Overview
The East of England Adult Eating Disorders Provider Collaborative is recruiting to the Adult Eating Disorders Intensive Treatment service (A-EDIT). We are seeking a band 7 Lead Occupational Therapist (with a second Lead OT) to provide OT assessments and interventions including EMPSA. The post is permanent. The service covers the whole East of England; you may live in Essex, Bedfordshire, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire or Milton Keynes. Your base will be the nearest Trust base to your home address. Managed by HPFT, hosted by HPFT and CPFT. The service uses EMPSA and MOHO tools to assess and support service users and to help restore weight and enable home-based care where possible.
The postholder will work with nurses, dietitians, psychotherapists, Clinical Lead, consultant psychiatrist, support workers and associate therapy practitioners to provide a comprehensive and intensive formulation-guided service.
Occasional travel to bases across the region and some remote/online working from home or a local Trust base may be required.
Main duties
* Work with the specialist multidisciplinary team.
* Provide OT and EMPSA assessments for service users of the Intensive service and create treatment plans from them.
* Support service users to avoid specialist inpatient admission where possible.
* Advise the multidisciplinary team on learnings from OT interventions and recommended input.
* Supervise junior staff.
* Participate in generic initial assessments for those who might come into treatment.
* Coordinate and develop the OT provision.
About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is one of five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of Outstanding from the Care Quality Commission. Our staff of over 4,500 provide health and social care across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk. Trust values: Welcoming, Kind, Positive, Respectful, Professional.
Details
Date posted: 13 March 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £50,008 to £56,908 per year pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 367-SS-10131
Job locations: Rosanne House, Parkway, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6HG
Job responsibilities
The post holder will work as an autonomous and highly skilled Specialist Occupational Therapist within the alternative pathway to Specialist Eating Disorder inpatient admission, providing advanced clinical input to adults with eating disorders and their carers. The role aims to deliver specialist OT interventions that promote safety, functional recovery, and community-based stabilisation to reduce inpatient admissions. Using knowledge of eating disorder symptomatology and its impact on occupational performance, the post holder will complete comprehensive assessments, develop robust formulations, and implement evidence-based interventions, including individual and group work, online and in person, with the wider MDT.
The post holder will provide advanced clinical reasoning and specialist advice to colleagues across the A-EDIT team and wider community eating disorder network, maintaining excellent communication and partnership with community clinicians to ensure high-quality, person-centred care.
Qualifications, education and training
Essential – BSc/MSc/PG Dip Occupational Therapy; HCPC registration; evidence of post-qualification training; Practice Placement qualification/APPLE accreditation.
Desirable – RCOT membership including specialist section; first line management training; Solution Focused Brief Therapy; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy training.
Experience
Essential – post-registration experience at a Band 6 level in relevant clinical setting; experience of individual and group work; knowledge and application of MOHO or equivalent; experience with OT assessment tools (e.g., AMPS, Pool Activity Levels).
Desirable – experience with people with MH problems and/or LD; experience in an eating disorders setting.
Skills, knowledge and abilities
Essential – strong written and verbal communication; ability to work in a multidisciplinary team; knowledge of policy and legislation affecting OT and MH practice; ability to handle sensitive information; professional boundaries.
Analytical skills – knowledge of current best practice in OT and MH; clinical judgement; experience with MOHO assessment tools.
Disclosures and registrations
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.
Sponsorship and overseas applicants
Certificate of Sponsorship is available. See UK Visas and Immigration guidance for overseas applicants. Guidance on criminal records checks for overseas applicants available via provided links.
Employer details
Employer: Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. Address: Rosanne House, Parkway, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6HG. Website: hpft.nhs.uk/careers
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