Band 6 - Senior Community Occupational Therapist

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Band 6 - Senior Community Occupational Therapist

NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area Occupational Therapy Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 333-J-WE-0866

Site St Johns Wood Community Mental Health Hub Town London Salary £47,951 - £56,863 per annum inc HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 20/08/2026 23:59

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Job overview

Are you passionate about helping others live meaningful lives?

Join CNWL as a Band 6 Senior Community Occupational Therapist at the St John’s Wood Community Mental Health Hub, where we promote a supportive, inclusive and reflective workplace.

As part of a multidisciplinary team, you will deliver recovery-focused, person-centred care to adults with a range of mental health needs. You will manage a caseload, providing occupational therapy assessments, interventions and psychosocial support, while working closely with service users, carers and partner agencies to promote recovery, reduce risk and support independent living.

We are committed to staff wellbeing and professional development, offering flexible working, regular supervision and protected time for reflection and learning. Occupational Therapists have access to role-specific training, including psychosocial interventions, leadership development opportunities and pathways to broaden or specialise their practice in community mental health.

This is an excellent opportunity to work in a forward-thinking service that values clinical autonomy, multidisciplinary collaboration and high-quality care. You will play a key role in supporting people on their recovery journey while developing your own skills and career within a supportive organisation.

The service operates Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Main duties of the job

Job Summary

As a Band 6 Senior Community Occupational Therapist, you will provide specialist occupational therapy assessment, intervention and advice within a multidisciplinary community mental health team. Using evidence-based and recovery-focused practice, you will support individuals to improve their occupational performance, independence, wellbeing and self-management skills.

You will manage a caseload of service users with identified occupational needs, delivering both individual and group interventions, conducting functional assessments and developing person-centred care plans. You will work collaboratively with service users, carers, partner agencies and community organisations to promote recovery and support people to achieve their goals.

The role requires a strong understanding of the impact of mental and physical health conditions on daily functioning, including providing advice on lifestyle adaptations, environmental modifications and equipment where appropriate. You will contribute to the wider function of the team, including duty responsibilities, and play an active role in service development.

In addition, you will support the learning and development of others through supervision of junior staff, appraisal processes and practice educator for occupational therapy students on placement. You will integrate evidence-based practice with recovery principles to deliver high-quality, person-centred care that enhances quality of life and community participation.

This is an excellent opportunity to work in a forward-thinking service that values clinical autonomy, multidisciplinary collaboration and high-quality care. You will play a key role in supporting people on their recovery journey while developing your own skills and career within a supportive organisation.

The service operates Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Working for our organisation

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust offers its staff ongoing career progression through:

Monthly supervision

Access to exciting internal and external training opportunities.

In House OT to OT Training

Excellent progression through various career pathway opportunities such as but not limited to:

Band 6 Development Programme

Hidden Gem and Annual Award Ceremonies

Excellent staff benefits, our benefit packages are amongst the best in London and include:

Health and wellbeing services

Season ticket loans

Cycle to work scheme

The trust also values its staff and you are entitled to become a member of MyTrustBenefits. MyTrustBenefits is an online portal for all CNWL staff, as well as their family and friends. It offers over 1400 discounts at hundreds of retailers nationwide. Save money on your weekly food shops, toiletries, cosmetics, cinema, meals out, holidays, travel and entertainment. You can also access free online courses on a variety of topics, professional and personal, ranging from business management, languages, law and teaching.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached JD&PS for full details of duties and responsibilities

Clinical

• To manage a caseload of service users with multiple,enduringand complex mental healthneeds through provision of therapeutic care and treatment in the individual’s own home andothercommunityvenues.
• To provide specialist, culturallyappropriate, evidencebasedoccupational therapy assessments forserviceuserswithin thehubinordertoestablishandmeettheiroccupational needs.
• To provide full vocational needs assessment, advice and on-going intervention related to anindividual’s vocationalneeds.
• To select and use validated standardised assessment tools routinely and in practice, exhibiting clinical reasoning skills; to include the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) assessments.
• To apply specialist clinical knowledge and skills to carry out evidence based occupational therapy interventions, both individual and in groups, which are underpinned by relevant theoretical approaches and in line with the Trust’s Research and Development Strategy.
• To lead andsupervisejuniorstaffinthispracticeasrequired.
• To plan, implement and review individually tailored program of intervention using individual and group work approaches.
• To develop, implement and review care plans using DIALOG + as a framework tocompletecollaborative careplans.
• To support service users and colleagues to ensure that care plans are developed in partnershipwith the individualand their support networkand that they reflect ‘recovery goals’.These should be strengths-based andorientedtowards reinforcingapositiveidentityand developingvaluedsocialroles.
• To be the allocated named worker for service users who have identified occupational performance needs or when occupational therapy is the main intervention.
• Tomonitorand evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions against clear aims,objectivesand outcome measures in line withevidence-basedpractice and in conjunction withserviceusers,carers/supportnetworkand otherprofessionals.
• Toidentifyopportunities and needs for group work in the community and to plan, implement,facilitateandevaluatecommunitygroupswhich promotesocialinclusionfor serviceusers.
• To applya high levelof understanding of the effects of mental illness and provide training andadviceonlifestylechangesandadaptationstotheserviceuser’ssocialandphysicalenvironment.
• Todeterminetheimpactofmentalandphysicalconditionsonserviceuser’sfunctionalabilityandundertake assessment/make recommendations with regards to the provision of equipment/aidsand adaptations.
• To provide monitoring of medication, for all service users on caseload, in line withtheCNWLOTMedication ManagementGuidelines.
• To follow local protocol and obtain recommended equipment and/or liaise with local providers ofequipmenttoensureprovision asappropriate.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy.
• Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC) registered Occupational Therapist.
• Practice Educator training
• Post qualification training in relevant mental health therapeutic skills.

Previous Experience

• Extensive post qualification experience working in mental health settings as an Occupational Therapist.
• Experience of working with service users presenting with a wide range of complex mental health conditions.
• Experience of delivering healthy lifestyle interventions.
• Experience in assessment and interventions related to physical healthcare needs.
• Experience in using a range of standardised OT assessments.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment.
• Experience of drafting group protocols and setting up / facilitating groups / group programme.
• Supervision of OT students / non-qualified staff.
• Experience of partnership working in promoting socially inclusive opportunities for patients.
• Experience of working in adult mental health community team.
• Experience in audit / research projects

Skills and Knowledge

• Clear concept of Occupational Therapy and models of practice.
• Good communication skills written, verbal, listening and use of up to date systems of communication i.e. IT systems, e-mail, telephone etc.
• Ability to work autonomously, as well as part of an MDT.
• Ability to prioritise workload and use initiative.
• Able to work creatively to engage patients.
• Timely reporting and record keeping.
• To actively supervise both OT students and unqualified staff.
• Regularly identify and undertake appropriate learning opportunities as part of ongoing CPD.
• Recovery focused approach to service delivery.
• Ability to treat service users with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach that considers the needs of the whole person.
• Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills.
• To determine the impact of mental and physical conditions on service user’s functional ability and undertake assessment/make recommendations with regards to the provision of equipment/aids and adaptations.
• Good understanding of the application of risk assessment and risk management strategies which facilitates a patient’s recovery.
• Good awareness of the principles of safeguarding and how to implement this in practice.
• Research and development at graduate level.
• Knowledge of the theory underpinning the Model of Human Occupation.
• To have completed practice placement educators’ course.

Attitudes, aptitudes and personal characteristics

• High level of personal motivation.
• Ability to work in a team setting i.e. collaborating/facilitating/directing and understanding diversity.
• Good organisational skills and ability to delegate effectively.
• Ability to encourage patient participation and ensure a high delivery of customer service.
• Flexible in approach.
• Demonstrate self-awareness and an ability to use initiative.
• Ability to manage conflict constructively
• Demonstrate a willingness to develop knowledge and skills.
• Ability to take on responsibility.
• To act as a positive role model for junior staff.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant’s own work.Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate’s real experience.AI-generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience.Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

• Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
• Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system
• Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
• If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Name Gopika Sudhir Job title Lead Occupational Therapist Email address gopika.sudhir2@nhs.net Telephone number 0207 266 9700 Additional information

Charlotte 'Lottie' Jones (Hub Manager) - charlotte.jones60@nhs.net