Job summary
- Main area
- Autism Service
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 351-SPS1460-CLK
- Employer
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Specialist Autism Team
- Town
- Preston
- Salary
- £47,810 - £54,710 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Specialist Occupational Therapist
Band 7
Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism and community based services for the populations we serve.
As an integrated mental health, learning disability and community Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including:
• Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, forensic services including low and medium secure care.
• Specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
• Community physical health and well-being services for children and adults.
The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,000 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health and general nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers.
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust supports flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, home/remote working, and flexi-time.
For more information visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.
Please note that further communication from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft) will normally be to the email address given on the application form. You should also ensure that email addresses and telephone numbers are provided for your referees, to enable LSCft to contact them.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Occupational Therapist to join the Specialist Autism Team, a unique and continuously developing service which works closely with secondary mental health care services to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions for autistic individuals.
This post is a fantastic opportunity for a creative and innovative practitioner with a passion for delivering person-centred care, which is driven by the individuals whom we support.
We are looking for an exceptional Band 7 practitioner who is able to demonstrate daily clinical leadership to the staff team to ensure the delivery of high quality specialist, bespoke services which are designed to meet individual need and preference.
Main duties of the job
The Specialist Autism Team adopts a multidisciplinary team approach to working which supports the evolutionary scope of the service. The MDT is made up of Occupational Therapists, Nurses (RMN & RLD), Speech and Language Therapists, Therapy Assistants & Clinical Psychologists.
Through such an approach we are continually learning, developing and findings different ways of working in order to meet the needs and wishes of the individuals we work with. For this reason we have regular team development sessions and each team member plays a vital role in sharing knowledge and information.
We work as a tertiary service between the core hours of 9am until 5pm (Monday-Friday), with some flexibility required on occasion to meet individual need and preferences.
If you are a motivated clinician with a keenness to showcase and adapt your transferrable skillset then please review the attached job description and person specification for further details.
Working for our organisation
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.
The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.
For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
- Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy
- Current professional registration with HCPC as Occupational Therapist and responsibility for maintaining this registration
- Masters module/post grad qualification in relevant field of clinical expertise (or working towards) / post-grad qualification/equivalent knowledge & experience to masters level
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Compliance with regulatory bodies and codes of professional conduct
- Knowledge of current key NHS developments and policies and implications for service delivery
- Knowledge of current models of service for autistic people
Experience
Essential criteria
- Evidence of extensive & significant clinical knowledge, skill and experience and therapeutic approaches
- Evidence of management development through continuous professional development and/or formal management courses
- Experience of partnership working across a range of agencies and professional boundaries
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
- Colette Gollcher
- Job title
- Strategic Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
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