Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Mon - Fri 9-5)
- Job ref
- 363-BED7343149
- Employer
- East London NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Meadow Lodge at Steppingley Hospital
- Town
- Ampthill
- Salary
- £29,970 - £36,483 Per Annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 17/08/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Band 5 Occupational Therapist
NHS AfC: Band 5
ELFT has long been recognised as a centre of excellence for mental and health care, innovation and improvement. So it is a very exciting time for you to come and work for us. Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job overview
Are you a newly qualified or experienced Band 5 Occupational Therapist looking to develop your skills in a supportive community mental health setting? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you!
We are excited to offer a Band 5 Occupational Therapist role within the Bedfordshire Community Mental Health Team. You will be based at Meadow Lodge, Ampthill road at Steppingley Hospital.
We are looking for an individual who enjoys working with adults with mental health needs and who is confident in managing an OT clinical caseload.
Main duties of the job
You will be responsible for delivering specialist Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention for adults with mental health needs, using tools based on the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO). Your work will be recovery-focused and client-centred, supporting individuals to achieve their goals in self-care, productivity, and leisure.
As a key member of the multi-disciplinary team, your assessments will inform care planning and contribute to safe, positive discharge planning. You will help further develop the OT role within the team through a mix of 1:1 interventions, group work, and community-based support, enabling clients to access local resources as part of their recovery journey.
You will be supported with a structured induction, regular managerial and professional supervision, and monthly OT CPD opportunities. If you are newly qualified, we will support you through your preceptorship. Professional development is actively encouraged through ongoing training and the appraisal process.
Working for our organisation
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve.
Our values: We Care, We Respect, We Are Inclusive. We’re looking for individuals who share these values and bring them into all aspects of their practice - whether supporting service users and carers or working with colleagues.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Manage your workload effectively, balancing individual interventions and group programs.
- Work as an integral member of the Community Team to ensure holistic care for service users.
- Collaborate with other OTs and multi-disciplinary professionals to provide comprehensive care.
- Support clients and their carers with a compassionate approach to mental health recovery.
- Participate in professional supervision, CPD events, and service development.
What We Offer:
- A supportive induction period to help you reach your full potential.
- Regular managerial and professional supervision to support your career development.
- Monthly CPD events and opportunities for quality improvement and professional development.
- A team that values staff well-being, with a focus on creating a positive and inclusive working environment.
We welcome all enquiries – come and see what we have to offer!
Person specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential criteria
- Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy
- State Registration
Desirable criteria
- Fieldwork Educator Training
- Member of College of Occupational Therapists
- Possess driving license and access to a vehicle
Experience
Essential criteria
- Post qualifying experience in Mental Health
- Experience of working with people experiencing mental health problems
- Knowledge and experience of supporting and enabling people with complex needs (mental health problems, physical health problems and Social issues) in a hospital setting.
- Experience of assessing for physical health needs
- Assertive in clinical and managerial situations
- Excellent demonstrable written verbal and presentation skills
- Experience of clinically supervising OT staff and students
- Experience of developing and facilitating groups.
- Evidence of previous service development activities and role development.
- Evidence of working as part of a MDT.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- Carry out culturally sensitive Occupational Therapy Assessment with good treatment process skills
- Good clinical reasoning skills.
- Ability to undertake clinical risk - assess, manage and reduce potential risks.
- Good Interpersonal skills enabling therapeutic alliances to be developed and maintained with clients
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Ability to present information in a clear, concise manner.
- Ability to initiate, plan and prioritise and coordinate a range of activities in relation to clinical work and the wider MDT team/service
- Ability to maintain the profile of OT within the MDT/service/organisation.
- Effective time management skills
- Computer /Word Processing skills
- Model of Human Occupation and its practical application in the clinical field
- Psychiatric conditions and treatment available including a range of treatment techniques.
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Awareness of current legislation affecting Mental Health Services.
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sihle Mwela
- Job title
- Head Occupational Therapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0755 708 7782
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