Overview
We are seeking an Occupational Therapist to join the Community Service Line within South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust. The role supports clients with complex mental health needs to recover and step down from Mental Health Services, working as part of a Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) alongside Recovery Support Workers, Employment Specialists, and the Involvement Team. The post involves developing relationships with wider community organisations and social prescribers to promote service-user involvement, engagement, and co-production.
Location: Tolworth Hospital, Red Lion Rd, Tolworth, KT6 7QU. Band 6, full-time, permanent. Salary: £44,485 to £52,521 per annum inclusive of outer London HCAS.
Date posted: 29 September 2025.
Responsibilities
* Provide Occupational Therapy for team clients, with a maximum of one day duty cover for the team once every two weeks.
* Manage an OT caseload of clients with complex needs using evidence-based, client-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
* Carry out standardised assessments using The Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and other frameworks as agreed by Therapy Leads.
* Deliver manualised interventions (group and individual) such as GLOW (Graduated Living Outside of the Ward) and IPEL (Increasing Participation in Everyday Life) to support step-down and discharge planning.
* Offer Sensory Profiling/interventions and advise on reasonable adjustments for service users with sensory challenges.
* Participate in planning, development, and evaluation of OT services within the Community Team and lead defined projects.
* Engage with the OT referrals process to identify and prioritise OT interventions.
* Provide leadership to junior staff through supervision and appraisal; supervise OT students (two per year on average).
* Offer professional leadership and clinical supervision to Recovery Support Workers and engage in co-working pathways.
* Promote Recovery and Social Inclusion, working with the Involvement Team to enhance service-user engagement and co-production.
* Collaborate with the Employment Specialist to develop vocational pathways.
* Contribute to the maintenance and development of the Trust OT Service and streamline working from admission to discharge in line with the Adult Services Recovery Care pathway.
* Advocate for and promote the role of occupational therapy in helping people manage the impact of symptoms on daily occupations.
Person Specification
Essential
* Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy; UK registration to practice.
* Evidence of post-registration training relevant to mental health practice.
* Training in MOHO within the first 4 months of appointment.
* Experience carrying a caseload in a mental health setting and working in a multi-disciplinary team.
* Ability to maintain written records of ongoing professional development; experience of individual and group-work; experience writing specialist OT reports.
* Developed interpersonal skills for forming therapeutic alliances with service users with complex needs; proficient written communication.
* Ability to model positive professional behaviour; health, safety and security awareness; ability to monitor work areas to maintain a healthy, safe environment.
Desirable
* Practice placement educator course within one year of appointment; Apple registration.
* Experience as a preceptor or practice-placement educator; ability to deliver presentations.
Additional Requirements
* Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as required by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975).
* UK registration: current UK professional registration.
* Certificate of Sponsorship information and UK immigration guidance may apply for sponsorship; see UK Visas and Immigration guidance for overseas applicants.
Employer Details
Employer: South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust
Address: Tolworth Hospital, Red Lion Rd, Tolworth, KT6 7QU
Website: https://www.swlstg.nhs.uk/
J-18808-Ljbffr