Skip to main content

This site is independent of the NHS and the Department of Health.

Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
Occupational Therapy
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 22.5 hours per week
Job ref
310-ASMH-7556444
Employer
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Chesterton Medical Centre
Town
Cambridge
Salary
£38,682 - £46,580 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/11/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust logo

Senior Occupational Therapist

Band 6

Job overview

We are looking for an innovative and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to work in the Psychological Skills Service (There will be an expectation to work across county depending on service/client need – your base will be determined upon successful recruitment). In the Psychological Skills service, occupational therapists understand how developmental trauma impacts on brain development leading to difficulties in sensory modulation, praxis, and cognitive development.  These difficulties contribute to later mental health and a person’s ability to engage in meaningful occupations including psychological therapy. 

In PSS, the primary role of OT is to work with individuals to understand what is getting in the way of them doing the things they need and want to do, to be able re-establish quality of life. OT also supports the person to access and use other therapies that may be indicated by PSS colleagues. 

Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines. You will need to hold a full UK driving licence* and have use of a vehicle. You cannot use public transport for this role as this is not a reliable form of transport and will not allow you to meet service needs. Please confirm in your application that you meet the specified criteria.

Main duties of the job

PSS OTs are additionally trained in Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI), which means they can assess for, and help people identify, learn and develop skills in relation to their own sensory processing patterns – including modulation and praxis* challenges and how these link to self-regulation.

This will help individuals to understand how these can influence participation in daily activities and contribute to their overall health and wellbeing.  We then think about how we help individuals manage these or learn skills so that they can participate in daily occupations (activities) and reach their goals.  These skills and strategies may be taught by a support worker in our service, with regular supervision from the OT.

Working for our organisation

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high-quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.

Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.

To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high-calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.

Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.

Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process. 

For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.

1. The post holder will provide specialist occupational therapy assessments and interventions underpinned by the Model of Human Occupation and the principles of recovery and enablement/reablement.

2. The post holder will provide specialist assessment and interventions based on Ayres Sensory integration (ASI) Develop individualized treatment plans based on assessment findings and client goals.

3. The post holder will use specialist skills and specialist clinical reasoning to manage a caseload with complex needs, working with a high degree of autonomy and referring to senior staff when necessary.

4. The post holder will provide individual and group interventions based on theories related to Ayres sensory Integration.

5. The occupational therapist will contribute to the delivery of specialist occupational focused interventions i.e. sensory.

6. The post holder will plan and implement specialist individual and/or group interventions collaboratively, to enable service users to achieve valued goals and satisfactory occupational performance outcomes.

7. The post holder will promote social inclusion and physical and mental well-being using evidence-based practice.

8. To promote the added value of occupational therapy and act as an ambassador for the profession within the team.

9. The post holder will provide supervision to junior staff (Support Workers).

10. The post holder may be expected to provide guidance and/or leadership to qualified and unqualified staff from other disciplines.

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Occupational Therapy bachelor level qualification.
  • HCPC registered OT
  • Training in supervision and appraisal
Desirable criteria
  • Level 1 Sensory Integration Training (With intention to complete training)
  • Additional training in specialised standardised assessments

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working with people with a range of mental health problems or learning disabilities
  • Experience of working with a range statutory and non-statutory services
  • Experience delivering Sensory interventions
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of delivering group interventions.
  • Experience of working with complex medical conditions

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Specialist knowledge of OT assessment, intervention and practice models relevant to the client group (service users who have experienced trauma)
  • Ability to use relevant models and approaches to understand a service users sensory needs and create an effective treatment plan using Sensory Integration principles
  • Able to be innovative, flexible and adaptable.
Desirable criteria
  • Recognise and accommodate sensory impairments during all communications and the use of personal communication aids
  • Personal time management

Knowledge & Understanding

Essential criteria
  • Specialist knowledge of OT assessment, intervention and practise models relevant to the service user group (e.g. MoHO, sensory interventions)
  • An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems from a trauma informed perspective
  • Knowledge of national Occupational Therapy developments relevant to setting

Physical Requirements

Essential criteria
  • Ability to travel independently in accordance with Trust Policies and service need

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardNHS Employers Diversity and Inclusion PartnersVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in PeopleDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.NHS Rainbow badgePrince's Trust - Proud to support the Prince's trust - Youth can do itStep into healthMenopause Workplace PledgeArmed Forces Covenant

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
Michaela Miller
Job title
Team Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies