South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Advanced AHP Lead - Occupational Therapist
The closing date is 14 November 2025
Are you passionate about supporting people with learning disabilities and committed to improving their quality of life?
Would you be interested to be part of a thriving multidisciplinary health team in the beautiful town of Hebden Bridge with the advantage of free parking behind our Health Centre base?
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Advanced AHP Lead Occupational Therapist to join our friendly Calderdale Adult Community Learning Disabilities Health Service.
You will join an experienced, well‑established and committed specialist multidisciplinary team who work agilely across Calderdale. The team includes dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, LD community nurses, psychiatry, psychology, an Intensive Support Team, therapy assistants and health‑care support workers. Our Allied Health Professionals collective within the wider team foster both autonomous and joint working approaches, and their creative solutions to health and wellbeing issues aim to result in the best outcomes for the local community.
As the Advanced Specialist Lead OT, you will lead the multidisciplinary AHP team providing regular supervision, support and management plus the development of pathways to ensure delivery of the AHP service within the Calderdale LD Health Team.
Main duties of the job
* You will be responsible for a defined caseload with service users of all levels of ability.
* You will manage the AHP team, supporting and supervising colleagues and students.
* You will continue with the development of pathways and service development for the AHP team.
* You will link and support OTs across the LD service.
* You will serve as an effective member of the MDT promoting a consistent multi‑agency approach including support, supervision and development of staff.
* You will work flexibly based on service‑user need, using reasonable adjustments to provide support.
* You will demonstrate an ability to work autonomously and as part of a wider team.
* You will have an understanding of the complex needs of people with learning disabilities and demonstrate the qualities to deliver safe, effective and personalised care ensuring processes are followed in accordance with Trust objectives.
* You will be committed to team‑working, be highly resilient and self‑motivating, determined to add value to the organisation and committed to our vision and values.
* Due to the nature of the role, you must be able to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes.
For further information or to arrange a visit to the team please contact Sarah Allard (Calderdale Team Manager) 07717 157957 sarah.allard@swyt.nhs.uk
About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high‑quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non‑clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means we are accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve the right to close the vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
* Responsible for day‑to‑day coordination and management of Allied Health Professionals within the designated clinical area, undertaking a complex, multi‑functional role, combining managerial, clinical and professional duties.
* Provide advice and support to other therapy staff and members of the multi‑disciplinary team within the service.
* Facilitate collaborative working across therapy, maximizing the skills of the therapists, therapy assistants and other staff.
* Act as a representative of the therapy services to liaise with consultants, other medical, therapy and nursing staff, social services, voluntary agencies and the private sector.
* Review the post holder's responsibilities continuously and in line with service developments.
KEY RESULT AREAS
Clinical
* Comply with the post holder's professional code and Health Care Professions Council code of ethics and professional conduct and adhere to national and local policies and procedures.
* Work in a specialised autonomous capacity accepting referrals for patients/service users referred to the clinical area. Give advice and support to other members of the multi‑disciplinary team.
* Be professionally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work, including management of patients with complex needs.
* Plan and prioritise own patient caseload, using highly specialist therapy skills.
* Use excellent communication and negotiation skills to establish a therapeutic relationship in complex and sometimes highly complex cases.
* Work with patients/families to aid their acceptance, understanding and management of their condition/disability.
* Implement evidence‑based practice and maintain current knowledge of relevant guidance.
* Carry out risk assessments and make recommendations to reduce risk and meet the needs of service users, staff and the wider service.
* Maintain a safe working environment for all staff, patients and members of the general public.
* Participate in continuous professional development, supervise peers and keep up to date knowledge through research and clinical interest groups.
Leadership and Management
* Provide clinical support and supervision to all therapy staff within the service.
* Encourage the provision of placements for student therapists and support team members.
* Represent the therapy services and liaise effectively with consultants, senior managers, professional leads, medical, therapy and nursing staff, social services, voluntary and private agencies.
* Take responsibility for risk assessment in your delegated area.
* Ensure all therapy team members take responsibility for their own CPD.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID‑19 to protect patients.
For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.
At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over‑reliance on AI‑generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy.
* Practice Education/Practice Assessor Preparation Certificate (or to achieve within 12 months).
* MSC/Diploma in relevant area.
Training
* Evidence of continuing professional development and postgraduate training in relevant area.
* Have demonstrable competence to work at Masters or Advanced Level.
* Management or leadership training.
* Audit training.
Physical Attributes
* Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
* A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
Personal Attributes
* Ability to risk assess and deal with health and safety matters for own and others' work area and caseloads.
* Ability to work autonomously.
* Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service possibly including evenings and weekend working.
Experience
* Extensive appropriate post‑registration experience relevant to clinical area.
* Experience in supervising and managing staff.
Special Knowledge & Skills
* Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
* Excellent leadership skills.
* Excellent teaching skills.
* Ability to demonstrate highly specialised clinical reasoning and treatment skills.
* Excellent team‑working skills.
* Proven experience of time management.
* Knowledge of local and national guidance relevant to clinical area.
* Basic IT 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.
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
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