Senior Occupational Therapist

The successful candidate will work within the Forensic Directorate in providing Occupational Therapy input to individuals living within the Forensic Step-Down Service. The post holder will sit within the Forensic Outreach Service.

The post holder will play a key role within the Forensic Step-Down Accommodation Service, supporting individuals with complex mental health needs and forensic histories to successfully transition from secure or inpatient settings to independent community living. The role involves delivering specialist occupational therapy assessments and interventions using evidence-based, recovery-focused approaches and the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) to promote meaningful engagement in daily activities, enhance independence, and support social inclusion. Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, the Occupational Therapist will contribute to risk assessment and management, care planning, CPA reviews, MAPPA processes, and multi-agency working, while providing clinical supervision and support to junior staff and students. The post holder will also champion equality, accessibility and inclusion, ensuring that service users are supported to achieve their recovery goals and maximise their quality of life within the community.

To provide a specialist occupational therapy service within the Forensic step-down service for service users with complex mental health needs and forensic histories.

To deliver evidence-based, person-centred occupational therapy assessments, interventions and outcome measures, informed by the Model of Human Occupation and recovery-focused principles.

To manage a defined caseload, delivering interventions flexibly across a range of community and clinical settings.

To contribute to delegated occupational therapy and multidisciplinary projects within the service, with support from senior staff.

To act as Disability Champion, promoting equality, accessibility and inclusion, and supporting the team to meet disability equality standards.

To provide clinical supervision, guidance and support to junior occupational therapy staff, support staff and students on placement.

To work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary community team, liaising effectively with inpatient services, community services and external agencies to support coordinated care.

To contribute to multidisciplinary decision-making through attendance at relevant meetings, including CPA reviews, risk management meetings and tribunals where appropriate.

To contribute to multi-agency working, including participation in MAPPA processes where required.

To work within relevant legal frameworks, including the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, as appropriate to the role.

To respond flexibly to clinical demands, including prioritising urgent referrals and working jointly with colleagues as required to meet service user needs.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications

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Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.

Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.

Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Unless expressly stated in the job advert the role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.

Education, Training & Qualifications

Essential: - Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy; - HCPC Registration; - Evidence of post registration training relevant to mental health/ forensic practice

Desirable: - Membership of RCOT

Experience

Knowledge and Skills