Job overview
We are seeking to recruit a passionate, knowledgeable and dynamic Principal Occupational Therapist (OT) as the professional and clinical lead for Occupational Therapy across CAMHS. This is a senior leadership role within our well‑established and innovative Sussex CAMHS, providing strategic direction, clinical expertise, and professional governance for OT practice across CAMHS, including crisis & acute care services.
The post also includes clinical contribution within Brighton & Hove CAMHS, as well as shape, champion and embed OT practice across CAMHS, ensuring it is visible, valued and integral to the delivery of compassionate, effective mental health care for children and young people (CYP).
You will play a key role in shaping service development, influencing multidisciplinary practice, and embedding occupational perspectives into assessment, care planning, risk management and crisis intervention for CYP with complex mental health needs. The role also contributes to policy development, workforce planning, quality improvement initiatives and service transformation across CAMHS.
You will be part of a supportive and highly skilled MDT, committed to delivering high‑quality, responsive services in partnership with families and carers, education, social care and wider CYP services. Core aspects of the role include complex clinical assessment, consultation, clinical leadership, supporting staff to work confidently and collaboratively with risk, families and the wider prof. network.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide professional and clinical leadership for Occupational Therapy across CAMHS Sussex, with responsibility for coordinating and developing the Occupational Therapy service. This includes professional management, leadership and supervision of the Occupational Therapy workforce, and ensuring services are high‑quality, effective and compliant with professional, national and local standards.
The post holder will play a key role in professional governance, contributing to the development, implementation and monitoring of the governance agenda, and ensuring a strong Occupational Therapy contribution to quality clinical care, service performance and continuous improvement across CAMHS.
In addition to leadership responsibilities, the role incorporates a clinical component, involving complex assessment and intervention with children and young people, consultation and support to families and carers, and specialist advice and consultation to multidisciplinary and multi‑agency teams. This clinical contribution ensures the Principal Occupational Therapist maintains direct involvement in service delivery, supports best practice, and informs strategic and professional leadership across CAMHS.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached job description for full details and additional information to the main duties above.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy
- Evidence of master level post qualification study
- Registration with the HPC as an occupational therapist
- Practice Education training
- Training in the use of standardised occupational therapy assessment tools
Knowledge/Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience as a qualified occupational therapist in mental health
- Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
- Experience of both group and individual work
- Experience of multidisciplinary working
- Experience of supervising staff and students
- Experience as a Care Coordinator
- Experience in a clinical area related to the post
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Principal Occupational Therapist with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Worthing, South East, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Occupational Therapist role. The advertised salary is £57,528 - £64,750 pa / pro rata for part time. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 14 Aug 2026.
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