Occupational Therapist

Job summary

The post holder will complete advanced occupational therapy assessments and deliver occupational therapy interventions on an individual and group basis to service users who have diverse presentations, complex physical and psychological conditions. The post holder will also develop personalised care plans. The post holder will use evidence based practice, judgement and clinical reasoning within their occupational therapy role in community settings and apply patient centred principles to deliver safe interventions based on robust risk assessment. The post holder will receive regular formal and informal supervision and guidance, and over time, the post holder will provide leadership to others through supervision and appraisal.

Main duties of the job

Provide high quality Occupational Therapy clinical expertise and service. Responsible for the delivery of a range of evidence-based interventions which promote recovery, social inclusion and normalisation for service users. Ensure continuous responsibility for coordinating the care of an identified group of service users as part of a team, under the current Care Programme Approach (CPA). Manage challenging clinical situations and plan interventions whilst ensuring regular evaluation of the service users care plan. Critically evaluate effectiveness of therapy interventions, in collaboration with service users, carers and other professionals. Provide specialist clinical advice and contribute to clinical information on service users progress by attending meetings and ward rounds. Work in partnership with a range of other services to provide support and treatment to service users to facilitate the safe management of their needs. Work within the safeguarding adults and children frameworks across the Trust, including taking on the role of enquiry officer when a safeguarding concern is allocated. Take responsibility for an evidence-based clinical audit.

About us

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and community services for over 4.9 million people living in the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and across Essex. We work to ensure our patients, their friends and family, feel confident that their health needs are well met. With an excellent reputation for research and development, our skilled health professionals are at the cutting edge of evidence-based innovation, opening up the possibilities for better ways of working and delivery of care.

Details

• Date posted: 02 November 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 5
• Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: NDD-002227
• Job locations: Red Oak Lodge, London, Greater London, E11 4HU, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Allied Health Professionals — North East London NHS Foundation Trust

We are excited to offer a full-time, permanent opportunity for a qualified Allied Health Professional to join our dedicated team at Red Oak Lodge. This role, based in Waltham Forest, offers a competitive salary within Band 5 (£32,073 - £39,043) and involves working 37.5 hours per week. This position provides a supportive environment where you can grow your skills and make a meaningful impact in a community setting.

At North East London NHS Foundation Trust, we are committed to delivering high-quality, person-centred care to the communities we serve. We value inclusivity, collaboration, and innovation, creating a work culture where everyone feels supported and empowered to thrive. With a strong emphasis on professional development and wellbeing, we aim to ensure that our teams are equipped to make a real difference in people’s lives.

As an Allied Health Professional, you will play a vital role in delivering exceptional care and support within a community setting. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to the health and wellbeing of individuals by providing tailored interventions and fostering independence. This role offers the chance to work in a dynamic environment where your expertise will be highly valued.

• Provide evidence-based occupational therapy interventions to individuals in a community setting.
• Collaborate with colleagues and external partners to develop and implement care plans that meet individual needs.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with professional standards and guidelines.
• Qualified Occupational Therapist with current HCPC registration.
• Demonstrated ability to work calmly and effectively in complex and challenging situations.
• Experience of working in a community setting, with strong communication and organisational skills.
• Be part of a team making a meaningful impact in the local community.
• Access to training opportunities and regular supervision to support your professional growth.
• Work within an organisation committed to inclusivity, career progression, and staff wellbeing.

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen to recruit a highly motivated and enthusiastic Band 5 Occupational Therapist to join our Community Mental Health Team working with Older Adults in Waltham Forest. Our team is based in Red Oak Lodge which is close to Leytonstone High Street and a number of major transport links (Central Line, Overground and bus routes).

The expectation of this post holder will be to support their team, department and organisation to achieve the Trust’s Values in their day to day work. The post holder will also perform advanced occupational therapy assessment to service users in the community who have diverse presentations, complex physical and psychological conditions.

The post holder will receive regular supervision, training and guidance in order to deliver the interventions in a safe and effective manner.

Main duties of the job

• Provide high quality Occupational Therapy clinical expertise and service.
• Ensure continuous responsibility for coordinating the care of an identified group of service users as part of the team, including acting as a care coordinator within the current Care Programme Approach (CPA).
• Manage challenging clinical situations and plan personalised interventions.
• Critically evaluate effectiveness of therapy interventions.
• Work within the Safeguarding Adults framework.
• Undertake generic risk assessments, specific occupational therapy assessments and identify the needs of service users.
• Be active in supervision, identify own learning needs and reflect on challenging situations.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities The post holder will be responsible for managing their own workload, prioritising tasks effectively, and ensuring deadlines are met. They will be expected to work independently as well as part of a team, demonstrating flexibility and a commitment to high standards. The role may involve working across multiple sites and requires excellent communication and organisational skills.

Working for Us Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award-winning equality and diversity initiatives, along with staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest significantly in your development because when you feel valued and supported, we can deliver the highest quality care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been recognised in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and hold a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Through our staff networks and training opportunities, we strive to foster a just and compassionate culture at NELFT.

Our Values 2025 - 2030

Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT. They are:

• We are kind.
• We are respectful.
• We work together with our communities.

These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Goodmayes Hospital.

Probationary Period This post will be subject to a probationary period.

Select One:

High Cost Area Supplement – Outer London (B&D, Redbridge, Havering and Waltham Forest, CEME) This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 p.a. pro rata for part time).

High Cost Area Supplement – Fringe (Basildon, Thurrock, Brentwood, Harlow and Dartford only) This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £1,303 to a maximum of £2,198 p.a. pro rata for part time)

Certificates of Sponsorship Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AI

We value applications that genuinely reflect each candidate’s own skills, experience and motivations. We therefore strongly discourage the use of AI-generated content in applications.

Applications should be written in your own words and accurately represent your knowledge, skills and experience.

We reserve the right to reject an application where we reasonably believe AI has been used to generate or materially contribute to its content.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Please apply as soon as possible as some posts close early to limit the number of applications.

For an informal chat or to arrange a visit, please contact:

Name: Shamara Williams

Job title: Operational Lead

Contact Number: 0300 555 1270

Email: shamara.williams1@nhs.net