Adult Acute Mental Health Occupational Therapist
The closing date is 11 May 2026.
This is an exciting opportunity for a Band 5 Occupational Therapist (OT) to join a dynamic and forward‑thinking Adult Acute Inpatient OT team.
The Riverside Centre is a busy, welcoming service based in Hillingdon, Uxbridge, and forms part of Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust. The centre comprises three wards: two 18‑bedded acute adult wards and an 8‑bedded male PICU, supporting adults with complex and acute mental health needs.
This role is ideally suited to those seeking to build experience in an acute mental health setting. You will work alongside a highly supportive and experienced team, including senior and specialist OTs, Activity Coordinators, Peer Support Workers and a dedicated Fitness Instructor.
In this post, you will develop core and specialist skills across OT‑specific assessment and intervention, including sensory assessment, trauma‑informed approaches, and both individual and group‑based work. You will also benefit from close multidisciplinary working and learning opportunities with colleagues from Nursing, Psychology and the Medical team, supporting your professional development within a collaborative MDT environment.
Main duties of the job
You will receive regular supervision from a senior member of the OT team, alongside day‑to‑day support from a well‑established team, working closely with four other OTs. You will be part of a strong professional network that values learning, reflection and collaborative practice.
The role offers a range of development and training opportunities to support your clinical and professional growth, including:
* A comprehensive year‑round in‑house OT‑to‑OT training programme
* Access to the Trust's Preceptorship programme
* Opportunities to attend external specialist training, such as Sensory Integration, VdTMoCA, and equipment prescribing
* Regular reflective practice sessions
The successful candidate will:
* Be motivated, enthusiastic and flexible, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills
* Be able to use initiative and take appropriate responsibility for contributing to the planning and delivery of daily ward programmes
* Demonstrate a clear interest in evidence‑based practice, ongoing professional development and recovery‑focused approaches
* Be familiar with the Model of Human Occupation (MoHO) and other evidence‑based assessment tools to establish functional baselines and inform intervention planning, recommendations and ongoing care
Job responsibilities
* Plan and implement individual and/or group interventions in collaboration with the service user, using graded and adapted activity to achieve therapeutic goals
* Undertake OT assessments, addressing occupational performance and skill deficits, enabling the service user in areas of self‑maintenance, productivity and leisure
* Build on existing knowledge of the MoHO, using standardised assessment and intervention tools
* After assessment, undertake case formulation to highlight occupational strengths and limitations and inform the intervention plan moving forward
* Work collaboratively with service users to identify goals as part of the overall recovery plan
* Provide interventions in a manner consistent with Trust standards and values
* Routinely provide feedback to the MDT regarding observed occupational performance throughout contact, informing ongoing assessment and therapeutic intervention
* Provide support and education to service users and carers regarding aspects of OT
* Liaise with carers and other professionals as relevant
* Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance
* Attend mandatory training
* Comply with the RCoT Professional Standards for OT practice, conduct and ethics
* Review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal
* Maintain a professional portfolio for CPD, recording learning outcomes through participation in internal/external development opportunities
* Actively participate in OT and Trust CPD development programmes
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
* Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
* Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an Occupational Therapist, or eligible for registration with evidence of an application submitted and registration pending for newly qualified OT's
* Relevant work/voluntary experience of training in mental health
Previous Experience
* Application of OT process & use of functional assessment & activity analysis
* Experience of groups and 1:1 interventions in a health or social care setting
* Knowledge of standardised assessment & outcome measures appropriate to setting
* Experience of the application of an OT model in practice
* Experience of partnership working in promoting social inclusive opportunities for patients
Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
* Knowledge & understanding of range of communication skills to overcome barriers to engagement
* Knowledge of psychopathology and its impact on occupational performance and functioning
* Clear concept of OT, conceptual models of practice and frames of references
* Clinical reasoning and case formulation skills to plan/deliver/review OT interventions
* Good communication skills (written, verbal, listening and IT)
* Good awareness of the principles and importance of safeguarding
* Applied understanding and use of a range of communication skills to overcome barriers to engagement
* Interest in Research and QI
* Knowledge of trauma‑informed approaches
Personal Characteristics
* Shows a high level of personal motivation and commitment to professional standards
* Shows professional confidence and flexibility when working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
* Demonstrates a proactive attitude towards learning and developing knowledge and skills
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.
Salary
£36,943 to £44,900 a year, pro rata if P/T, incl. HCAS.
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