At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide specialist occupational therapy to support rehabilitation and positive outcomes.
- Company: Join Serco, a top international employer with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, pension scheme, and extensive training opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Degree in Occupational Therapy and experience with complex needs required.
The predicted salary is between 37412 - 38629 £ per year.
Location: HMP Dovegate, Staffordshire, ST14 8XR
Salary: £37,412.50 - £38,629 per annum, pro rata plus excellent benefits
Schedule: Part-time – two days per week / 16 hours per week
Ready to impact a better future? As an Occupational Therapist in our Therapeutic Community team at HMP Dovegate, you’ll provide specialist occupational therapy assessment and intervention within the Enhanced Assessment Unit, supporting participants with complex psychological presentations to stabilise, engage and prepare for therapy. This is a purposeful role where your work directly contributes to rehabilitation, risk reduction and positive outcomes. You’ll help people build routines, develop emotional and sensory regulation, and engage meaningfully in community life, creating the foundations for longer‑term therapeutic progress and a safer future for individuals and the wider community.
What you’ll do as an Occupational Therapist
- Deliver specialist occupational therapy assessments focusing on occupational functioning, daily living skills, emotional and sensory regulation, neurodiversity and engagement capacity
- Design and deliver targeted, occupation‑based interventions to support stabilisation, routine development and therapeutic readiness
- Contribute occupational perspectives to multidisciplinary formulation, assessment reports and case discussions
- Provide consultation, guidance and modelling to colleagues to support trauma‑responsive and psychologically informed practice
- Promote meaningful activity, autonomy and responsibility in line with therapeutic community principles
- Maintain accurate and timely clinical records and engage fully in supervision and professional development
Does this sound like you? You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have…
- A degree or diploma in Occupational Therapy with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
- Experience delivering occupational therapy to adults with complex needs, mental health difficulties or neurodiversity
- Confidence working within a multidisciplinary team environment
- A trauma‑informed, neurodiversity‑affirming and person‑centred approach
- The emotional resilience and professional judgement needed to work in a secure or complex setting
Vetting and checks: An Enhanced DBS check is required for this role. This includes spent and unspent convictions, cautions, and any relevant information held by local police, in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and safeguarding requirements. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire to allow us to provide any support needed for you to succeed in the role.
What we offer
- Holiday entitlement: starts at 23 days plus bank holidays (increasing to 25 days with tenure)
- Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
- Training and development: Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships, mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
- Health and wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
- Discounts: Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
- Charity: Paid volunteering day, tax-free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
- Employee networks: Our networks support inclusion and connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging.
Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.
Occupational Therapist employer: Serco
At Serco, we pride ourselves on being a top employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. As an Occupational Therapist at HMP Dovegate, you will benefit from extensive training opportunities, a generous holiday entitlement, and a commitment to your wellbeing through various health initiatives. Join us in making a meaningful impact while enjoying the unique advantages of working within a diverse and inclusive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Occupational Therapist
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at HMP Dovegate on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info about the team and the work culture, plus it shows our genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to occupational therapy. We should also think about how our experiences align with their focus on trauma-informed care and neurodiversity. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase our passion for rehabilitation during the interview. Share specific examples of how we've helped individuals build routines or engage meaningfully in community life. This will highlight our fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets noticed. Plus, we can keep track of our application status easily. Let’s get that job!
We think you need these skills to ace Occupational Therapist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of an Occupational Therapist. We want to see how you can contribute to our Therapeutic Community team, so don’t hold back!
Showcase Your Experience:When detailing your experience, focus on your work with adults facing complex needs and mental health challenges. We love seeing real examples of how you've made a difference in similar settings.
Be Person-Centred:Remember to emphasise your trauma-informed and person-centred approach in your application. This is key for us at StudySmarter, as we value the importance of understanding and supporting individuals in their journey.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this impactful role. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Serco
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of occupational therapy principles, especially those related to trauma-informed care and neurodiversity. Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of individuals in secure settings, as this will show your understanding of the role and its challenges.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your previous experiences working with adults who have complex needs. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've designed and delivered interventions that support emotional and sensory regulation, as well as how you've contributed to multidisciplinary teams.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare some insightful questions about the Therapeutic Community team at HMP Dovegate. This could include inquiries about their approach to rehabilitation or how they measure success in therapeutic outcomes. It shows you're genuinely interested in the role and the organisation.
✨Demonstrate Your Values
Align your responses with the values of the organisation, particularly around promoting autonomy and responsibility. Share your thoughts on how you can contribute to creating a supportive environment for participants, and highlight your commitment to professional development and collaboration within a multidisciplinary team.
