Senior Occupational Therapist (Mental Health & Autism)
We are recruiting a Band 6 Occupational Therapist (Mental Health & Autism) for a 2‑year fixed term contract to join an expanding small multidisciplinary team providing intensive support for autistic people accessing mental health services across Norfolk and Waveney.
We welcome applications from Occupational Therapists working in both Mental Health Practitioner roles and traditional Occupational Therapy roles. We recognise that the skills clinicians bring from either pathway are highly valuable and readily transferable to our team.
As a Band 6 OT, you will provide specialist functional, sensory and environmental assessments, and deliver tailored interventions. You will be working clinically with a small caseload of autistic service users (18 and above) who are open to NSFT mental health teams and presenting frequently within our urgent and emergency care pathways.
The overarching aims of the Autism Intensive Support (AIS) team are to reduce the number of and length of stay for autistic people in acute inpatient settings. The AIS team provide an intensive recovery‑oriented approach, which is trauma‑informed and autism‑friendly to autistic service users directly and undertake consultation, supervision and training of NSFT colleagues to improve the confidence and skill of mainstream mental health community and ward staff to deliver autism informed care.
Key responsibilities
* Undertake occupational therapy prioritisation and deliver short‑term interventions, identifying clear recommendations for community teams.
* Complete specialist functional, sensory and environmental assessments.
* Develop occupation‑focused intervention plans and crisis support strategies.
* Provide sensory modulation, daily living skill development and structured routine support.
* Promote meaningful participation and enable recovery in the least restrictive setting.
* Contribute to MDT formulation, risk management and community alternatives to admission.
* Support families and carers using autism‑informed practice and environmental adaptations.
The role requires a full UK driving licence, independent travel across Norfolk and Waveney, and access to a vehicle. Public transport is not acceptable for this role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* BSc/MSc or Diploma in Occupational Therapy
* HCPC registration
Experience
* Post‑registration experience in mental health.
* Experience of MDT working.
* Ability to work both independently and under supervision.
* Experience working in a mental health setting and/or with autistic people.
Skills
* Ability to deliver OT assessment / treatment with a designated client group.
* Ability to work under pressure, manage own caseload and prioritise.
* Strong verbal and written communication skills.
* Skilled in delivering occupational therapy interventions within a mental health setting.
Knowledge
* Specialist knowledge of occupational therapy assessments and interventions relevant to this client group.
* Understanding of the principles and application of the recovery model and social inclusion.
* Demonstrates reflective practice.
* Up to date with evidence‑based research for specialist area.
Other
* Ability to travel independently.
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.
£39,959 to £48,117 a year gross per annum (pro rata)
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