Senior Occupational Therapist

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Forensic Outreach Service in one of the dedicated clinical posts supporting a new forensic step-down supported living service, scheduled to open in January 2027.

The Service will be delivered as part of the SWLSTG Adult Secure discharge and step-down pathway, commissioned through the South London Partnership (SLP) Adult Secure Provider Collaborative Programme. The service will provide an integrated model of care and support through a partnership between the Forensic Outreach Service and a Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) provider. The VCS partner will deliver the supported living pathway and work closely with the SWLSTG Forensic Outreach Service which will host dedicated clinical posts.

The Service is commissioned for adults stepping down from Adult Secure inpatient services into a community setting, whose ordinary residence and Section 117 aftercare provision sits with one of the five South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) boroughs, for health and social care. It will enable people to transition safely and sustainably from secure mental health services into the community, through access to high quality accommodation and specialist, recovery-focused support delivered in a least restrictive setting.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will work within the Forensic Directorate in providing Occupational Therapy input to individuals living within the Forensic Step-Down Service. The post holder will sit within the Forensic Outreach Service.

The post holder will play a key role within the Forensic Step-Down Accommodation Service, supporting individuals with complex mental health needs and forensic histories to successfully transition from secure or inpatient settings to independent community living. The role involves delivering specialist occupational therapy assessments and interventions using evidence-based, recovery-focused approaches and the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) to promote meaningful engagement in daily activities, enhance independence, and support social inclusion. Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, the Occupational Therapist will contribute to risk assessment and management, care planning, CPA reviews, MAPPA processes, and multi-agency working, while providing clinical supervision and support to junior staff and students. The post holder will also champion equality, accessibility and inclusion, ensuring that service users are supported to achieve their recovery goals and maximise their quality of life within the community.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide a specialist occupational therapy service within the Forensic step-down service for service users with complex mental health needs and forensic histories.

To deliver evidence-based, person-centred occupational therapy assessments, interventions and outcome measures, informed by the Model of Human Occupation and recovery-focused principles.

To manage a defined caseload, delivering interventions flexibly across a range of community and clinical settings.

To contribute to delegated occupational therapy and multidisciplinary projects within the service, with support from senior staff.

To act as Disability Champion, promoting equality, accessibility and inclusion, and supporting the team to meet disability equality standards.

To provide clinical supervision, guidance and support to junior occupational therapy staff, support staff and students on placement.

To work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary community team, liaising effectively with inpatient services, community services and external agencies to support coordinated care.

To contribute to multidisciplinary decision-making through attendance at relevant meetings, including CPA reviews, risk management meetings and tribunals where appropriate.

To contribute to multi-agency working, including participation in MAPPA processes where required.

To work within relevant legal frameworks, including the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, as appropriate to the role.

To respond flexibly to clinical demands, including prioritising urgent referrals and working jointly with colleagues as required to meet service user needs.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications

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Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.

Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.

Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.