Lead Occupational TherapistNHS

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Occupational Therapist to join our Rehabilitation Service as a Band 7 Lead Occupational Therapist. The post holder will provide professional leadership and clinical oversight across five inpatient rehabilitation wards, supporting individuals with complex mental health needs to achieve recovery, independence, and meaningful participation in everyday life.

The successful candidate will lead and develop high-quality occupational therapy services across the wards, ensuring the delivery of evidence-based, person-centred rehabilitation interventions. Working closely with multidisciplinary teams, you will promote recovery-focused practice and support service users to maximise their occupational performance and quality of life.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced clinician with strong leadership skills who is passionate about rehabilitation and service development. You will provide supervision and support to occupational therapists, assistants, students, and apprentices, while contributing to workforce development, quality improvement, and wider strategic objectives.

Working hours will primarily be Monday to Friday 9am-5pm with some flexibility as required. Base to be determined on appointment.

Main duties of the job

• Providing professional and clinical leadership for occupational therapy across five rehabilitation wards.
• Maintaining a clinical caseload of service users with complex and enduring mental health needs.
• Leading the assessment, formulation, and delivery of specialist occupational therapy interventions.
• Ensuring occupational therapy practice is evidence-based, outcome-focused, and aligned with professional standards.
• Supporting staff development through supervision, appraisal, teaching, and mentorship.
• Leading service improvement, audit, and quality assurance initiatives.
• Contributing to operational planning and the development of rehabilitation pathways.
• Working collaboratively with carers, families, community services, and external agencies to support effective discharge planning and recovery.

Job description

Essential

• BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy qualification
• Health and Care Professions Council Registration
• Further short courses and experience to Masters level
• Evidence of leadership to Occupational Therapy staff
• Specialist knowledge and application of OT assessments and intervention relevant to rehabilitation service users occupational needs.
• Applying and interpreting standardised OT assessments
• Proven experience of line management / supervision of OTs / support staff
• Experience of supervision of OT students and/or OT apprentices
• Demonstrable experience ofinvolvement in service development
• Experience of supporting effective change management within teams
• Proven experience of effective multidisciplinary/interagency working
• Able to communicate effectively complex and sensitive information, both verbally and in writing.
• Reflective practice skills
• Time management skills
• Able to organise and respond effectively to complex information
• Able to work as part of a team and independently
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
• Ability to work autonomously, set own priorities and manage timeeffectively
• Demonstrate application of Safety Planning and management inclinical practice
• Demonstrate an excellent understanding and clinical application of the Model of Human
• Demonstrable knowledge of up-todate evidence based practice
• Applied knowledge of relevant national policy and legislation related to people with complex mental health needs
• Awareness and knowledge of factors relating to Occupational Therapy service provision within rehabilitation services
• Experience of applying the Model of Human Occupation to assessand evaluate service user outcomes
• Detailed knowledge of the principles of clinical quality and itsapplication in practice
• Ability to plan and develop groups to meet individual rehabilitation goals

Desirable

• Management / leadership training
• Placement educator
• Evidence of post graduate research experience
• Experience working in rehabilitation services
• Experience of using Quality Improvement methodology
• Presentation and teaching skills

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification to give you the best chance of being shortlisted.

About us

We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We're really proud of our#PennineCarePeopleand do everything we can to make sure we're a great place to work.

All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.

If you come and work for us we will offer a range of benefits and opportunities, including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement for Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental staff.
• Flexible working opportunities to support your work/life balance
• Access to Continued Professional Development
• Involvement in improvement and research activities
• Health and Wellbeing activities and access to an excellent staff wellbeing service
• Access to staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel