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Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen at Ferndene Hospital Children and Young People’s Mental Health inpatient service. We are seeking to recruit a highly skilled and experienced Advanced Occupational Therapist to join the service.
You would be joining at an exciting time working in Mental Health clinical pathways for young people coming into our service experiencing acute Mental Illness, Learning Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or neurodevelopmental condition.
The Advanced Occupational Therapy role will include leading on the development of the Mental Health pathway and working clinically offering assessment, interventions and measuring outcomes. Monitoring of service needs with involvement of young people or involvement services, auditing OT service and leading on service projects. The role will include working into other clinical pathway where needed. The role will requires a approachable, motivated and resilient person who holds shared values with the ability of projecting measured responses in mentoring and leadership staff and team, and linking with clinical and operational leads.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will require advance clinical knowledge and skills in with young people with primary mental health needs who may experience learning disability/difficulties/neurodiversity needs and eating disorders. The post holder would be expected to possess a high level of skill and experience in understanding the impact of mental illness and eating disorders, or secondary conditions and how the young person's occupational functioning and sensory processing changes.
The role will involve providing advanced Occupational Therapy assessment and other related assessments, dependent upon the needs of young people. The treatment and recommendations for improving performance in managing the demands of activities of daily living, leisure, productivity and the impact of environmental factors. With working alongside the young person, families or care team and the multi-disciplinary team in devising care and treatment plans for meeting the needs of young people.
The post holder will be required to possess (or develop through commitment to training) advanced knowledge and skills in theories and approaches utilised in meeting the needs of this patient group including; sensory processing strategies and sensory attachment learning to providing a holistic assessments. With the overarching occupational therapy model of practice and approaches.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You will work alongside the Occupational Therapy team and Allied Health Professional assistant practitioners, and the wider AHP team including Dietetics and Speech and Language Therapy. As well as the wider multi-disciplinary team made up Psychiatry, Nursing, Psychology, Family Therapy, Teachers and Education staff.
The post holder will carry out additional roles with providing leadership, operational management and clinical supervision to Occupational Therapy and support staff. The post holder will ensue the Occupational Therapy service is equipped for meeting the clinical needs of all young people in the service. This will include service developments projects such as how we ensure Service User and Carer Involvement, leading on Clinical Trust projects such as positive and safe -Talk 1st. Providing clinical support and expertise to other OTs and support staff i.e. training, mentoring, modelling resilience and values, CPD, providing clinical supervision and research.
The service has a robust supervision structure, therefore the post holder will benefit from excellent training and development opportunities. You will also have the opportunity to learn from and contribute to a highly specialist and experienced group of health professionals, as part of wider multi-disciplinary team, working in this specialist service.
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 21st July 2026
Closing date : 4th August 2026
We welcome your application.
Person specification
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Proven ability to carry out and provide comprehensive written assessments of individuals with complex needs.
- Risk Assessment and Risk Management / Safety Planning skills
- Demonstrate an understanding of effective & appropriate treatment options including a range of evidence based clinical approaches as identified in N.I.C.E. Guidance).
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Evidence of high level of professional organisational and leadership skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- Excellent interpersonal skills including negotiation and conflict management
- Ability to work effectively with other professionals using a multi-agency approach.
- Ability to work autonomously and within a team.
Desirable
- Demonstrate change management skills
- Knowledge of patient information systems.
- Experience of conducting and evaluating clinical audit
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Awareness and understanding of professional accountability, HCPC and RCOT standards and other local and national initiatives
- Proven track record of post registration clinical experience relevant to the post.
- Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
- Awareness of equal opportunities legislation and policies.
- Experience of collaborative working across agencies and professional disciplines.
- Proven ability to manage a clinical caseload in a flexible manner as required.
- Undertaking Appraisals
- Experience of providing clinical supervision and support to clinical staff.
- Knowledge of health and safety requirements of the team.
- Experience of teaching / training
Desirable
- Understanding of difficult to manage/challenging behaviours.
Education and Qualification
Essential
- Recognised Occupational Therapy degree or equivalent. HCPC Registered
- Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses and other relevant CPD to Masters level equivalence
- Post graduate level qualifications
Desirable
- Registered member of College of Occupational Therapists
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Advanced Occupational Therapist with Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust in Newcastle Upon Tyne, North East and Yorkshire, England. It is listed as a Band 7 Occupational Therapist role. The advertised salary is £49,387 - £56,515 per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 04 Aug 2026.
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