Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AFC: Band 5 & 6
- Contract
- Bank
- Hours
- Flexible working
- Other
- Job ref
- 354-Bank-FH-20056
- Employer
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- The Chichester Centre
- Town
- Chichester
- Salary
- £17.69 - £21.56 per hour
- Salary period
- Hourly
- Closing
- 20/11/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Bank Occupational Therapist Band 5 & 6
NHS AFC: Band 5 & 6
Come and join us
We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.
At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.
We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.
We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn’t based on your real experience.
Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we’ll explore your examples further at interview, so it’s important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page.
We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.
Job overview
The Chichester Centre is a low secure inpatient forensic mental health service, located within walking distance of Chichester City Centre, comprised of three male wards. It is surrounded by beautiful parkland managed by the Chichester Community Development Trust with whom the successfully developed strong links including several volunteer opportunities for service users.
The Occupational Therapy and Peer Support Team consists of registered occupational therapists, occupational therapy technicians and Peer Support Specialists who are highly valued members of the multi-disciplinary team. We work alongside out allied health professional colleagues in medium secure inpatient service and community forensic healthcare services. The Chichester Centre team place an emphasis on partnership working.
The Chichester Centre specialises in the assessment and treatment of people with complex and enduring mental health needs, who may have had contact with the criminal justice system.
Service users regularly experience stigma for mental health and / or offending history and our role is to develop trusting and safe relationships which balance being compassionate, collaborative, and supportive with sound risk assessment and management skills.
Main duties of the job
With a focus on recovery, risk assessment, vocation, and education, the Band 5 and band 6 OT posts will be located on Juniper and Pine Wards - although will support in group ward group facilitation across the Unit.
Main job responsibilities when on the Bank would include:
1:1 assessment ( initial interview, DADL assessments and community assessments ( subject to section 17 leave )).
Attendance in Clinical Reviews - enabling clear MDT discussion and treatment formulation. If attending CPA would be expected to complete MOHOST assessment.
Support of current group programme.
Audit collation.
Attendance in OT meetings to ensure continuity of OT provision across the Unit.
Whilst on Bank you would receive supervision from the Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist.
Working for our organisation
The immediate Team consists of a Clinical Specialist OT, two Band 6 OTs and Band 5 OT rotation post, 3 Occupational Therapy Technicians and 2 Peer Support Specialists. We also have strong links with other Occupational Therapists within the Forensic Services.
There are 3 specialist wards, each with a strong multi-disciplinary team. The Therapy Working steering group is also looking at developing opportunities for greater co-facilitation of group work and the successful applicant would be encouraged to identify areas of interest within AHP Training to develop the Occupational Therapy programme. Whilst based on Juniper, the post holder would be expected to also offer cross ward sessions.
Previous experience of working with people with mental health difficulties is essential. Previous experience of working in Forensic Healthcare Service is desirable as are relevant qualifications that may support with the delivery of vocation and education interventions. There will be access to regular supervision, reflective practice and training and development opportunities, including attendance to communities of practice.
There is a clear emphasis on developing multi agency working and the AHP Lead is also a qualified Occupational Therapist
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Previous experience of working with people with mental health difficulties is essential. Previous experience of working in Forensic Healthcare Service is desirable as are relevant qualifications that may support with the delivery of vocation and education interventions. There will be access to regular supervision, reflective practice and training and development opportunities, including attendance to communities of practice.
Please see attached JDs for in depth responsbilities for both Band 5 and Band 6 Occupational Therapist.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy
- Evidence of post graduate level study/training
- Registration with the HPC as an occupational therapist
- Management/Leadership training
- Training in the use of standardised occupational therapy assessment tools
Knowledge/Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience as a qualified occupational therapist in mental health
- Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
- Experience of both group and individual work
- Experience of multidisciplinary working
- Experience of supervising staff and students
- Experience as a Care Coordinator
- Experience in a clinical area related to the post
- Leadership experience
- Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of occupational therapy clinical approaches used in mental health
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
- Roma Carter
- Job title
- Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01243 791925
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