Job summary
Join our acute inpatient mental health Occupational Therapy service and make a real difference.We are seeking a Senior Occupational Therapist to play a key role in delivering high-quality, recovery-focused care within a compassionate and therapeutic environment.
As a Senior Occupational Therapist, you will:
* Provide strong clinical leadership, working closely with the Clinical and Operational Lead Occupational Therapist.
* Champion evidence-based practice to enhance service quality and responsiveness.
* Support the Service Manager in developing operational and clinical mechanisms, including deputising in their absence.
* Collaborate with ward-based Occupational Therapists, ensuring effective oversight of OT provision and smooth transition to the Shared Therapies team.
Our service is committed to promoting recovery and enabling sustainable transitions from inpatient care to community support. You will help create safe, therapeutic spaces for individuals at an acute stage of their illness, ensuring compassionate treatment and care throughout their journey.
Main duties of the job
* Maintain a strong clinical presence by delivering individual interventions and overseeing the full range of therapeutic activities within the team.
* Demonstrate advanced expertise in acute mental health care and share this knowledge effectively, promoting recovery-focused practice and social inclusion.
* Proactively manage your own caseload, prioritising tasks efficiently to meet competing demands.
* Assess complex service user needs using professional judgement and evidence-based approaches, ensuring accountability for clinical decisions.
* Ensure every service user has a current, collaboratively developed Occupational Therapy plan tailored to their individual needs.
* Apply leadership principles adapting strategies to meet changing service requirements.
* Work closely with ward-based Occupational Therapists to ensure the delivery of high-quality, needs-led Occupational Therapy services.
* Contribute to clinical development through mentoring, coaching, and supporting student education and fieldwork placement
About us
Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of 'making a positive difference in people's lives'.
CQC rated us as 'GOOD' overall, commenting on how our colleagues "treated patients with compassion and kindness" and "felt positive and proud about working for the trust."
Benefits include:
* Commitment to flexible working where this is possible
* 27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years' service
* Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training
* Generous NHS pension scheme
* Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
* Health service discounts and online benefits
* Incremental pay progression
* Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7
* Access to our LGBT network, BAME Network and Christian Network
* Health and wellbeing opportunities
* Structured learning and development opportunities
Details
Date posted
13 February 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 6
Salary
£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum, pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
383-ACA B
Job locations
Carsington Unit
Kingsway Hospital
Derby
DE22 3LZ
Job description
Job responsibilities
If you would like further detailed information about the position and person specification, please refer to full details within the job description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
If you would like further detailed information about the position and person specification, please refer to full details within the job description.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
* Degree or diploma in OT
* Evidence of ongoing, CPD, Reflection, Team Leadership skills and EBP
Desirable
* Field work educators qualification
Skills and Experience
Essential
* Demonstrate post registration experience and expertise of mental health
* Evidence of specialised Occupational Therapy Assessments
* Analytical skills involving skilled interpretation, comparison and reasoned judgement in complex situations
* Supervision of Junior staff
* Evidence of leadership skills
* Evidence of risk assessment and management
* Evidence of application of theoretical models of practice.
* Evidence of working in an adult acute mental health setting and complex cases
* Evidence of group work experience
Desirable
* Demonstrate knowledge of research techniques and experience of clinical audit
Person Specification
Education
Essential
* Degree or diploma in OT
* Evidence of ongoing, CPD, Reflection, Team Leadership skills and EBP
Desirable
* Field work educators qualification
Skills and Experience
Essential
* Demonstrate post registration experience and expertise of mental health
* Evidence of specialised Occupational Therapy Assessments
* Analytical skills involving skilled interpretation, comparison and reasoned judgement in complex situations
* Supervision of Junior staff
* Evidence of leadership skills
* Evidence of risk assessment and management
* Evidence of application of theoretical models of practice.
* Evidence of working in an adult acute mental health setting and complex cases
* Evidence of group work experience
Desirable
* Demonstrate knowledge of research techniques and experience of clinical audit
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Carsington Unit
Kingsway Hospital
Derby
DE22 3LZ
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Carsington Unit
Kingsway Hospital
Derby
DE22 3LZ
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)