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Job summary

Main area
Mental Health
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
395-KM402-25
Employer
NELFT NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Kent and Medway Adolescent Hospital
Town
Staplehurst
Salary
£38,682 - £46,580 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
17/12/2025 23:59

Employer heading

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust logo

Occupational Therapist

Band 6

Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our innovative and dynamic inpatient mental health team, at Kent and Medway Adolescent Hospital This multi-disciplinary team provides inpatient-based support for service users living in the borough who have a range of mental health needs

The post holder will deliver Occupational Therapy provision to a designated caseload, supporting the mental health recovery and engagement of users of service in all aspects of independent living.  This includes the assessment, treatment and evaluation of Occupational Therapy clinical interventions, the planning and implementing of a range of therapeutic individual and group work and the completion of functional ADL assessments when indicated.  As an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, the post holder will engage in team care planning and risk assessments, 

Main duties of the job

Successful candidates will have strong engagement and motivation skills and will be able to work well with service users with complex mental health needs. Effective written and verbal communication skills with a working knowledge of the Occupational Therapy process and application of the Model of Human Occupation are also essential.

With direct supervision and support from the service Occupational Therapists and team leads, the opportunity exists for the successful applicant to further develop their skills and experience, enabling them to look forward to the prospect of dynamic career progression within NELFT.’

Working for our organisation

Our Values 2025 - 2030

Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have coproduced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.

They are:

We are kind.

We are respectful.

We work together with our communities.

These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust.  All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment.  As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes.  The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer to this when completing your application.

Please apply as soon as possible as some posts close early to limit the number of applications.

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AI

Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Qualified /registered Occupational therapist
  • Evidence of post-registration Training /qualification and continued CPD

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Working with young people who have complex mental health needs
  • To have experience as a caseworker and CPA Care Co-ordinator
  • To have experience in working/liaising with multi-disciplinary teams, internal and external agencies in the provision of care
  • To have experience of assessing, planning and initiate care
  • Ability to work under pressure, quickly and effectively, making timely clinical decisions in conjunction with the MDT
  • Anility to work both independently and as part of the team
  • Experience of using MOHO and OT ADL assessments.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act
  • To have a working knowledge of the requirements of specific OT assessment
  • requiring an understanding of the Recovery Model and Social Inclusion to support mental health recover

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Clinical risk assessment and management skills
  • Ability to make complex decisions under pressure and demonstrate stress and crisis management skills
  • Ability to facilitate positive MDT working relationships across all service areas
  • Effective and well-developed interpersonal skills especially when handling conflict and change.
  • Ability to assess, plan and implement programmes of care with Service User and Carers involvement
  • Understanding of and commitment to the principles of equal opportunities in service delivery
  • Ability to formulate clear and concise clinical records and be able to disseminate information appropriately and to relevant agencies

Other

Essential criteria
  • Ability to travel and carry were relevant work-related equipment between sites in an effective and safe manner

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Employers for CarersApprenticeships logoAge positiveDisability confident employerHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldEmployers Network for Equality & InclusionTop 10 Employer 2023

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

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to ensure consideration.

If you require any additional support during the application process please contact [email protected]. We are happy to make reasonable adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment journey.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sarah Warnock
Job title
Modern Matron
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
03003001985
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