Location
Darlington, England
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 per annum
Profession
Occupational Therapist
Grade
Band 6
Deadline
01 Nov 2026
Contract Type
Fixed term: 9 months (Maternity Cover)
Posted Date
16 Oct 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job requirements

Essential

15 listed

Requirements the employer expects applicants to meet.

  • Skills

    Good observational skills and ability to describe such observations verbally and in writing

  • Skills

    Record keeping and report writing

  • Skills

    Collaborating with people who use our services and carers and their families in accordance with the principals of coproduction

  • Skills

    Manage own complex caseload and prioritise effectively

  • Skills

    Support other to manage their caseload and prioritise effectively within a supervisor or educational relationship

  • Skills

    Effectively manage complex clinical and social issues

  • Skills

    Motivate and work positively and constructively with other members of the team.

  • Skills

    Delegate tasks appropriately

  • Skills

    Apply latest research evidence and evaluative thinking in practice

  • Skills

    Provide effective teaching, training and clinical supervision.

  • Skills

    Use appropriate digital technologies

  • Knowledge

    Understanding of the needs of people who use our services with mental health conditions or learning disabilities

  • Experience

    Minimum of 18 months post qualifying experience of occupational therapy delivery (at the point of application)

  • Qualifications

    Appropriate professional qualification for occupational therapy role

  • Qualifications

    Current relevant registration with specific regulatory body

Desirable

9 listed

Additional qualities the employer would prefer.

  • Knowledge

    Clinical risk assessment and application in practice

  • Knowledge

    Knowledge of evidencebased practice in designated specialist area

  • Knowledge

    Post graduate training in specialist area if applicable to post (e.g. dysphagia, autism diagnostics)

  • Knowledge

    Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team

  • Knowledge

    Experience of managing complex occupational therapy cases

  • Knowledge

    Awareness of professional standards and its application to practice

  • Experience

    Experience of supporting people with mental health issues, learning disability or autism

  • Experience

    Experience of working in Multi-disciplinary Team

  • Qualifications

    Post graduate training in relevant specialist area

Job overview

An exciting fixed term/secondment (9 months) opportunity has arisen for a competent, confident and enthusiastic full time Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our Learning Disability Community Team covering the York and Selby area and is located at Systems House in York.

Candidates must hold a minimum of 18 months post qualifying experience of occupational therapy delivery at the point of application.

As a Senior Occupational Therapist you will manage a complex caseload independently, assessing occupational performance and delivering robust specialist occupational assessment and interventions. You will demonstrate adherence to the Trust Values at all times and operate as a leader in the team, service and organisation.

We are looking for an OT who can work flexibly to meet service need and has the vision, energy and inspiration to develop creative, imaginative solutions to working with adults and their families/ carers within a range of community settings and service provision.

The postholder will implement a psychosocial model of care delivery to support individuals with a diagnosed learning disability and varying health needs including behaviours that challenge, complex physical health and mental health needs. The senior occupational therapist is a key member of the wider Multi-Disciplinary-Team and will work collectively with other professionals and stakeholders alongside promoting co-production with the individual and their support system.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for receiving referrals for Occupational Therapy, triaging and prioritising these, completing evidence-based assessments and interventions to address key occupational areas.

Ensure occupational therapy intervention is based on current risk assessment, evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and whole system support requirements, taking into account relevant physical, social, cultural, psychological, spiritual, genetic, and environmental factors.

Implementation of co-produced negotiated occupational goals and evaluation of these with service users and their families / carers collaboratively.

The postholder will also :-

  • Participate in clinical/professional and management supervision
  • Contribute to multi-disciplinary team working
  • Contribute to and lead on service improvement and quality initiatives
  • Use the Trust electronic patient record system
  • Abide by all Trust policies and procedures
  • Be able to respond flexibly and creatively to challenges

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

The post holder will provide evidence-based assessment and interventions as part of the Community Learning Disability Team and offer input to individuals, their families and carers in the community.

All team members must be committed to providing the best possible care for the people we work with and their families/carers.

The ability to engage and communicate with adults with a diagnosed learning disability alongside their family/carers and support system is essential.

Clinical/Professional supervision is provided by the Learning Disability Lead OT for North Yorkshire and York. The postholder will attend the OT Learning and Governance Networks to ensure fidelity to core Occupational Therapy delivery, enhance CPD and contribute to the wider OT service developments.

You must be able to demonstrate experience of delivery of Occupational Therapy, keenness to continually develop themselves and others, and a particular interest in this field of OT. We will support use of transferrable skills from a range of clinical settings.

There are varied opportunities for training and development, with CPD needs being identified and monitored through appraisal.

You must have the Right to Work in the UK in order to be successfully appointed to this role. Please note, as this is a fixed term role for less tan 12 months, this role does not meet the required eligibility criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa and therefore the Trust is unable to offer sponsorship for this particular role.

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.

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Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Senior Occupational Therapist with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust in Darlington, England. It is listed as a Band 6 Occupational Therapist role. The advertised salary is £39,959 - £48,117 per annum. The contract type is Fixed term: 9 months (Maternity Cover). The application deadline is 01 Nov 2026.

Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (16 Oct 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.

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