Main area Occupational Therapy Grade Band 5 Contract Fixed term: 9 months (9 months contract OR until June 2027. Secondment supported for internal candidates with substantive managers agreement) Hours
* Full time
* Flexible working
37.5 hours per week Job ref 246-GYW7938321
Site Northside House Town Norwich Salary £32,073 - £39,043 gross per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 19/05/2026 23:59
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams. We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience.
Job overview
We are looking to recruit a motivated, and resilient Band 5 Occupational Therapist to join the team in Secure Services at Northside House on a fixed term basis for 9 months, or until June 2027.
We are immensely proud that Secure Services has recently been rated as ‘Good’ by CQC, with some areas scored ‘Outstanding’, but we are always wanting to improve. Are you the right person to support this journey?
Although based at Northside House in Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich, you will be part of the well‑established Occupational and Fitness Therapy Team working across Norfolk and Suffolk. You will receive regular clinical and line management supervision, and also professional and governance support from within our knowledgeable, friendly and supportive team. If you are newly qualified, you will be supported to complete your preceptorship.
Main duties of the job
In this role, you would be aligned with Drayton ward, which is a 16‑bed Medium Secure ward for men. This would be your caseload. However, as there are three other wards at Northside House, a second MSU (Catton) and an LSU (Blakeney), there will be opportunities to work across the site, under the guidance of Senior Occupational Therapists.
Within this role you will be line managed by a highly experienced Senior Occupational Therapist and provide supervision for an Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner and Fitness Therapy Technical Instructor, with whom you will work closely day‑to‑day. You will play a key role in the wider multi‑professional team, offering holistic and trauma‑informed care on the Secure wards.
The right candidate will be able to work with minimal supervision, and be enthusiastic and proactive, putting the needs of service users first.
As a team we are proud of our record of co‑production and positive risk management. We are always looking for ways to improve outcomes for our service users and encourage creativity and innovation in all our staff. We will work with you to ensure that you have all the skills you need for your role and to move forward in your career.
Working for our organisation
Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.
Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.
Why Norfolk and Suffolk? The people here are warm and welcoming, you’ll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We’re an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will undertake the planning/delivery of direct patient care with regular access to supervision, ensuring continuity of practice and working within a MDT/multi‑agency environment.
* To oversee a caseload of individuals with diagnoses of mental health conditions such as personality disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar, depression, who have had contact with the criminal justice pathway
* Provide person‑centred Occupational Therapy assessment and interventions, goal setting and treatment planning, with regular reviews.
* Lead on the planning, delivery and review of a 12‑weekly Occupational and Fitness therapy Program across the ward.
* Attend and participate in MDT clinical reviews, CPA meetings, other professionals meetings as required.
* To work within local risk assessments, policies, procedures and security arrangements at all times.
* To identify risks and changes in the physical or mental health of service users, and escalated concerns as per security protocols.
* To form partnerships with other care providers and third sector organisations as needed.
* To ensure service users/carer(s) are enabled and empowered to make informed decisions about their care and delivery of that care, working with agencies from within and outside the multi‑professional team.
* To offer opportunities for participation in service development and delivery for service users/carers, as the experts by experience.
* To provide caseload management supervision to junior staff under the direction and supervision of the Senior Occupational Therapist.
* To enable service users to gain and maintain independence, always promoting hope and reducing potential stigma.
* Identifying personal learning and training needs and undertaking appraisal and personal development plans on an annual basis, reviewing these at each line management supervision meeting.
* Support students that will be undertaking placements within the team. If you have already completed your preceptorship year you will be supported to take your own student.
The Occupational and Fitness Therapy Team offers regular clinical and line management supervision with an emphasis on wellbeing, development and reflective practice. This is both 1:1 and in team group sessions. We hold a strong belief in team and individual development. As well as the week‑long NSFT induction for new starters to the Trust, we offer a comprehensive local induction to the team and service, so you will feel supported in the transition to our team.
The Occupational Therapy team across the Secure wards use the Model of Human Occupation to guide practice. This is a widely adopted model and you will be supported to gain confidence in this, and the associated assessments, which form the basis of our interventions.
Person specification
Qualifications
* Diploma or BSc/MSc Degree in Occupational Therapy
* Registered with the HCPC
Experience
* Experience of working with a broad range of people with varied diagnoses and backgrounds
* Ability to work both independently and under supervision
* Experience of working within mental health
Skills
* Ability to deliver OT assessment / treatment with designated client group.
* Risk assessment and crisis management.
* Liaison with other professionals.
* Experience in running therapeutic groups.
Knowledge
* Knowledge and application of Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions relevant to this client group.
* Basic understanding of Mental Health Act 1983 and any updates.
Other
* Ability to travel independently.
Please be aware that, due to the high number of applications for certain roles, this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised closing date. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Apart from its legal duties in relation to equality and diversity, the Trust recognises and actively promotes the benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.
As a part of the Disability Confident Employer Guaranteed Interview Scheme we interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job vacancy (outlined in the Person Specification). We encourage you to indicate your eligibility through TRAC jobs when applying.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post may be 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.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Name Lucy Johnson – Senior Occupational Therapist – Email: lucy.johnson@nsft.nhs.uk – Phone: 01603 707591. Alternatively, please contact Nina Mason, AHP Lead Great Yarmouth and Waveney – nina.mason@nsft.nhs.uk.
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