Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AFC: Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 354-FH-20644
- Employer
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- The Chichester Centre
- Town
- Chichester
- Salary
- £39,959 - £48,117 pa
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 09/09/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Occupational Therapist
NHS AFC: Band 6
Come and join us
We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.
At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.
We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.
We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn’t based on your real experience.
Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we’ll explore your examples further at interview, so it’s important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page.
We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.
Job overview
Are you an experienced Occupational Therapist who is curious and creative, looking for new learning opportunities and ways to implement this into practice?
We have a Band 6 Senior Occupational Therapist vacancy at The Chichester Centre - based on Juniper Ward ( a 15 bed Men's Low Secure Unit ) and offering cross ward assessment and OT intervention.
The Chichester Centre is a 3 ward low secure and forensic service, located within walking distance of Chichester City Centre. It is surrounded by beautiful parkland and we have strong links with Chichester Community Development Trust who manages this land and with whom we have successfully developed a number of volunteer opportunities for service users.
Forensic mental healthcare is unique and fascinating which provides both challenge and opportunity in abundance.
The Chichester Centre is a Low secure mental health hospital where we specialise in the assessment and treatment of people with complex and enduring mental health needs, who may have had contact with the criminal justice system.
Service users regularly experience stigma for mental health and / or offending history and our role is to develop trusting and safe relationships which balance being compassionate, collaborative and supportive with sound risk assessment and management skills.
Main duties of the job
Main duties of the job
With a focus on rehabilitation, risk assessment, vocation and education, you will play a pivotal role in supporting service users to enhance their health and wellbeing, develop valuable life skills and prepare for the next steps in their recovery.
You will:
- Offer a variety of group and 1:1 intervention to enable accurate risk assessment and development and maintenance of service users' skills
- Have the opportunity to work alongside colleagues within SPFT forensic healthcare services, and the provider collaborative as well as external agencies.
- Develop opportunities for risk assessed engagement in a variety of vocational, educational and recreational activities ( both ward based and in the community ) - enabling greater opportunities for positive experiences of social inclusion.
- As per Occupational Therapy Pathway - complete a range of standardised assessments . You will represent Occupational Therapy in Clinical Reviews and ward service development and be part of service review in standardised documentation such as HCR20s
- To identify specific area to specialise in ( ie: Sensory Modulation ) and to represent the Team in service development and attendance in steering groups.
This role is part time (30 hours), typically across Monday - Friday. Flexible working requests will be considered.
Working for our organisation
The immediate Team consists of a Clinical Specialist OT, two Band 6 OTs and Band 5 OT rotation post, 3 Occupational Therapy Technicians and 2 Peer Support Specialists. We also have strong links with other Occupational Therapists within the Forensic Services.
There are 3 specialist wards, each with a strong multi-disciplinary team. The Therapy Working steering group is also looking at developing opportunities for greater co-facilitation of group work and the successful applicant would be encouraged to identify areas of interest within AHP Training to develop the Occupational Therapy programme. Whilst based on Juniper, the post holder would be expected to also offer cross ward sessions.
Previous experience of working with people with mental health difficulties is essential. Previous experience of working in Forensic Healthcare Service is desirable as are relevant qualifications that may support with the delivery of vocation and education interventions. There will be access to regular supervision, reflective practice and training and development opportunities, including attendance to communities of practice.
There is a clear emphasis on developing multi agency working and the AHP Lead is also a qualified Occupational Therapist
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Work as a Senior Occupational Therapy practitioner and manage an appropriate complex clinical caseloads
Promote evidence based practice in Occupational Therapy and the relevant mental health service/ learning disability service.
Provide a specialised range of clinical interventions and demonstrate knowledge of models of practice.
Monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of interventions.
Provide clinical assessment, formulation, intervention, review and where appropriate CPA including care co-ordination for service users, their families and carers.
Contribute to the development of multi-disciplinary best practice clinical guidelines and protocols.
Have a basic working knowledge of the medication prescribed for the persons in their care. To include usual dosage, common side effects and the need for any special monitoring. Any reported or observed side effects must be brought to the attention of the prescriber.
Supervise the work of more junior qualified staff and Occupational Therapy Techician and provide support and guidance.
Ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards and to provide specialist occupational therapy reports relevant to the practice setting.
To adhere to Trust risk management policies and procedures.
To champion occupational and recovery approaches within the service area.
Be aware of and able to use de-escalation techniques and physical breakaway
Communication:
Ensure effective communication with all parts of the service, other agencies and people who use services and their carers.
Ensure representation in strategic meetings and raise awareness of the contribution of occupational therapy.
Develop and maintain effective communication structures, facilitating two-way communication on professional and Trust issues.
Provide advice to team members, clients, carers and the wider network.
Liaise regularly with the clinical specialist occupational therapist on professional and service issues.
Communicate effectively with clients and their carers and ensure that communication difficulties are addressed sensitively
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy
- Evidence of post graduate level study/training
- Registration with the HPC as an occupational therapist
- Management/Leadership training
- Training in the use of standardised occupational therapy assessment tools
Knowledge/Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience as a qualified occupational therapist in mental health
- Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
- Experience of both group and individual work
- Experience of multidisciplinary working
- Experience of supervising staff and students
- Experience as a Care Coordinator
- Experience in a clinical area related to the post
- Leadership experience
- Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of occupational therapy clinical approaches used in mental health
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
- Roma Carter
- Job title
- Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01243 791925
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