Job overview
Join our dynamic team supporting women and families during the critical perinatal period (pregnancy and postpartum). We are seeking an enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to deliver evidence-based, holistic care, focusing on occupational roles, parent-infant bonding, and mental health recovery. Key duties include managing a caseload, delivering group/one-to-one interventions, and assessing daily routines.
You will be required to undertake a Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression course, and it is a condition of your employment that you successfully complete all aspects of this course; if this is not achieved you will not be able to commence working in the post.
Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.
Main duties of the job
You will provide Occupational Therapy assessments, appropriate treatment interventions and evaluation for service users on the ward and community.
You will be the ward Occupational Therapist working as a member of the ward and community team.
You will work across the Perinatal Inpatient and Community Service as and when required.
You will assist in co-ordinating therapy on ward and the Community Perinatal Team.
You will assist in the provision of standardised occupational therapy assessments for patients as prioritised through the ward MDT. Providing timely and specific treatment plans in conjunction with ward care plans.
You will lead on physical health assessments in the Community Perinatal Team.
Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.
About us
At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.
We do things differently here - it\'s one of the reasons the CQC rated us \'outstanding\' in 2019. It\'s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.
Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We\'re all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We\'re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.
Working with us you\'ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don\'t know. And you\'ll be working towards our vision to create healthier lives, empowered citizens and thriving communities.
Details
Date posted: 13 March 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £24,839 to £30,236 a year p.a.
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 152-M566.25
Job locations: Florence House, 49 Alumhurst Road, Bournemouth, BH4 8EP
Job responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.
We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidates individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.
As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net
Person specifications
* Experience Essential: Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application
* Experience Desirable: Leadership experience
* Information technology Essential: Basic computer literacy and keyboard skills
* Personal quality/attributes Essential: Able to initiate, monitor and implement change and explore new ways of working with services and delivery
* Qualifications Essential: Degree/Diploma in O.T.
* Qualifications Essential: State Registration with HCPC
* Qualifications Essential: Membership of professional body
* Qualifications Essential: Post Graduate qualification appropriate to speciality
* Experience Desirable: Developed and proven experience in working with women in inpatient mental health setting, proven experience of community working
* Experience Essential: Knowledge of the legislative framework which O.Ts work
* Experience Essential: Understanding of therapy outcome measures
* Experience Essential: Able to demonstrate the ability to clarify the therapist role in the team
* Experience Essential: An understanding of emotional and physical impact of illness/disability on an individual and their family/carers
* Experience Essential: Understanding of issues in complex mental health
* Experience Essential: Ability to delegate
* Experience Essential: Ability to escalate physical and/or mental health concerns to the appropriate team and/or service
* Personal Quality/attributes Essential: Ability to manage demanding workload to agreed deadlines and timescales
* Personal quality/attributes Essential: To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversities of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs
* Personal quality/attributes Essential: Ability to communicate information clearly and liaise successfully with colleagues in other sectors, health service and private and voluntary organisations
* Personal Quality/Attributes Essential: Empathetic and flexible approach to demanding, sometimes physical and/or verbal abuse from service user/patients
* Personal Quality/Attributes Essential: Ability to work autonomously and within a team
* Additional Requirements Desirable: Membership of Clinical Interest group
Disclosures
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service is required.
Employer details
Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
Florence House, 49 Alumhurst Road, Bournemouth, BH4 8EP
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