Job overview

If you are looking for a rare and exciting opportunity of a promoted post or consolidation of current skills, and have a particular interest in Forensic services then this is the position for you.

The Forensic Services based at St Bernard’s Hospital on the Ealing site in London are comprised of a number of specialist areas including Women’s and Men’s services at both low and medium security. The post holder will join an already established Occupational Therapy service and will be joining an experienced and dynamic team.

We have a wider Occupational Therapy service comprising of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, activity coordinators and Recovery Support workers.

You will be professionally supervised and supported by the Clinical Lead Band 7 OT to deliver an occupational therapy program within Specialist Forensic Community services.

As a specialist practitioner, at a band 6, you will be a Senior OT and therefore, expected to be operationally aware of the day-to-day needs of the team, service users and the clinical teams. You will liaise with OT’s in other areas of the service as service users are discharged into the community.

You will need to be aware of the local community, the 8 boroughs surrounding St Bernard’s Hospital which are placed within three hubs: EHH hub (Ealing, Hounslow, Hammersmith & Fulham), BHH hub (Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon), and KCW hub (Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster). 

Main duties of the job

You will carry a clinical caseload and have responsibilities to provide a range of in-reach activity and predominately community based interventions that support the transition out of the inpatient setting by developing service user’ skills and function in line with recovery principles and practice. These include social skills, transitions, life skills, goal setting, work, education and leisure management.

The post also offers an opportunity to develop clinical skills in assessment, case formulations and goal settings. We currently use the Vona Du Toit Model of Creative Ability. We would ensure that you receive the relevant training and support when you join the team.

We have clear clinical models and pathways for service users moving from our acute wards into rehabilitation and through into the community with occupational performance skills being central to the readiness for transition through each stage of a service user recovery.

You will be instrumental in ensuring service users are referred into the available work roles and gain the qualifications that they need to develop their skills and CV’s and move into external work and educational options, we invest in our staff and use the IPS model (individual placement scheme), training staff in SCFT to follow this model.

Supervision of students is expected as a minimum of two students per year, however Forensic services has a very high number of student placements, which we are very proud of. 

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and   Hammersmith & Fulham).  We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.