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Job summary

Main area
Mental Health
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Permanent: Static role
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
364-B-502
Employer
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Herrick House
Town
Colchester
Salary
£32,073 - £39,043 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
19/10/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Occupational Therapist

Band 5

Please be aware that, due to current allocation constraints, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are being prioritised for registered roles at this time.

Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk. 

We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.

You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive. 

The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.

We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years. 

We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.

We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.  

Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic and compassionate Band 5 Occupational Therapist to join the SCMHT Adult Community Mental Health Services. The team supports adults experiencing a range of mental health difficulties, helping them to achieve their recovery goals, maximise independence and improve their overall wellbeing within their local community.

As a Band 5 Occupational Therapist, you will work as a core member oof a multidisciplinary team providing assessment, intervention. You will use occupational therapy principles to help individuals develop the skills, confidence and resilience needed to engage in meaningful activities, maintain their independence, and improve their quality of life. Within this role you will be working as a care-coordinator within the SCMHT.

This role offers an excellent opportunity for a newly qualified or developing Occupational Therapist to gain experience in community mental health, supported by regular supervision, professional development opportunities and access to specialist occupational therapy expertise.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 5 Occupational Therapist within the Adult Community Mental Health Recovery and Wellbeing Team, you will play a key role in supporting adults experiencing mental health difficulties to achieve their recovery goals and maximise their independence within their own communities. Working across the Colchester locality you will manage a caseload of service users with a range of complex and enduring mental health needs, undertaking comprehensive occupational therapy assessments and delivering evidence-based interventions that focus on improving occupational performance, social inclusion, health and wellbeing.

The role involves working closely with service users, carers, families and a wide range of professionals within a multidisciplinary team. Interventions are delivered on an individual or group basis and will support individuals to build confidence, develop life skills and maintain their recovery within the community.  You will be expected to maintain accurate clinical records, produce high-quality reports and communicate effectively with colleagues and partner organisations to ensure coordinated care.

Working for our organisation

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you. 

  • Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
  • Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
  • If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
  • We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

  • 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
  • Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
  • Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
  • £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
  • Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

  • Work bank: You can use the opportunity to supplement your income and develop your skills by working bank shifts.
  • Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
  • Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be part of the Trust wide Occupational Therapy service provision, which has a strong professional leadership. Offering Band 5 development forum, Trust wide preceptorship and direct professional supervision.

Please see  the attached job description for more specific detail.

 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Degree or Diploma - achieved or awaiting finalisation
Desirable criteria
  • Additional relevant qualifications

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Previous working experience with community mental health team
Desirable criteria
  • Previous work experience working with those with MH conditions and Learning disabilities

Range of interests/experience

Essential criteria
  • Delivery of a range of mental health focused assessments /interventions

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Essex Family Friendly Employers

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Matthew Waters
Job title
AHP Lead and Clinical Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01375898828
Additional information

 

 

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