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Job summary

Main area
Adult Mental Health
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
346-DDA-092-26
Employer
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
West Park Hospital
Town
Darlington
Salary
£32,073 - £39,043 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
24/06/2026 23:59
Interview date
27/07/2026

Employer heading

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust logo

Occupational Therapist

NHS AfC: Band 5

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Job overview

As a Band 5 Occupational Therapist within the Darlington Community Adult Mental HealthTeam you will work under supervision of a senior occupational therapist.

You will be professionally and clinically accountable for your own caseload, assessing occupational performance and delivering occupational interventions, demonstrating adherence to the Trust values at all times and operating as a member of the team, service and organisation.

The post holder will provide evidence-based assessment and interventions as part of the occupational therapy service offered, and delivery of occupational therapy may take place across a range of settings (Trust sites, community/public settings, third sector locations/facilities and patients own homes). The post holder will be required to travel across the locality.

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for receiving requests/referrals for occupational therapy, completing evidence-based assessments and interventions to address key occupational areas of self-care, productivity and leisure.

To use client-centred approaches to co-producing negotiated occupational goals and evaluate these with service users collaboratively.

To participate in clinical/professional and management supervision

To contribute to multi-disciplinary team working

To contribute to service improvement and quality initiatives

To use the Trust electronic patient record system

To abide by all Trust policies and procedures

To be able to respond flexibly and creatively to challenges

Working for our organisation

The multi-disciplinary team works with older adults and their families to deliver high quality Occupational Therapy service.

We are looking for an OT who can work flexibly to meet service need and has the vision, energy and inspiration to develop creative, imaginative solutions to working with older people and families.

You will access wider support from the Occupational Therapy network in DTVF, Adult Mental Health Occupational Therapists, to develop a way of delivering a high quality, needs-led OT service, utilising core occupational therapy skills to ensure all of the people we work with have a robust occupational therapy assessment and intervention plan in place.  

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

The post holder will provide evidence-based occupational therapy assessment and interventions as part of the OT Pathway and offer input to individuals, their families and carers, in a community setting.

All team members must be committed to providing the best possible care for the people we work with and their families/carers.

The ability to engage and communicate with older people well as the parents/family/carers and system around them is essential.

Clinical/Professional supervision is provided by the supervising Occupational Therapist as identified by the relevant Lead OT. The postholder will attend OT Learning and Governance Networks to ensure fidelity to core occupational therapy delivery, enhance CPD and contribute to the wider OT service developments.

You must be able to demonstrate experience of delivery of occupational therapy, keenness to continually develop themselves and others, and a particular interest in this field of OT. We will support use of transferrable skills from a range of clinical settings. 

There are varied opportunities for training and development, with CPD needs being identified and monitored through appraisal.

Additional contact details: Claire Watson - Team Manager 

[email protected] 

Person specification

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Awareness of professional standards and their application to practice
  • Understanding of the needs of service users with mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge of evidence- based practice in designated specialist area
  • Clinical risk assessment and application in practice

Experience

Essential criteria
  • 18 months of experience of working in a variety of Occupational Therapy practice areas whilst on student placements (or postgraduate)
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working with service users with mental health conditions or learning disabilities
  • Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Appropriate professional qualification in occupational therapy role (or pending)
  • Current relevant registration with HCPC or ability to meet the criteria for registration within next 3 months

Employer certification / accreditation badges

We are a Living Wage EmployerVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStep into healthArmed Forces CovenantBetter Health at Work Gold Award

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

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Samantha Minnaar
Job title
Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01325 552322
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