Occupational Therapist | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust in Maidstone

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Lead Occupational Therapist to join the Kent and Medway Adolescent Hospital (KMAH), part of the North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT). KMAH is a 14‑bed general adolescent inpatient unit, including three eating disorder pathway beds, set in a modern hospital within beautiful grounds. The role offers the chance to work in an experienced multidisciplinary team (MDT) delivering evidence‑based, person‑centred care to young people and families, supporting recovery and smooth transitions back to the community.

Responsibilities

• The successful applicant will provide clinical leadership within the MDT, reporting to the Clinical Lead and Matron.
• They will supervise a Band 6 OT and several OT Assistants, ensuring delivery of consistent, evidence‑based interventions.
• Key duties include maintaining and enhancing the existing ward OT programme, delivering sensory assessments, and creating individualised therapeutic plans.
• Collaboration with the Intensive Home Treatment Team (IHTT) will also provide opportunities for community‑based interventions.
• KMAH works closely with NELFT’s locality teams, eating disorder and neurodevelopmental services, and provides a Section 136 health‑based place of safety.

Staff benefit from strong training, CPD, and research opportunities, including CYP‑IAPT and leadership development. This role offers the chance to shape and enhance OT practice across a dynamic adolescent mental health service. The role will require the successful candidate to work as part of the team based in the inpatient setting but with interface with other NELFT services and external stakeholders to ensure service delivery is of a high quality and provided 365 days per year.

Benefits

• Regular clinical and managerial supervision
• Support from a robust multi-disciplinary team
• Training and development opportunities

The post holder will utilise a range of skills and experience gained in clinical practice to perform specialist, comprehensive assessments using clinical reasoning skills and assessment techniques to formulate a treatment plan based on clinical findings. Excellent communication skills are essential as well as good knowledge of current OT best practice and the ability to work as an effective team member across a multi‑professional team.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

Starting with NELFT

NELFT places a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop‑in sessions focussing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Use of AI Applications

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application. We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role can be discussed at the interview stage.

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points‑based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High‑Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

This advert closes on Thursday 20 Nov 2025.