Job summary
- Main area
- CTPLD Reading
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 371-CFS638-A
- Employer
- Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Erlegh House
- Town
- Reading
- Salary
- £40,617 - £48,778 per annum (Incl of HCAS)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 19/01/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 28/01/2026
Employer heading
Occupational Therapist
Band 6
Job overview
We are looking to recruit a full time Band 6 Occupational Therapist working in the community across Reading, Wokingham and Newbury Learning Disability services as required but will be based in Reading.
This innovative role requires a diverse set of skills including knowledge and experience around equipment provision, manual handling, excellent communication, and organisational skills and requires a creative approach to practice. No two days are ever the same.
The team promotes a truly client centred ethos and multi-disciplinary style of working. Close collaboration with families, carers and external stakeholders is required in order to enhance the health and well-being of people with learning disabilities.
Experience of working with this delightful client group in the community is desirable but applicants with an open mind and relevant transferable skills will be considered.
The successful candidate will be a confident and competent practitioner providing assessment, treatment, planning and therapy provision for adults with learning disabilities with complex needs.
The Occupational Therapy service offers regular supervision, opportunities for service development and training in specialist areas such as sensory integration.
Main duties of the job
- Planning and delivery of Occupational Therapy to clients with learning disabilities
- Support hospital discharge referrals to promote the independence of service users on the caseload and identify any long-term needs.
- Provision of equipment to promote independence and safety.
- Hold a caseload and work autonomously
- Work flexibly to ensure urgent referrals are adequately managed
- Supporting colleagues in the delivery of compassionate, safe and structured care
- Plan and provide treatment in collaboration with others as appropriate
- Provide guidance and appropriate delegation to therapy assistants in the team
- Managing a caseload of service users with complex needs
- Regular joint work with other members of the team
- Supervision of OT students
Working for our organisation
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The “must haves” for this role:
- HCPC registration as a Occupational Therapist and excellent communications skills
- Understanding the Physical, Mental and Social needs of people with learning disabilities
- Car driver with a valid UK driving license with ability and readiness to be flexible within working days.
- Right to live and work in the UK
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Lakshmi Leela on 07733225601 or email: [email protected] who’ll be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications/ Training
Essential criteria
- Diploma / Degree in Occupational Therapy
- State Registration with HCPC
Continuous Professional Development
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary environment.
Desirable criteria
- Previous OT experience with people with Learning disabilities
- Working with families
- Working with people that have a learning disability.
- Working with people who challenge.
- Work with people with mental health problems.
- Work with people with complex/profound disabilities.
- Working with people who have Dementia.
- Working with people who have Epilepsy.
- To have post qualification experience of working as an OT for 2 years
- To have post qualification experience of working with people with a learning disability, for 1 year.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
- Highly developed interpersonal skills
- Ability to work autonomously.
- Ability to effectively manage self and others e.g. Time management caseload management.
- Able to demonstrate reflective practice.
- Ability to use a range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions.
- Ability to assess and manage clinical risk.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of approaches to challenging behaviour.
- Understanding/knowledge of current philosophies of care
- Ability to relate theory/research to practice
- Awareness of research methods.
Additional Requirements
Essential criteria
- To hold a full valid driving licence and have access to a car daily.
- Basic computer skills
- Ability to travel to multiple sites
Applicant requirements
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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Lakshmi Leela
- Job title
- Health Team Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0118 214 3298
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