Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist

Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist

Band 7

Main area: Occupational Therapy
Grade: Band 7
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 334-CLI-6992913

Site: Bethlem Royal Hospital
Town: Beckenham
Salary: £51,883 - £58,544 per annum inclusive of outer HCAs
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 15/04/2025 23:59

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.

We are committed to providing high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment. The Care Quality Commission rates our services as ‘good’.

We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives, in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.

The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them an asset to the Trust.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.

As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job Overview

Are you an innovative and dynamic Occupational Therapist looking for a new challenge? We are seeking a passionate Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist to join our supportive team within the Forensic Inpatient Service at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact, leading high-quality, evidence-based interventions that support recovery and rehabilitation. You will work within a multidisciplinary team, helping individuals develop the skills and confidence needed for greater independence.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and thrive in a forward-thinking, supportive environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Main Duties of the Job

As the Clinical Lead for the A2 Pathway wards—Norbury, Thames, and Spring—you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering high-quality Occupational Therapy (OT) services. You will lead the monitoring, development, and evaluation of standards to ensure high-quality, evidence-based, and cost-effective service delivery across the A2 pathway. You will provide training and consultancy for occupationally focused interventions within the Directorate and act as a resource for the forensic leadership, deputising when necessary and carrying out delegated duties and projects as requested.

Working for Our Organisation

We are a diverse and friendly Occupational Therapy team comprising OTs, OT Technicians, Clinical Exercise Instructors and Education Tutors. We offer a range of Recovery Hub based interventions, including Remotivation, Vocation and Employability, Physical Activities and Health Promotion, Creative Arts and Education. We have a café and library which form the main basis for our commercial vocation schemes and have well-established links with mainstream employers and a host of community vocation projects. We work in partnership with CALAT (Croydon Adult Learning and Training) to offer a range of accredited qualifications and deliver these in-house.

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

The service is mainly based at the Bethlem Royal Hospital where we support service users within medium and low levels of security both in River House and Chaffinch ward. In addition, we support service users at Ward in the Community which are based on the Lambeth Hospital site in Clapham. We work with men and women who have a range of mental health problems and a history of offending behaviour, which have brought them into contact with the criminal justice system.

We offer a supportive working environment, regular supervision, peer supervision, reflective practice and opportunities for CPD and annual appraisal. You will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice and continuing professional development and be actively supported to develop your professional practice. You will also have the opportunity to further develop your specialist skills in assessments and interventions for Remotivation, MOHO based assessment tools and sensory interventions, as well as the opportunity to be involved in a number of multidisciplinary innovations including Restorative Justice and the exciting work of the Bethlem Gallery. We are always evolving particularly within our new South London partnership with our neighbouring Trusts Oxleas and South West London and St Georges and opportunities to grow and develop are always available.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Qualified and HCPC registered Occupational Therapist
• Post-registration qualification in related area
• Membership of OT professional body and/or special interest group

Experience

• 2 years post-registration experience working with Mental Health service users at Band 6 level
• Extensive clinical experience including individual and group work
• Experience of supervising junior staff and students
• Leadership and/or first line management experience
• Experience of working with people with challenging behaviours
• Experience of working in an inner city, multicultural environment
• Experience of specialist Mental Health settings

Knowledge and Skills

• High level understanding of Mental Health disorders and treatment models
• Detailed knowledge of legislation relevant to Mental Health and Specialist practice where appropriate
• Working knowledge of the principles of CPA (Care Programme Approach) where appropriate
• Extensive knowledge of the principles of risk assessment and risk management
• Specialist knowledge and application of OT and generic assessments, outcome measures and interventions relevant to client group
• An awareness and understanding of sensory approaches.
• Skills in equipment provision, specialist seating, positioning, and manual handling

Other

• An understanding of working across different sectors in delivering service according to specific need
• Ability to work flexibly to meet service users and service needs, and at times work under pressure to meet targets
• Commitment to student and staff supervision
• Commitment to lifelong learning
• Must be prepared to work evenings & weekends if required; ability to travel efficiently between sites

The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights. We aim to put this commitment into practice by:

• Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice
• Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment
• We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity

Please note:

• All applications for this post will need to be made online
• Read and understand the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to the role. Your Statement in Support should reflect the requirements specified as your application will be judged against these criteria
• The closing date listed is a guide only and the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible
• Once you have submitted your application, you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs
• Should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date, your application has not been successful
• Priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
• Should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
• We are a smoke-free Trust

SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion. Stonewall is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans (LGBT) rights charity in Europe.

Employer Certification / Accreditation Badges

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.

Name: Miriam Pucyutan
Job title: Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist
Email address: miriam.pucyutan@slam.nhs.uk