Band 7 Occupational Therapist – Specialising in Neuropsychiatry
The closing date is 06 March 2026
1.0 Band 7 Occupational Therapist - Neuropsychiatry
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated occupational therapist to join our dynamic team at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. The post a static post working within the Neuro-psychiatry specialist multidisciplinary teams at this renowned teaching hospital.
You will have the opportunity to work in with an experienced and world renown neuropsychiatry multi-disciplinary team with the opportunity to develop specialist skills in the management of acute and chronic complex neuro-psychiatry patients. You will provide clinical expertise and professional advice to the multidisciplinary team (MDT).
Main duties of the job
You will work within the Occupational Therapy department in the Therapy and Rehabilitation Service with access to departmental in-service training supporting growth of knowledge and skills and personal development plans. Team members are encouraged to engage in teaching and training at a local and national level; with clear structures in place for involvement in clinical development and to participate in multi-disciplinary audit and research.
You will be working in a rewarding and challenging clinical environment and be responsible for supervision of at least one team member and the day-to-day management of the neuro-psychiatry OT service delivery in your clinical area. You will carry a specialist caseload and deliver individual and group-based (both face-to-face and remote) treatments to services users with complex mental health and neurological needs. You will have the opportunity to develop and evaluate inpatient group interventions jointly with the multidisciplinary team.
You must have substantive post-graduation experience, including Mental Health Occupational Therapy. Effective communication skills and a positive approach to the management of complex disability are essential.
About us
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
* University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
* National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
* Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
* University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
* Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
* University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
* The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
* University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more informationregardingthe main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
*UCLH top trust to work at in England- In the most recentNHS staff surveyUCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit:Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLHa great placeto work, visit:Why Choose UCLH?
Person Specification
Knowledge & Qualifications
* State Registered Occupational Therapist (HPC)
* Degree in OT (or equivalent)
* Evidence of continuous professional development (CPD)
* Broad knowledge of current best evidenced based practice in mental health/neurological Occupational Therapy
* Knowledge and evidence of use of Outcome measures used in Occupational Therapy.
* Member of relevant special interest group(s)
* PRPP trained
* PRPP trained Normal Movement course
* Other recognised postgraduate course relevant to mental health/neurological Occupational Therapy
* Knowledge and evidence of use of Outcome measures used in Occupational Therapy. Demonstrate knowledge of the recruitment and selection process.
Experience
* Substantive post-graduation clinical OT experience required within a mental health setting including substantive specific mental health post-graduation OT experience
* Previous position as a Band 6 or equivalent
* Experience within a physical setting
* Experience in the use of Occupational Therapy models of practice
* Teaching and student supervision experience
* Highly specialist experience in: oGroup therapy oIndividual therapy sessions in Management of complex mental health needs
* Experience of a hospital-based health service and a working knowledge of the U.K health system and the changes relevant to OT
* Experience within a rehabilitation setting
* Use of Problem Orientated Medical Records / SOAP Notes
* Experience of supervising and managing staff and being responsible for undertaking IPR and their professional development. including: ?Band 5/6 Ots ?OT Assistants ?OT Technical Officers ?OT Students
* Evidence of experience in teaching OT's, MDT members, patients and their carers, both on internal and external teaching programmes about OT intervention.
* Experience of involvement in Individual Performance Review both for self and directly managed staff
* Demonstrate a working knowledge and experience of clinical governance with example of participation in projects for the improvement of patient care and service developments, including leading on projects as required.
* Evidence of experience in teaching OT's, MDT members, patients and their carers, both on internal and external teaching programmes about OT intervention.
* Range of hospital and community experience
* Evidence of involvement in a Research & Development programme
Skills & Abilities
* Autonomous practitioner who is able to work unsupervised at a specialist level
* Ability to prioritise patients' needs according to set criteria, to delegate work in a fair manner and to monitor directly managed staff's ability to cope with effective OT delivery in a demanding environment.
* Ability to balance needs of direct caseload with the needs of managing OT service specific area.
* Ability to manage own caseload, assessing and treating complex and challenging patients and to advise others on these issues
* Strong understanding of OT models and group work principles
* Demonstrate ability to plan and co-ordinate highly specialised OT treatment programmes
* Ability to take on a key worker role/coordinator role demonstrating an understanding of the team's dynamics.
* Ability to respond to calls for advice from patients and from health care workers locally, nationally and internationally
* Demonstrate a positive approach to the treatment of acute and chronic neuro-disability
* Ability to negotiate, manage conflict and to communicate effectively with reassurance and empathy in difficult situations and/or with patients with cognitive /behavioural impairment
* Able to communicate complex, sensitive and contentious information in an understandable form to patients, significant others and all other professionals involved.
* Demonstrate good time management and leadership skills
* Demonstrate an application of clinical reasoning skills using specialist analytical skills to acute and chronic neurological conditions both verbally and written.
* Ability to work under pressure.
* Demonstrate good time management
* Evidence of effective presentation and training skills
* Commitment to utilising evidence-based practise in Mental Health/Neuro-Occupational Therapy
* Ability to concentrate and work under pressure with constant interruptions from staff, Telephones, Bleep system
* The ability to understand and adhere to equal opportunities Policy and Risk Management Policy
* Experience in the use of integrated Care Pathways
Personal Qualities
* Fluency in written and spoken English
* Ability to articulate reason for desire to work in service
* Flexibility in approach to service delivery and service needs
Other requirements- Physical Effort
* The physical capabilities to manage patients with acute and long term neurological disability both on the wards and in the therapy treatment areas at NHNN
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.
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, UCLH
£56,276 to £63,176 a yearper annum inclusive of HCAS
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
309-UCLH-7494
Job locations
National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, UCLH
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