About the Role
The Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist (OT) will play a vital role within a small multi-disciplinary team (MDT) dedicated to supporting individuals with complex mental health needs who are rough sleeping or at risk of homelessness.
This position focuses on delivering specialist assessments and interventions that help people establish routines, build healthy habits, and develop essential daily living skills. You will work creatively to identify meaningful activities, interests, and training opportunities that promote independence and wellbeing.
The role demands a persistent and innovative approach to engagement, as many individuals may find it challenging to access traditional services. Strong collaboration with statutory and voluntary sector organisations is essential to ensure holistic and effective support.
Responsibilities
* Manage a clinical caseload of individuals with complex mental health needs.
* Collaborate effectively within a Multi‑Disciplinary Team (MDT) to deliver holistic care.
* Lead the development of evidence‑based OT practice within the service.
* Provide specialist OT assessments and interventions through individual and group work, focusing on:
o Self‑care
o Work
o Leisure
* Drive service development initiatives to improve outcomes and accessibility.
* Lead or participate in research, audit and quality improvement activities to inform best practice.
* Apply advanced skills in crisis and risk management to safeguard service users.
* Offer specialist OT advice, guidance and consultation to MDT colleagues.
* Work autonomously, demonstrating accountability and professional judgement.
* Maintain in‑depth knowledge of OT assessment and interventions for this client group.
* Provide clinical leadership and support for junior staff and supervise OT students on placement.
* Contribute to the delivery and development of the Trust‑wide OT service.
* Undertake agreed generic responsibilities as part of the job plan.
* Support service users with complex needs, including co‑morbid mental health conditions, substance misuse, and physical health challenges.
* Comply with Trust requirements for violence management training relevant to the clinical area.
* Manage a capped caseload of service users with complex mental health needs, acting as lead healthcare professional (HCP) where appropriate.
* Undertake street outreach and engage with service users in diverse settings (e.g., supported accommodation, community locations) who may struggle to access mainstream services.
* Work collaboratively with service users to identify OT goals as part of the multi‑disciplinary care plan, using specialist mental health and OT assessment tools and treatment techniques.
* Create tailored, individualised programmes and graded activity plans that enable clients to achieve realistic goals and maintain consistent engagement.
* Deliver specialist assessments and interventions in a variety of settings to ensure effectiveness and accessibility.
* Support individuals to navigate complex systems to access housing and support services.
* Ensure service users' health, social, cultural, and spiritual needs are considered at all times.
* Assess and provide equipment to enhance independence for service users with physical disabilities alongside mental health needs.
* Monitor, evaluate, and adapt treatment plans to measure progress and achieve desired outcomes.
* Plan and deliver services within the Community Mental Health Framework.
* Apply advanced understanding of the impact of disability, providing training and advice on life skills to maximise functional ability.
* Assess occupational needs and develop, implement, and review treatment interventions.
* Identify appropriate referrals, prioritise workload and manage effective discharge processes, ensuring all relevant parties receive necessary information.
* Contribute to and carry out mental health assessments, collaborating closely with MDT colleagues.
* Undertake risk assessments and develop risk management plans.
* Work as an integral part of the MDT and attend all relevant clinical meetings.
* Work flexible hours (e.g. outside of 9am‑5pm) to meet service users at their sleep site.
Information for Applicants
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes and supports individuals of all abilities. If you meet the minimum criteria for this role and you have a disability, you can be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme. Please ensure you select this on your application form. We encourage you to be open about your needs so we can work with you to design a comfortable and accessible interview experience. Any information you provide regarding a disability or a need for adjustments will be treated in confidence and will only be shared with colleagues who are supporting this request.
If you require any adjustments to participate fully in the interview process, please let us know by adding the relevant details when scheduling your preferred interview date and time. Please feel free to contact the appointing manager to discuss your needs.
We encourage applicants to contact the hiring manager before their interview if they have any questions about the role or the process. This is a great way to get clarity and prepare effectively for the interview.
If you have declared you are part of the armed forces community, you may be asked to provide evidence during the recruitment process. Misrepresenting this information may lead to the offer being withdrawn. For Armed Forces specific support, see our webpage: https://oxleas.nhs.uk/armed-forces-community/
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it is essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you are applying for. There is also a risk that it can generate false or misleading information. AI‑generated job applications can be generic, impersonal and may not accurately reflect your qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experiences. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice. Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting information section is not advised by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.
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.
Working for Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.
We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:
* We're Kind
* We're Fair
* We Listen
* We Care
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