Job overview
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:
1. A comprehensive year-round in-house OT-to-OT training programme
2. Access to the Trust’s Preceptorship programme
3. Opportunities to attend external specialist training, such as Sensory Integration, VdTMoCA, and equipment prescribing
4. Regular reflective practice sessions
The successful candidate will:
5. Be motivated, enthusiastic and flexible, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills
6. Be able to use initiative and take appropriate responsibility for contributing to the planning and delivery of daily ward programmes
7. Demonstrate a clear interest in evidence-based practice, ongoing professional development and recovery-focused approaches
8. 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
Working for our organisation
There are over 300 Occupational Therapists (OTs) in CNWL. We work in many different teams in both physical and mental health, as well as a number of specialist areas. There are plenty of opportunities to develop your career with us and maintain your dual skills.
OT in CNWL is very fortunate in having an established professional structure including an AHP director, Trust wide Professional Head of OT, borough and specialist Head OTs. This has the huge benefit of ensuring representation of our profession at all levels - both strategically and operationally.
Personal and professional development is a high priority for the profession and is underpinned by research groups and OT clinical networks. We invest in the development of our staff by providing excellent internal training as well as commissioning specialised external training and providing quality supervision. This ensures all our OTs can reach their full potential at every stage of their career. Our commitment to research, audit and evidence-based practice is made possible by our strong links with local universities.
We actively support the next generation of OTs through Apprenticeships, student placements and the promotion of the profession as a career in schools. We are proud of the diversity in our workforce and have invested time in supporting and developing this further through our Equality Diversity and Belonging OT group.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions in collaboration with the service user, using graded and adapted activity to achieve therapeutic goals.
• To undertake OT assessments, addressing occupational performance and skill deficits, enabling the service user in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.
• To build on existing knowledge of the MoHO, using standardised assessment and intervention tools.
• Following assessment, to undertake case formulation to highlight occupational strengths and limitations and to inform the intervention plan moving forward.
• To work collaboratively with service users to identify goals as part of the overall recovery plan.
• To provide interventions in the manner that is consistent with Trust standards and values.
• To routinely provide feedback to the MDT regarding observed occupational performance throughout contact, which inform ongoing assessment and therapeutic intervention.
• To provide support and education to service users and carers regarding aspects of OT
• To liaise with carers and other professionals as relevant.
• To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.
• To attend mandatory training.
• To comply with the RCoT Professional Standards For OT practice, conduct and ethics
• To review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
• To maintain a professional portfolio for CPD, recording learning outcomes through participation in internal/external development opportunities.
• To actively participate in OT and Trust CPD development programmes.
Vaccination
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
9. Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
10. Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the
11. Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.