Senior Occupational Therapist

Job overview

Step Into a Role Where You Can Shape the Future of Forensic Occupational Therapy

Are you an Occupational Therapist who thrives on creativity, autonomy, and meaningful clinical challenge? Do you want the opportunity to help shape and develop occupational therapy within a growing forensic community service?

This is not a traditional Band 6 role. This is an opportunity to help build and lead the occupational therapy contribution within our Forensic Outreach and Liaison Service, supporting individuals with complex mental health needs and forensic histories as they transition from secure inpatient settings into community life.

We are looking for an innovative, motivated, and compassionate Occupational Therapist who can think analytically, work creatively within a multidisciplinary team, and help develop a service that truly bridges secure care and community recovery.

Working alongside our inpatient secure unit AHP teams and the wider FOLS MDT, you will play a vital role in creating patient-focused intervention pathways that support sustainable discharge, meaningful recovery, and successful reintegration into the community.

If you are looking for a role where you can innovate, influence, and make a meaningful difference every day, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today and help shape the future of forensic occupational therapy within community services.

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to support individuals at a crucial stage of their recovery journey and help build a service that truly connects inpatient rehabilitation with successful community living.

This role offers a rare opportunity to work from a “blank canvas” and help shape the future direction of occupational therapy within forensic outreach services.

As a Band 6 Occupational Therapist within FOLS, you will:

• Develop and strengthen the OT contribution within FOLS
• Help design innovative and occupation-focused pathways of care
• Work collaboratively across inpatient and community services to support continuity of rehabilitation
• Support service users to build the practical, functional, and social skills needed for successful community living
• Influence MDT thinking through occupational formulation and functional assessment
• Contribute to service development, quality improvement, and innovation within forensic mental health services

This role requires someone who is comfortable working with complexity, ambiguity, and evolving service models, whilst maintaining a strong focus on compassionate, person-centred care.

The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description for full details and main responsibilities of the role.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Deliver specialist occupational therapy assessments and interventions for individuals with complex forensic and mental health needs
• Work closely with inpatient secure unit AHPs to create joined-up rehabilitation and discharge plans that support continuity of care from secure services into the community
• Support service users to develop the practical, functional, and social skills needed for successful and sustainable community living
• Deliver interventions focused on:
• Functional daily living skills
• Community integration and social inclusion
• Digital literacy and safe use of technology
• Financial literacy and budgeting skills
• Vocational, educational, and meaningful activity engagement
• Development of healthy routines and wellbeing strategies
• Use analytical thinking and occupational formulation to identify strengths, barriers, risks, and opportunities for recovery
• Work collaboratively within the FOLS multidisciplinary team to support positive risk management and person-centred rehabilitation
• Develop therapeutic relationships with individuals who may present with highly complex needs, trauma histories, and significant occupational disruption
• Contribute to service development and help shape the future occupational therapy model within the team

Who We’re Looking For

We are looking for an Occupational Therapist who is:

• Innovative, reflective, and motivated by service development
• Confident working autonomously whilst remaining highly collaborative within an MDT
• Passionate about rehabilitation, recovery, and social inclusion
• Skilled in building therapeutic relationships within complex environments
• Curious, analytical, and able to think creatively around occupational need
• Resilient, compassionate, and adaptable

You must:

• Hold a recognised Occupational Therapy qualification
• Be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Have post-registration experience within mental health, rehabilitation, forensic, or community services

Previous forensic experience is welcomed but not essential. We value transferable skills, fresh thinking, and a willingness to help shape a developing service.

In return, we offer:

• The opportunity to help shape and influence a developing forensic occupational therapy pathway
• Specialist experience within forensic mental health services
• The opportunity to be part of a growing and diverse AHP workforce within forensic mental health services
• Strong multidisciplinary support and clinical supervision
• Opportunities for leadership, innovation, and quality improvement work
• Ongoing CPD and professional development opportunities
• A supportive, forward-thinking, and collaborative team culture
• NHS pension and staff wellbeing benefits
• Flexible working opportunities where service needs allow

Help Shape Recovery Beyond Secure Care.

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.