Job overview
If you are looking for a rare and exciting opportunity to develop your career and have a genuine interest in Forensic Services, this could be the perfect role for you.
Based at St Bernard’s Hospital in Ealing, our Forensic Services provide a dynamic environment across men’s and women’s low and medium secure pathways. You will join a well-established and highly regarded Occupational Therapy team, supporting service users on meaningful recovery journeys.
You will be part of a supportive multidisciplinary team, including Occupational Therapists, Assistants, Activity Coordinators, and Recovery Support Workers, all committed to delivering high-quality, recovery-focused care. You will receive structured supervision and professional development support from a Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist.
As a Band 5 Occupational Therapist, you will manage your own caseload and contribute to assessment, care planning, and therapeutic interventions within a collaborative team environment.
This role offers the opportunity to work across the wider service, supporting individuals as they progress through care pathways and transition into the community. You will also gain valuable knowledge of local resources to help promote independence and successful reintegration.
This is an excellent opportunity to develop your skills and be part of a passionate team making a real difference in forensic mental health care.
Main duties of the job
You will manage a varied and rewarding clinical caseload, delivering a range of individual and group interventions to support service users in developing skills for independence and recovery. Interventions include social skills, self-care, life skills, transitions, cyber safety, leisure, and vocational development, all within a recovery-focused framework.
The role provides excellent opportunities to develop core clinical skills, including assessment, case formulation, and goal setting. We use the Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability (VdTMoCA), and full training and supervision will be provided.
You will work within clear clinical pathways, supporting service users as they progress from acute care through rehabilitation and into the community, with occupational performance central to each stage of recovery.
You will also support access to vocational and educational opportunities, helping service users build confidence, skills, and future employment prospects.
We are committed to continuous professional development (CPD) and offer a wide range of learning opportunities. You will work closely with a wider network of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), benefiting from collaborative working and shared learning across the Trust.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Organisational ability
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to build rapport with service users, carers and colleagues
- Evidence of ability in OT assessment, treatment planning, intervention and evaluation
- Problem solving skills
- Ability to work independently and under supervision as part of a team
- Clear & effective decision-making
- Group work skills
- Computer literacy
Desirable
- Ability to prepare and present papers at study days and conferences
- Ability to apply (research) evidence-based practice
- Use of standardised assessment tools and outcome measures
- Contribution to service development and the training of others
- Supervisory skills
- Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
Knowledge
Essential
- An understanding of the Forensic Setting How Mental Illness presents in people
- Research methodology
- Core skills of OT process
- Models of practice
- Clinical and environmental risk
- Equality and diversity
- Understanding of team dynamics
- Awareness of professional identity and the need to work within appropriate boundaries
- Principles of clinical governance
Desirable
- Relevant current legislation, including NSF, CPA, risk assessment and risk management
- Group work theory and practice
- VdT Model of Creative Ability (VdT MoCA)
Experience
Essential
- Application of core OT skills and OT process
- Multidisciplinary team working
- Experience of working in mental health
Desirable
- Work experience in a Health or Social Care setting
- Involvement in research and clinical audit
- Studies in Forensic Care
- Placement in a Forensic setting
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc (Hons) Or MSc Occupational Therapy
- HCPC Registration
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to reflect, identify and take responsibility for continuing professional development (CPD)
- Understand the need for and actively participates in own supervision and constructive use of feedback
- High levels of initiative, innovation and self-motivation
- Commitment to client-centred, non-discriminatory practice
Desirable
- Willingness to work flexible hours if required
- Membership of a Special Interest Group e.g. RCOT SS Mental Health
- Willingness to participate in rotation schemes where relevant
- Able to demonstrate a strong professional identity
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Occupational Therapist - Band 5 with West London NHS Trust in Southall, London, England. It is listed as a Band 5 Occupational Therapist role. The advertised salary is £36,943 - £44,900 Per Annum Inclusive of Allowances. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 12 Jul 2026.
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