part of the wider team.

This is a varied and rewarding role, that involves undertaking detailed assessments and delivering a range of person-centred, occupational and vocational interventions. You will also be required to undertake the role of Named Worker, as appropriate.

There is a strong emphasis on multi-disciplinary teamwork, in a service that includes Nurses, Social Workers, Support Workers, Peer Recovery workers, Employment and Education Workers, Psychiatrists, and Talking Therapies staff. We value the unique skills each different profession brings to the team, and you would be supported within this role to utilise your specialist skills. In return for your dedication, we offer a range of training opportunities to help you develop your clinical skills and progress your career.

If you are hardworking, forward thinking and committed to continued professional development; if you share our passion for empowering people in Sheffield to live healthy and fulfilling lives within their communities, this could be the ideal next role for you.

Main duties of the job

To manage a defined caseload of community based clients, using evidence-based, strengths focused, client-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
To participate in the development and evaluation of Occupational Therapy Services within a designated team, under the supervision of a Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist
To regularly supervise Occupational Therapy students on practice placement.
To provide leadership for junior staff, as delegated by supervisor.

About us

Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust is a major employer and provider of services. Our Service Users, Carers and Staff are central, and our values are important, to the delivery of high-quality care. We actively seek out individuals who share these values:

We work together
We are respectful and kind
We are inclusive
We keep improving

Date posted

18 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

Depending on experience Per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

457-25-7416949

Job locations

Northlands Community Health Centre

Southey Hill

Sheffield

S5 8BE

Job description

Job responsibilities

Domain

Duties/Responsibilities

Clinical

To select and apply Occupational Therapy Assessments for a designated caseload, addressing occupational performance and skill deficits, enabling the client in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.

To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of work.

To undertake the OT assessment of clients using investigative and analytical skills to formulate individual treatment plans.

To accept clinical responsibility under supervision for a designated caseload some with complex presentations, prioritising need and taking on the role of Named Worker, where relevant.

To plan and implement client-centred, individual and group interventions, using clinical reasoning and a range of treatment interventions to achieve therapeutic goals.

To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment for clients in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention

To demonstrate an understanding of the effect of disability and recommend adaptations to the clients social and physical environment.

To provide occupational therapy services in working conditions which may be hazardous e.g exposure to body fluids, aggressive persons, visits to high risk areas and associated travel risks

To assess capacity gain valid informed consent and work within a legal framework with clients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To work with clients, carers and relatives who may have distressing social/clinical circumstances.

To act as advocate for clients, working in community facilities/organisations, enabling clients to access and participate in community activities.

Communication

To demonstrate effective communication skills with service users and carers, team members, Occupational Therapy colleagues and other agencies.

To develop presentation skills in a variety of settings

To develop skills in communicating complex sensitive and contentious information to clients and carers as appropriate.

To promote awareness of the role of Occupational Therapy within the team and other agencies

Documentation

To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards

To provide Occupational Therapy specific reports when appropriate

Professional ethics

To comply with the COT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and national and local policies and procedures

To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs

Leadership supervision & appraisal

To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision, appraisal and Continuing Professional Development.

To undertake the supervision and appraisal of junior staff as required.

To provide professional advice and mentoring to therapy colleagues and other staff

To take a lead on designated projects within the service area

Training staff & students

To plan and implement the induction, training and education of students and to participate in the planning and implementation of the education and training of other staff and volunteers

To be regularly responsible for the supervision and written assessment of Occupational Therapy students on practice placement within the Trust

Service development & delivery

To participate in the planning, evaluation, and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols in the service area.

To participate in the delivery of the Occupational Therapy /AHP Development plan.

Professional development

To apply skills and knowledge which reflect competence and fitness to practice as a Senior Occupational Therapist

To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio.

Clinical governance, quality, standards

To contribute to SHSCs clinical governance arrangements

To demonstrate understanding of national guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care in mental health service provision.

To adhere to the principles of clinical governance and risk management and apply to the work situation.

Management

To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.

To co-ordinate day-to-day activities of junior staff/volunteers/Occupational Therapy students where applicable.

To be actively involved in the collation of appropriate data and statistics to inform team governance.

To deputise for the Clinical Lead OT as required

Research & practice development

To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply to practice and disseminate findings at a local level.

To participate in local audit and research projects.

The post holder will be required:

To undertake any other duties which may be allocated by the Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist in agreement with the Team Manager/Operational Manager within the general scope of the post and appropriate to the grade.

To maintain existing skills and attend training training in new skills as required to develop and carry out the work of the Trust.
It is the responsibility of all Trust employees to ensure that all duties are carried out in accordance with best practice risk management.
All employees are expected to observe the Trusts Equal Opportunities Policy in their behaviour to clients, patients, the public and colleagues.