Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Senior Occupational Therapist - Enhanced Discharge Team
The posting will close on 1 March 2026.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an occupational therapist in the Enhanced Discharge Team (EDT). The role offers the opportunity to develop the Occupational Therapy role within the team, as part of the EDT, with the support of the inpatient occupational therapy team. The post holder will provide specialist clinical interventions and assessments as appropriate.
You will provide close liaison with other agencies, teams and carers to coordinate discharges from the inpatient wards.
You will provide short‑term support to service users in relation to their discharge planning and recovery.
You will offer Occupational Therapy support, advice and input to people and staff across the acute inpatient wards in Hertfordshire.
Main duties of the job
To work as part of the newly established Enhanced Discharge Team to ensure safe and effective discharges from our inpatient mental health services.
To assess and provide appropriate occupational interventions on discharge, and to provide a seamless service in continuing the OT work initiated on the inpatient setting to ensure supported discharges.
To work in partnership with the inpatient housing and accommodation worker providing solutions using the Support Time and Recovery Model.
To work across the adult acute inpatient wards in Hertfordshire.
To work closely with the inpatient occupational therapists and other staff, the CRHT team, bed management team, the housing worker, Health and Social Care Teams, Bed Placement, Care Coordinators and carers to enable barriers to discharge to be identified and resolved within a time frame that meets the patient’s needs.
A sound working knowledge of the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and its application to practice is essential. Regular opportunities to network with other OT’s in the Trust to share ideas and good practice are available. A monthly CPD training event is provided and there are opportunities to apply for external courses.
About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ from the Care Quality Commission.
Our family of over 4,500 staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.
Job responsibilities
* To select and apply Occupational Therapy assessments for a designated caseload, addressing occupational performance and skill deficits, enabling the client in areas of self‑maintenance, productivity and leisure.
* To work using a problem‑solving approach to reduce risk at home.
* To work with clients to identify OT goals as part of the overall care plan.
* To plan and implement individual interventions, in collaboration with the client, using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.
* To demonstrate and apply a broad level of understanding of the effect of disability and recommend adaptations to the client’s physical and social environment.
* To provide specialist OT skills and education for Waythrough Crisis House staff.
* To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment for clients with multiple needs in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
* To review and reflect on personal practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
* To work alongside the existing OT to provide a collaborative, joined‑up OT provision across the crisis service in the SE.
* To demonstrate basic leadership skills through the management of designated projects.
* To participate in the induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting as appropriate.
* To participate in the supervision of junior staff as appropriate.
* To monitor and evaluate treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of the intervention and feedback to appropriate forum.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING
* BSc/MSc/PG Dip Occupational Therapy
* HCPC registration
* Evidence of clinical post‑registration training
* Proficient use of Microsoft Office and associated packages.
* Membership of RCOT, including specialist section
* Solution‑Focused Brief Therapy training
* AMPS/ESI/SI training
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
* Post‑registration experience in an acute mental health setting
* Applied experience of providing both individual and group work interventions
* Highly specialist knowledge and experience of using and applying the Model of Human Occupation assessment tools, or other appropriate tools
* Experience of other specialist Occupational Therapy assessment tools, e.g. AMPS, Pool Activity Levels
* Documented evidence of continuing professional development
* Experience in providing advice, support and clinical supervision to junior staff and/or students
* Applied knowledge of Recovery principles and how these relate to OT
* Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disability in a variety of health and social care settings
* Experience in research or audit
* Previous experience of having worked within a discharge team
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 to submit a disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
£40,617 to £48,778 a year, Per annum, Pro rata (5% HCAS Included)
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