Head of Occupational Therapy and AHP Lead

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South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.

We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as \’good\’.

We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone\’s potential as change makers.

The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I\’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you\’ll be part of something special.

As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

Are you an inspiring, forward-thinking leader with a passion for mental health and multidisciplinary collaboration? We are seeking a Senior Occupational Therapist providing expert clinical leadership in occupational therapy and serving as the strategic Lead for Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) across the organisation. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of AHP services within a Trust that places innovation, recovery, and person-centred care at the heart of what we do. You will:
• Provide strategic direction and professional leadership for all AHPs (OTs, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and others) across our adult, CAMHS, and specialist mental health services.
• Champion the role of Occupational Therapy in mental health, ensuring high standards of care, evidence-based practice, and meaningful outcomes for service users.
• Represent the Trust at regional and national forums, contributing to wider NHS improvement initiatives.
• Lead on clinical governance, research, and quality improvement across AHP services.

We look forward to welcoming you to our ambitious, values-led Trust committed to excellence, equality, and compassion.

Main duties of the job

• Provide strategic and professional leadership for the Occupational Therapy staff within the Trust and enable strategic development of the profession in accordance with national and local NHS guidance.
• Provide expert level occupational therapy advice, lead on and be responsible for a range of Trust wide policy development and implementation for the delivery of high quality clinical care, services and developing occupational therapy and allied health profession practice to meet service user and carer\’s needs and operational requirements.
• Operate independently and be accountable for the professional and clinical performance of Occupational Therapy staff and to perform a representative and advisory role within the Trust for matters relating to the profession.
• Offer advice and guidance to the Chief Nurse, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Medical Officer and Service Directors and inform the Trust Board on the occupational therapy and allied health professions roles, staffing levels and skill mix within service developments for the organisation.
• To lead trust wide practice development and improvement projects as may be required.
• To meet all internal and external reporting requirements.
• To work with the Directorates and corporate teams to deliver the Trust\’s clinical and business plan and priorities.

Working for our organisation

By coming to work at SLaM, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities, and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field. SLaM delivered more than 14,000 training experiences in 2014; providing an extensive range of learning opportunities for staff at all levels. In addition, our working relationship with King\’s Health Partners allows those working at the Trust to get involved in academic research.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will provide strategic leadership and operational management for Occupational Therapy and Allied Health services across the Trust. They will be responsible for service development, workforce planning, and ensuring high-quality patient care and clinical standards aligned with national and local health strategies. The role includes professional leadership, budget management, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to drive innovation and efficiency.

They are responsible for working with the Chief Nurse, Deputy Directors of Nursing, Chief Operating Officer, Service Directors and Clinical Directors and the Heads of Nursing to establish high quality occupational therapy and allied health professions practice and care throughout the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

The post will line manage the Bethlem occupational therapy department, the AHP workforce development lead, the practice placement lead, occupational therapy services and development manager and the corporate dietetic and physiotherapy services.

The post holder will ensure that all the directorate Lead occupational therapists operate within a robust framework which ensures professional leadership for occupational therapy staff, timely interpretation of national and local policies, ensuring systematic and appropriate governance of occupational therapy practice within the directorates. To also ensure that systems for effective professional supervision and support are established and maintained across all occupational therapy services within the directorates including systems for effective recruitment and retention, professional knowledge and skills development and the identification of continued professional development needs and training.

The post holder will be responsible for the operational line management of the Trust wide volunteering services and work with the Maudsley Charity to support the oversight, governance and development of the volunteer services.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Diploma/BSc/Masters in Occupational Therapy.
• Current occupational therapy HCPC registration and Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD).
• Qualification / Training in management and/or clinical leadership.

Desirable criteria

• Advanced Post graduate clinical / management Qualifications
• Masters level achievement MSc/MA/MPhil or Doctoral Qualification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Highly developed specialist knowledge, skills and experience in the mental health field and Significant post qualification experience in senior role/s.
• Experience of working as a registered practitioner in at least two differing specialist areas (mental health / physical health services)
• Experience of leading project, change and people management and Experience in a senior leadership or management role
• Proven experience of effective communication with patients, carers, staff, managers & external agencies
• Service development work including: 1. Formulating and implementing policies & procedures 2. Formulating, implementing and monitoring standards 3. Formulating, setting & managing Budgets

Desirable criteria

• An understanding of the current and possible future applications of IT in respect of communications and information management

The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights. We aim to put this commitment into practice by:

• Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice
• Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment
• We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity

Please note:

• That all applications for this post will need to be made online
• That you read and understand the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to the role. Your Statement in Support should reflect the requirements specified as your application will be judged against these criteria
• That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible
• That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs
• That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
• That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
• That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
• That we are a smoke-free Trust

SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion , Stonewall is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans (LGBT) rights charity in Europe\’

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Job Description for Head of Occ & AHP (PDF, 336.6KB)
• SLaM Staff Benefits (PDF, 1.1MB)
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working (PDF, 680.1KB)

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