Occupational Therapist

Job details

• Job reference: 249884
• Salary: Band 5 (£34,544 - £43,039)
• Job closing date: 11/06/2026
• Job Type: Allied Health Professions
• Location: Number 11
• Employment type: Permanent
• Hours Per Week: 28.8
• Job posted date: 28/05/2026
• Employer (NHS Board): NHS Lothian
• Department: Mental Health and Substance Use

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

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A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 5 Occupational Therapist to join our welcoming and forward-thinking Substance Use Team based in Dalkeith, Midlothian.

This is a unique chance to develop your career within a specialist service supporting individuals impacted by substance use and co-existing mental health needs to rebuild meaningful, fulfilling lives.

About the Role

As a Band 5 Occupational Therapist, you will play a vital role in supporting people whose daily functioning and wellbeing have been impacted by substance use. This is a highly rewarding role where your work will directly contribute to recovery, independence, and social inclusion.

You will:

• Assess how substance use and mental and physical health impact on individuals’ ability to engage in everyday occupations
• Deliver person-centred, trauma informed interventions that support recovery and promote meaningful activity
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to manage a diverse caseload in the community
• Contribute to the ongoing development of a growing and innovative Substance Use and Mental Health service

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a passionate, supportive team dedicated to improving outcomes for people
• Gain valuable experience in a specialist area that is dynamic, complex, and highly impactful
• Have opportunities to shape and influence service development as the role evolves
• Receive strong support, supervision, and a structured induction within a team of experienced Occupational Therapists
• Access excellent opportunities for professional development and CPD

What We’re Looking For:

We are looking for someone who is:

• A qualified Occupational Therapist registered with the HCPC
• Passionate about working in substance use and/or mental health services
• Committed to recovery-focused, person-centred care
• Motivated to learn, develop, and contribute to a growing service

If you are enthusiastic about making a real difference and want to build your skills in a supportive and progressive environment, we would love to hear from you.

Please note: As this post is part-time, the salary will be pro-rata.

Informal enquiries welcomed -

Nichola Duffy: Occupational Therapy Clinical Lead: Nichola.Duffy@nhs.scot

Ailsa MacRury: Advanced Practice Occupational therapist: ailsa.macrury@nhs.scot

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.

Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes.