Job Summary
30 hours per week.
Hello! My name is Beth and I’m the team manager for Core Team West in Wakefield. We have a rare opportunity for a specialist occupational therapist to join our service in a part‑time (30 hours, 0.8 WTE) position, as a Band 6 OT. You will work alongside our existing OTs within Core Team West, as well as the wider multidisciplinary team. Core Team West supports individuals with moderate to severe mental health needs in a community setting, helping our service users reach their potential and live well in the community.
We are friendly, open and supportive, and we are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and friendly individual who shares our values – putting service users first and at the centre of their care.
At the time of advertising, this role meets the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up‑to‑date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
Main Duties of the Job
The successful candidate will manage a caseload of service users with a range of diagnoses and needs. Responsibilities include arranging care, liaising with other services, providing specialist occupational therapy assessment, risk assessment, reviewing care plans, ensuring a recovery‑focused, collaborative approach, and offering evidence‑based clinical decisions and treatment options. The role also involves running and participating in groups, supervising occupational therapy assistants (OTAs), overseeing OT interventions, supporting students, acting as a senior member of the multidisciplinary team, and serving as a duty worker on a regular basis.
Key Result Areas
1. Clinical
o Undertake standardised and non‑standardised assessments to formulate effective treatment plans in partnership with service users, families and carers.
o Plan and implement client‑centred occupational therapy programmes, using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.
o Ensure interventions are of high professional standard, evidence‑based and involve service users and carers.
o Provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to clients’ social and physical environments.
o Act as care programme co‑ordinator and offer carers an assessment and care plan where appropriate.
o Contribute to a coordinated team approach and maintain relationships with all relevant services and agencies.
o Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions through audits and outcome measures.
o Support the transition of skills from inpatient to independent community living.
o Maintain effective communication within the multi‑agency team.
o Maintain appropriate clinical records in accordance with risk management guidelines.
o Attend relevant clinical meetings and provide accurate reports and data.
o Participate in supervised practice and provide clinical supervision to other OT staff/support staff.
o Work autonomously as an occupational therapy practitioner.
2. Management
o Assist the team leader with day‑to‑day operational management.
o Communicate significant events and clinical issues to the relevant line manager.
o Direct and delegate work to team members, considering their skills and abilities.
o Carry out appraisal and development reviews with OT staff and contribute to other staff reviews.
o Help manage staff leave, sickness/absence to ensure adequate cover.
o Participate in recruitment and retention activities, implementing induction programmes.
3. Policy and Service Development
o Contribute to the development and implementation of the annual service improvement plan and audit programme.
o Participate in service modernisation and operational planning.
o Collaborate with the OT professional lead on professional practice development and policy implementation.
4. Teaching and Education
o Contribute to staff and student training and development within OT.
o Promote awareness of the OT role within the multidisciplinary team and other agencies.
5. Governance
o Participate actively in clinical governance, including supervision, CPD and audit.
o Initiate practice development, evaluation, audit and research activities.
o Share information, research and good practice locally, regionally and nationally.
6. Professional
o Provide clinical training placements for OT students.
o Maintain links with HEIs providing OT training.
o Contribute to national and regional discussions on OT issues.
o Ensure protected time for CPD to meet HCPC regulations.
o Apply specialist skills to demonstrate professional competence and fitness to practice.
o Show knowledge of national guidelines and legislation.
7. Leadership
o Act as a source of clinical expertise, demonstrating clinical reasoning and critical thinking.
o Participate in evaluation and future development of the OT service using audit tools and evidence‑based practice.
About Us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust delivering community, mental health and learning disability services across Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and lead the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, providing high‑quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ clinical and non‑clinical staff dedicated to making a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups. We value diversity and strive for a workforce that reflects our communities.
As a foundation Trust, we are accountable to over 14,300 local members who have a say in how we run the Trust. Join us and be part of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we serve each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job Details
* Date posted: 26 February 2026
* Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
* Band: Band 6
* Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 per year pro‑rata
* Contract: Permanent
* Working pattern: Part‑time, flexible working
* Reference number: C9378-W1447
* Job locations:
Core Team West, Drury Lane Health & Wellbeing Centre
Drury Lane, Wakefield, WF1 2TE
Person Specification
Special Knowledge/Skills (Essential)
* Specialist knowledge and application of OT assessments and interventions relevant to mental health.
* Extensive clinical practice skills, including individual and group work.
* Understanding of OT outcome measures.
* Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities.
* Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues.
* Supervisory and appraisal skills.
* Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
* Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information.
* Computer literacy.
* Ability to build effective working relationships.
* Detailed knowledge of mental health/learning disabilities legislation and current practice.
* Detailed knowledge of clinical governance and its application.
Physical Attributes (Essential)
* Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years.
Training (Essential)
* Practice Education/Practice Assessor Preparation Certificate (or to be achieved within 12 months).
* Willingness to undertake post‑graduate training to further skills, knowledge and expertise.
Desirable
* Post‑graduate training relevant to mental health such as psychosocial interventions, cognitive behavioural/counselling skills, standardised assessment.
Personal Attributes (Essential)
* Values contribution of others.
* Ability to motivate self and others.
* Organisational skills.
* Effective communication skills, verbal and written.
* Willingness to work flexibly.
* A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential.
Qualifications (Essential)
* Diploma/degree in Occupational Therapy.
* Health Care Professions Council registration.
Desirable
* Leadership/first line management certificate.
Experience (Essential)
* Post‑registration experience in a mental health/learning disabilities setting.
* Documented evidence of continuing professional development.
* Supervision of staff and/or students.
Desirable
* Leadership/first line management experience.
* Experience across a range of mental health/learning disabilities settings.
Disclosures
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission to the Disclosure and Barring Service for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.
Employer Details
Name: South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Address: Core Team West, Drury Lane Health & Wellbeing Centre, Drury Lane, Wakefield, WF1 2TE
Website: https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk
Important Notice
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants use AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
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