Occupational Therapist - HMP High Down

We care for you as much as you care for others. There’s a place for you at CNWL. We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust.

With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career. With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you’re at, there’s always a place for you at CNWL.

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• Log into TRAC and update your email to your NHS.net address
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Site: HMP High Down
Town: Sutton, Surrey
Salary: £53,751 - £60,651 per annum inc HCAS (pro rata if P/T)
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 11/02/2026 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.

Job overview: Are you a passionate and experienced Band 7 Occupational Therapist seeking a fresh and rewarding challenge? Or perhaps you're a Band 6 OT ready to take the next step in your career? If so, we’d love to hear from you! An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our multi-disciplinary team within a Psychologically Informed Planned Environment (PIPE) at HMP High Down. This role is ideal for a practitioner who is passionate about delivering trauma-informed care in a prison setting and is committed to supporting individuals with complex psychological needs and learning difficulties.

You will work closely with service users and staff to create a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment that fosters personal growth, rehabilitation, and relational security. You’ll be part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team where reflective practice, relational working, and psychological safety are central to our approach. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a supportive and innovative environment, while developing your clinical and leadership skills.

Main duties of the job:

• Work as an independent OT practitioner with women presenting with complex & challenging needs who reside on the Psychologically Informed Planned Environment units, engaging in the PIPE Outreach service & those where referral to PIPE may be considered.
• Working within the MDT to provide a comprehensive service to women with personality disorder resident on the PIPE units & to contribute to ensuring the PIPE is a successful environment.
• Working as part of a team supporting women in their own location, through the PIPE Outreach service.
• Lead on the planning & delivery of enrichment activities & a therapeutic social setting & to an Enabling Environment as defined by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
• The Progression PIPE is an established Enabling Environment currently & continues to work towards maintaining its award.
• Work with the wider OPD Pathway to integrate careful selection of assessment tools & interventions with personal recovery principles which will engage individuals in activities & occupation, encouraging the development of 'surviving & thriving' skills & knowledge.
• Apply a high level of understanding of the impact of mental & physical health conditions; providing training & advice on lifestyle changes & adaptations.
• Work with the Clinical Lead to continue to develop & deliver a comprehensive OT Service within a preparation & progression PIPE, including assessment, intervention & evaluation which is underpinned by an evidence base & personal recovery principles.

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.
• Excellent progression through various career pathway opportunities such as but not limited to: Preceptorship Programme, Support and guidance with Revalidation, 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
• Relocation package subject to meeting criteria

The trust 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. All of our sites in Surrey offer free use of the onsite leisure facilities and free parking for staff.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

• To provide specialist, culturally appropriate, evidence based occupational therapy assessments for individuals within the prison setting in order to establish and meet their occupational needs.
• 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 clinical knowledge and skills to carry out evidence based occupational therapy interventions, both individual and in groups, which are underpinned by relevant theoretical approaches.
• To plan, implement and review individually tailored programmes of intervention using individual and group work approaches with prisoners within the PIPE unit.
• To support service users and colleagues to ensure that care plans are developed in partnership with the individual and that they reflect ‘recovery goals’. These should be strengths-based and oriented towards reinforcing a positive identity and developing valued social roles.
• To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions against clear aims, objectives and outcome measures in line with evidence based practice and in conjunction with service users, carers and other professionals.
• To work collaboratively with all professionals within the PIPE unit in developing care plans and risk assessments for prisoners.
• To support individuals to develop skills and knowledge; and engage with community partner agencies, to facilitate successful transitions from the prison environment to the community.
• To proactively undertake and ensure rigorous risk assessment & risk management strategies are applied.
• To ensure maximum ‘risk tolerance’ facilitates the individual’s recovery, in line with risk policies and local guidelines.

Person specification:

• HPCP Registered Practitioner Occupational Therapist
• Evidence of professional development since registration
• Post registration qualification that enhances clinical work: CBT, DBT, Dual Diagnosis, etc.

Previous Experience:

• Experience of working as part of a multi‑disciplinary team
• Experience of working with complex clients
• Experience of running a group program
• Experience of leading and/or developing a service/component of a service
• Experience of working in a Prison or forensic environment

Skills and Knowledge:

• Risk assessment and management skills
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
• Knowledge of CPA, Mental Health Act, MAPPA, legislation and policies relevant to prison mental health.

Other:

• To conduct self in accordance with relevant code of conduct and practice for registration
• Full clearance via the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS), and ability to achieve enhanced Prison Clearance (vetting).
• Motivated to maintain the highest standards possible in the service.
• Able to accept constructive feedback.
• Able to ask for support where required.
• Compassionate & non-judgmental approach.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Expert in engaging with people with mental health problems, assessing their needs, designing and delivering appropriate interventions and evaluating the effectiveness of the process.
• Excellent IT skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently as appropriate.
• To use supervision positively and effectively.
• Proven ability to work with patients to increase their level of self-determination and resilience.
• Knowledge of the needs and rights of patients.
• Knowledge of safeguarding frameworks.
• Problem solving, stress management & conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to engage in evidence based practice, with an understanding of care quality (clinical governance).
• Knowledge of current challenges/developments in Prison health.

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: Caoimhe McAnena
Job title: PIPE Clinical Lead
Email address: caoimhe.mcanena@nhs.net
Telephone number: 020 7147 6338.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a Band 7 looking for a rewarding post with scope for onward development. We would also welcome applicants looking to develop for a Band 6 to band 7. We are able to consider development preceptorship programmes, with progression upon the completion of agreed objectives. Please do get in touch if this is something that you would like to consider.