Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Perinatal Occupational Therapist
The closing date is 17 June 2026
The services offered will be provided in line with the principles and ethos of recovery and social inclusion. The Band 6 Occupational Therapist will contribute their highly specialist knowledge and expertise in supporting this approach and will ensure that all interventions amplify an individual's self-management skills.
Main duties of the job
To manage a caseload of women in the perinatal period with complex, severe and enduring mental health needs, providing interventions which support and promote improved mental and physical health for mothers, babies and their families.
To be responsible for conjunction with the OTs in the service to support the development and evaluation of evidence-based OT practice within the perinatal service.
To work in conjunction with senior staff in the MDT to support the development of the perinatal service.
Actively liaise with the MDT and external services such as primary care, maternity services, health visiting teams, adult and children social care, perinatal community teams and other mental health services.
To co‑ordinate occupational therapy clinical expertise while engaging and contributing to professional meetings such as multi‑agency case reviews, birth planning, child protection meetings and any other meetings related to the care and treatment of the women and their babies.
About us
* Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
* Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
* If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
* We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
* 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
* Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
* Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
* £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us.
* Season ticket loans are interest‑free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
* Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
* Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Job responsibilities
To co‑ordinate provide highly specialist OT clinical knowledge in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of women in the perinatal period. Applying an understanding of the effects of multiple, enduring and complex mental health needs on occupational performance within a parenting role; while also dealing with service users or carers with potentially severe challenging behaviour.
To carry out mental health risk assessments for a caseload of service users and offer regular monitoring of mental state, in the individuals own home, (an environment that may expose individuals to contact with body fluids, odours, dust, dirt, or verbal aggression), and other community venues, potentially assisting service users with physical disabilities.
To work autonomously providing clinical professional judgement in clinical cases and referring to team members when necessary.
To provide professional leadership on the development of specialist individual and group care programmes, supporting service users in achieving valued goals and satisfactory occupational performance outcome. Providing advice and support on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the service users social and physical environment.
To follow local protocol and obtain recommended equipment and/or liaise with local providers of equipment to ensure provision as appropriate.
To select and use validated standardised evidence based assessment tools, (Occupational Therapy assessment, mental health, perinatal, parent‑infant and infant assessment tools), routinely, and exhibit advanced clinical reasoning skills.
To ensure the monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions, and the agreed mental health and parent‑infant interventions, against clear aims.
To promote social inclusion and physical and mental well‑being, underpinned by the principles of hope and recovery, health promotion and relapse prevention.
To facilitate smooth transitions for service users between primary and secondary care services where required. Establishing links and working in collaboration with partner agencies in order to contribute and manage aspects of an individuals care plan.
To support service users and colleagues in ensuring care plans are developed in partnership with service users and that they reflect personal recovery goals. These should be strength‐based and oriented towards reinforcing a positive identity and developing valued social roles.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Professional Registration
* HCPC Registration
* OT BSc/MSc Degree
Skills & Experience
* At least 2 years post qualification experience.
* Experience of carrying out individual interventions and group work.
* Experience of Working with those with Mental Health Needs.
* Experience of Working in Perinatal Mental Health Services.
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.
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address
The Derwent Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital
£39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum, pro rata for part time, plus 5% HCA
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part‑time
Reference number
364-B-89
Job locations
The Derwent Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital
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