Senior Occupational Therapist – Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
The closing date is 3 June 2026.
We are recruiting an experienced part‑time Band 6 Senior Occupational Therapist (26 hours / 0.7 WTE) to join our newly established Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Outreach Service at HMP Holme House.
This post will align with occupational therapy provision across OPD services in TEWV and is part of the National OPD pathway. It offers an exciting opportunity to deliver specialist occupational therapy assessment and intervention for men with complex clinical and relational needs. The role focuses on supporting individuals with significant personality difficulties or a diagnosed Personality Disorder who are assessed as presenting a high risk in relation to offending behaviours.
Due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate must pass Police Vetting before commencing employment. This includes a thorough review of personal information, including a criminal record check (both spent and unspent), a review of financial standing, and social media checks. Vetting may also extend to family members and associates. You must also have resided in the UK for 3 years at the point of application.
You must have the Right to Work in the UK. This role does not meet the required eligibility criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa; therefore the Trust is unable to offer sponsorship.
Main duties of the job
* Complete occupational performance assessments and occupational formulations, as part of the wider context of offending behaviours and personality difficulties.
* Use client‑centred approaches to co‑produce negotiated occupational goals and evaluate these in line with clinical outcome measures.
* Offer clinical advice and support relating to occupational needs with multi‑disciplinary professionals and multi‑agency partners at HMP Low Newton as part of HM Prison and Probation Service.
* Contribute to multi‑disciplinary team working in line with the outreach service aims and operational policy including the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway national strategy and objectives.
* Use relevant electronic record systems in the prison setting including Systm One and NOMIST to abide by all Trust policies and procedures.
* Respond flexibly and creatively to challenges that arise within the context of a prison setting.
* Be clinically supervised and professionally managed by the Lead Occupational Therapist for Health and Justice.
About us
Since 2015, Health and Justice has delivered mental health and learning disability care across HMP establishments and within the community. Occupational therapy is a core part of this work, supporting individuals to build skills, increase independence, and engage meaningfully in daily life.
Our occupational therapy team is professionally led by the Lead Occupational Therapist and benefits from a strong culture of collaboration. Therapists across the service meet regularly for peer support, continued professional development, and shared learning, helping to maintain high standards of practice and drive ongoing service improvement. As the value of occupational therapy within health and justice continues to be recognised, our team is expanding and strengthening its contribution across service.
We are proud of our Trust‑wide OT Pathway, which provides a consistent, evidence‑based structure for clinical practice. This includes a clear triage process, standardised assessment tools and documentation, collaboratively developed treatment plans, and robust clinical outcome measures. These elements ensure our work is purposeful, transparent, and focused on meaningful change for the people we support.
Our therapists are supported through defined job plans, development frameworks, regular supervision, and established learning and governance networks. These structures enable the delivery of high‑quality care while ensuring staff feel equipped, supported, and confident in their roles.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Appropriate professional qualification for occupational therapy role
* Current relevant registration with specific regulatory body
* Postgraduate training in relevant specialist area
Experience
* Minimum 12 months post‑qualifying experience of occupational therapy delivery
* Experience of supporting people with mental health issues, learning disability or autism
* Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
Knowledge
* Understanding of the needs of people who use our services with mental health conditions or learning disabilities.
* Clinical risk assessment and application in practice
* Knowledge of evidence‑based practice in designated specialist area
* Post‑graduate training in specialist area if applicable to post (e.g. dysphagia, autism diagnostics)
* Awareness of professional standards and their application to practice
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.
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 per annum (pro rata, 26 hours).
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
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