Specialist Occupational TherapistNHS

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time, fixed term post as a band 6 Specialist Occupational Therapist to join the Occupational Therapy Team within Children and Young People Services, working into a general adolescence unit (acute ward) in Middlesborough.

This service supports young people aged 13-18 years mixed sex ward, young people who are experiencing complex mental health difficulties, trauma and/or neurodevelopmental conditions.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Occupational Therapist who has clinical experience and the ability to work autonomously. The successful candidate would require a strong role identify and sound clinical background knowledge, hold skills on how to balance clinical needs of the service, the team and own expectations. The successful candidate will work alongside the MDT team to deliver specialised assessments and interventions and will be required to adapt to meet a wide range of needs.

We are a responsive, innovative and dynamic Foundation Trust, encouraging Leadership, opportunities for Continuing Professional Development and developing specialist skills and training. Our approach to recruitment is values based and applicants must reflect the Trust's corporate values and behaviors.

Main duties of the job

The job role of the specialist occupational therapist is to screen all young people who are admitted or transferred into the acute ward. The occupational therapist is integral to the young persons care, using assessment, treatment plans to support he young person to discover and recover. The successful candidate will proactively advocate the needs of young people to other professionals, meeting families with consideration of adaptation and working holistically with the focus of occupational performance in all aspects of the young person's care and treatment.

The successful candidate will facilitate therapeutic groups as well as 1:1 individual sessions in order to support clinical observations to inform formal assessments. The OT will gather information to support occupational formulation with devising interventions plans in collaboration with young person.

The successful candidate will use best-evidence based assessments, write reports and clear documentations of clinical contact with young people. The OT regularly provides feedback through attending clinical meetings with advocating the occupational needs for young people.

The successful candidate will have a supervisor role which includes supervision of AHP support staff, providing clear guidance on therapy directed interventions and supporting staff with CPD. The OT role has opportunity for development of staff through training.

Job description

The Occupational therapist will work clinically within the ward environment alongside the Nursing, medical teams and wider MDT. The role is to raise the profile of OT through training, mentoring and echoing shared values whilst clinically working with young people.

There is an expectation the OT works collaboratively with the team, demonstrates flexibly and holds integrity to the occupational needs of young people.

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 24th September 2026

Closing date : 8th October 2026

We welcome your application.

About us

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.