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Senior Occupational Therapist
South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust View all jobs
Posted 16 hour(s) ago
Reference: 2380194
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Forensic Outreach Service in one of the dedicated clinical posts supporting a new forensic step-down supported living service, scheduled to open in January 2027.
The Service will be delivered as part of the SWLSTG Adult Secure discharge and step-down pathway, commissioned through the South London Partnership (SLP) Adult Secure Provider Collaborative Programme. The service will provide an integrated model of care and support through a partnership between the Forensic Outreach Service and a Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) provider. The VCS partner will deliver the supported living pathway and work closely with the SWLSTG Forensic Outreach Service which will host dedicated clinical posts.
The Service is commissioned for adults stepping down from Adult Secure inpatient services into a community setting, whose ordinary residence and Section 117 aftercare provision sits with one of the five South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) boroughs, for health and social care. It will enable people to transition safely and sustainably from secure mental health services into the community, through access to high quality accommodation and specialist, recovery-focused support delivered in a least restrictive setting.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will work within the Forensic Directorate in providing Occupational Therapy input to individuals living within the Forensic Step-Down Service. The post holder will sit within the Forensic Outreach Service.
The post holder will play a key role within the Forensic Step-Down Accommodation Service, supporting individuals with complex mental health needs and forensic histories to successfully transition from secure or inpatient settings to independent community living. The role involves delivering specialist occupational therapy assessments and interventions using evidence-based, recovery-focused approaches and the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) to promote meaningful engagement in daily activities, enhance independence, and support social inclusion. Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, the Occupational Therapist will contribute to risk assessment and management, care planning, CPA reviews, MAPPA processes, and multi-agency working, while providing clinical supervision and support to junior staff and students. The post holder will also champion equality, accessibility and inclusion, ensuring that service users are supported to achieve their recovery goals and maximise their quality of life within the community.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Unless expressly stated in the job advert the role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.
Details
Date posted
02 October 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 6
Salary
£47,951 to £56,863 a year per annum inclusive of Inner London HCAs
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
294-FASP-8271775-EB-A
Job locations
Springfield Hospital
Tooting
SW17 7DJ
United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide a specialist occupational therapy service within the Forensic step-down service for service users with complex mental health needs and forensic histories.
To deliver evidence-based, person-centred occupational therapy assessments, interventions and outcome measures, informed by the Model of Human Occupation and recovery-focused principles.
To manage a defined caseload, delivering interventions flexibly across a range of community and clinical settings.
To contribute to delegated occupational therapy and multidisciplinary projects within the service, with support from senior staff.
To act as Disability Champion, promoting equality, accessibility and inclusion, and supporting the team to meet disability equality standards.
To provide clinical supervision, guidance and support to junior occupational therapy staff, support staff and students on placement.
To work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary community team, liaising effectively with inpatient services, community services and external agencies to support coordinated care.
To contribute to multidisciplinary decision-making through attendance at relevant meetings, including CPA reviews, risk management meetings and tribunals where appropriate.
To contribute to multi-agency working, including participation in MAPPA processes where required.
To work within relevant legal frameworks, including the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, as appropriate to the role.
To respond flexibly to clinical demands, including prioritising urgent referrals and working jointly with colleagues as required to meet service user needs.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications
If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.
Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.
Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide a specialist occupational therapy service within the Forensic step-down service for service users with complex mental health needs and forensic histories.
To deliver evidence-based, person-centred occupational therapy assessments, interventions and outcome measures, informed by the Model of Human Occupation and recovery-focused principles.
To manage a defined caseload, delivering interventions flexibly across a range of community and clinical settings.
To contribute to delegated occupational therapy and multidisciplinary projects within the service, with support from senior staff.
To act as Disability Champion, promoting equality, accessibility and inclusion, and supporting the team to meet disability equality standards.
To provide clinical supervision, guidance and support to junior occupational therapy staff, support staff and students on placement.
To work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary community team, liaising effectively with inpatient services, community services and external agencies to support coordinated care.
To contribute to multidisciplinary decision-making through attendance at relevant meetings, including CPA reviews, risk management meetings and tribunals where appropriate.
To contribute to multi-agency working, including participation in MAPPA processes where required.
To work within relevant legal frameworks, including the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, as appropriate to the role.
To respond flexibly to clinical demands, including prioritising urgent referrals and working jointly with colleagues as required to meet service user needs.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications
If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.
Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.
Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC Registration
- Evidence of post registration training relevant to mental health/ forensic practice
Desirable
- Membership of RCOT
Experience
Essential
- Experience of carrying a caseload in a mental health setting
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
- Experience of individual and group interventions
- Experience of maintaining a continual professional development portfolio
- Experience of participating in a service development initiative
Desirable
- Experience of working people with mental health needs and /or forensic population
- Experience of supervising junior staff or students
- Completion of preceptorship
- Experience of using mental health services as a service user, or carer, relative, friend of a service user.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills to develop therapeutic relationships with complex service users
- Strong written communication and report writing skills
- Ability to reflect on and critically evaluate own practice
- Ability to build effective clinical relationships across multi- disciplinary and multi-agency teams
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC Registration
- Evidence of post registration training relevant to mental health/ forensic practice
Desirable
- Membership of RCOT
Experience
Essential
- Experience of carrying a caseload in a mental health setting
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
- Experience of individual and group interventions
- Experience of maintaining a continual professional development portfolio
- Experience of participating in a service development initiative
Desirable
- Experience of working people with mental health needs and /or forensic population
- Experience of supervising junior staff or students
- Completion of preceptorship
- Experience of using mental health services as a service user, or carer, relative, friend of a service user.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills to develop therapeutic relationships with complex service users
- Strong written communication and report writing skills
- Ability to reflect on and critically evaluate own practice
- Ability to build effective clinical relationships across multi- disciplinary and multi-agency teams
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
Address
Springfield Hospital
Tooting
SW17 7DJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.swlstg.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
Address
Springfield Hospital
Tooting
SW17 7DJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.swlstg.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)