Join Us as We Reopen Our New CAMHS Inpatient Unit
We are pleased to invite applications for Band 7 Occupational Therapist to join our newly redesigned Children and Young People's Mental Health Inpatient Unit, reopening in Autumn 2026.
Following extensive co-design with young people, families and staff, and significant investment in our workforce and therapeutic approach, this is an exciting opportunity to work in a modern, recovery-focused inpatient service delivering high-quality, purposeful care to young people with acute mental health needs.
Main Duties of the Job
You will provide advanced clinical reasoning within the inpatient multidisciplinary team, contributing to a safe, therapeutic and recovery-focused ward environment. You will hold responsibility for complex occupational therapy assessments, risk management and formulation-led care planning, working with children and young people with high levels of need.
You will deliver evidence-based occupational therapy assessments, interventions and outcome evaluation, and will lead on clinical decision-making as part of the MDT, contributing to safe, high-quality admissions, reviews and discharge planning in partnership with community services.
You will support, supervise and contribute to the development of wider CAMHS occupational therapy staff and students, promoting high standards of clinical practice and reflective learning. You will champion trauma-informed, relational and strengths-based approaches, ensuring these principles are embedded in day-to-day inpatient care.
You will contribute actively to service development, quality improvement and evaluation activity, and work collaboratively with families, carers, community CAMHS teams and wider system partners to support continuity of care and positive outcomes.
About Us
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust delivers specialist mental health, learning disability and neurodevelopmental services across Sussex.
This post sits within our Specialist CAMHS Services, providing opportunities to gain experience across acute, crisis and community pathways as part of your career development.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to creating a compassionate and supportive working environment where staff feel valued, developed and able to thrive.
What We Can Offer You
* The opportunity to be part of a newly reopened CAMHS inpatient unit
* Comprehensive induction programme prior to opening where all new staff train together and contribute to the team's therapeutic approach
* A welcoming and supportive team culture with strong clinical leadership
* Structured preceptorship (where applicable) and high-quality clinical supervision
* Access to CAMHS-specific training and ongoing CPD
* NHS Pension Scheme and Agenda for Change benefits
We would love to hear from you if you want to make a real difference to young people’s lives and help shape a redesigned, values-driven inpatient service.
Location
The unit is based in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, with on-site parking and good transport links to London and across Sussex, and close proximity to Gatwick Airport.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy
* Evidence of post-qualification study
* Registration with the HPC as an occupational therapist
* Practice Education training
* Training in the use of standardised occupational therapy assessment tools
* Management/Leadership training
Values
* Ability to travel across sites
* Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required
Knowledge
* Extensive experience as a qualified occupational therapist in mental health
* Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
* Experience of both group and individual work
* Experience of multidisciplinary working
* Experience of supervising staff and students
* Experience as a Care Coordinator
* Research experience
Communication
* Able to communicate complex condition-related information to service users, carers and colleagues
* Lead others in the development of knowledge, ideas and work practices including policies and strategies
* Develop partnership working with individuals, groups, communities and agencies
IT Skills
* Ability to use Trust IT systems including e-mail and electronic clinical records
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.
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