Job summary
- Main area
- Occupational Therapy
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent: The post holder will be required to cover all CMHTs within the locality
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Flexible working patterns considered)
- Job ref
- 373-SMH2633
- Employer
- Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FoundationTrust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Clarion Centre, Bowmere Hospital,
- Town
- Chester
- Salary
- £32,073 - £39,043 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 15/04/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 07/05/2026
Employer heading
Occupational Therapist
Band 5
Job overview
Are you passionate about improving occupational outcomes for people with mental illness? Do you thrive in a busy team environment?
We have an excellent opportunity for a permanent full time mental health Occupational Therapist to join the Occupational Therapy team at Bowmere Hospital. This is a rotational post offering opportunity to gain skills across different teams within the inpatient mental health service. Rotations currently take place every 6 months across these areas: Beech ward (service users aged 18-65 with mental illness); Juniper ward (service users aged 18+) and Willow ward (Psychiatric Intensive Care).
Shortlisting for this vacancy is due to commence on 24/04/2026 and the proposed interview date is 07/05/2026
Main duties of the job
The post holder will have a key role in providing Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions to adult mental health service users, as part of an integrated multidisciplinary team. This is a dynamic and rewarding role in directly influencing positive recovery and outcomes for service users.
You will be an enthusiastic, adaptable and highly motivated Occupational Therapist with a keen interest in mental health. You will be able to take on the challenges of managing a caseload and facilitating the Occupational Therapy pathway, completing timely individual assessment and interventions to support service users during their inpatient stay, and enable safe discharge.
You will also be contributing to planning and facilitating the therapeutic group program as part of the team.
You will be committed to the 6Cs and person-centred care.
Working for our organisation
Support is provided from Senior Occupational Therapy staff in each ward team, other Band 5 Occupational Therapists, and our AHP network. Our Therapy service is always growing and developing and includes Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Therapy support staff, and a Fitness and Wellbeing team. We have a dedicated Therapy resource centre and a gym.
We encourage commitment to clinical supervision, Continuing Professional Development and Practice Placement Education. The work pattern is Monday-Friday day, 8.30 - 4.30pm.
This is an ideal career development opportunity for a new graduate Occupational Therapist, or practitioners looking to develop expertise within mental health.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see ‘documents to download’ section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: [email protected] or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Diploma/BSc in Occupational Therapy
- State Registration with Health and Care Professions Council
Desirable criteria
- Membership of professional body
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential criteria
- Some knowledge of current best practice in OT
- Knowledge of assessment tools and outcome measures
- Ability to work autonomously with individuals and groups
- Skills in handling and moving
- Ability to support Occupational Therapy students and support staff
- Understanding of professional ethics and their application in practice
- Understanding of team dynamics
- Basic knowledge of health legislation and current practice, including CPA and risk assessment and management
- Effective written and oral communication skills
- Computer literacy
- Basic knowledge of the principles of clinical governance
Desirable criteria
- Training and presentation skills
- Has practically applied evidence based practice
- Evidence of research and clinical audit skills
Experience
Essential criteria
- Application of the occupational therapy process
- Use of functional assessment and activity analysis
- Documented evidence of continuing Professional Development
- Experience working in mental health or supporting vulnerable adults
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Maria Yuen
- Job title
- Lead Occupational Therapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01244 397288
- Additional information
or 01244 397289
If you consider yourself Neurodivergent and need help to complete your application form, please contact [email protected] or telephone 01244 393100
List jobs with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FoundationTrust in Allied Health Professions or all sectors