Job overview
Are you an innovative and highly motivated Occupational Therapist who wants to improve the lives and wellbeing of individuals with a Learning Disability? Then we could be the team for you!
Due to an expansion of the Specialist Learning Disability provision, we are looking for an Intensive Support Occupational Therapist to work alongside community and inpatient colleagues to best meet the needs of individuals known to the intensive support team.
This specialist Occupational Therapist post will enable you to use your core OT skills by promoting participation and independence in Activities of Daily living, whilst having the opportunity to strengthen and develop these in specialist areas such as Sensory Integration, Positive Behaviour Support, Trauma Informed approaches alongside supporting the impact of physical health needs.
The role sits within the Intensive Support Function of the East & North Specialist Learning Disability Service. You will be joining a highly dedicated and creative Occupational Therapy service and will be encouraged and supported to undertake learning and development opportunities both in clinical and leadership fields
We are a supportive and forward-thinking team, with great peer networks; we actively promote learning and professional development with opportunities in both clinical and leadership fields of work.
Due to this being a community post access to a vehicle is essential.
We invite and welcome further discussions from anyone keen to apply.
Main duties of the job
The Intensive Support Team (IST) work intensively with adults (18+) with learning disabilities who are experiencing significant mental health difficulties or whose behaviours pose a challenge.
The Occupational Therapist will provide high quality, comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention for specified service user group with complex needs
They will work in an interdisciplinary way to assess service user’s needs, devise care plans and evaluate outcomes and to carry a caseload as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
Provide clinical advice and support for service users that present with behaviour that challenges and require support with their mental health.
Work directly with service users, carers, colleagues and other service providers.
Deliver training and education to other professionals/carers/family.
To continue to develop Occupational Therapy provision within the service and drive innovation with support from the Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist and Professional Lead Occupational Therapist.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Occupational Therapist will lead on:
Providing a high-quality Occupational Therapy Service and consultation to people within the Hertfordshire Community intensive Support team.
Undertaking assessments and interventions where intense and/or frequent contact is required
Providing advice and modelling on the implementation of Occupational Therapy interventions in the person's current setting
Offering hands-on support to staff teams to improve their confidence and skill base.
Contribute to risk assessment and management plans
Input into positive Behaviour Support Plans for those displaying challenging behaviour and Staying Well Plans for those with mental health needs
Scaffold and support colleagues who offer flexible out-of-hours support to reduce the need for hospital admission
Manage a caseload, using evidence based/client principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate Occupational Therapy interventions in clinic and community settings .
Providing specialist Occupational Therapy advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to a client’s formulation, diagnosis and case management plan.
Planning and implement individual and/or group interventions using selected and graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.
Helping to evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
Ensure that clients are consulted and involved in decision about their care.
Maintain clinical records.
Develop skills and knowledge.
Providing an effective supervision framework for Occupational Therapy staff and provide regular supervision to allocated OT staff as per Trust policy.
Person specification
ANALYTICAL SKILLS
Essential
- Ability to apply broad knowledge of current best practice in OT and mental health
- A high level of problem solving/clinical judgement skills and the ability to analyse professional and ethical issues
- Ability to respond and adjust appropriately to the changing needs of service users
- Highly developed Observational skills
- Highly developed ability to evaluate group interventions and outcomes
- Highly developed case formulation skills to guide own OT intervention plan and those of others
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Post registration experience in relevant clinical setting
- Applied experience of providing both individual and group work interventions.
- Specialist knowledge and experience of using the Model of Human Occupation assessment tools, or others appropriate to area.
- Experience of other specialist Occupational Therapy assessment tools, e.g. AMPS, Pool Activity Levels
- Highly developed case formulation skills to guide own OT intervention plan and those of others
- Experience of audits/evaluations of interventions and direct involvement of implementation of any subsequent changes to practice.
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disability in a variety of health and social care settings
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Essential
- Strong communication skills, written and verbal and the ability to persuade and negotiate with peers and senior colleagues
- Proven track record of working within a multidisciplinary team and an understanding of team dynamics
- Knowledge and application of key policy, health legislation and guidelines which impact on OT and mental health/LD practice.
- Ability to provide and receive sensitive and difficult information regarding service users care and social situation
- Knowledge of and effective use of appropriate professional relationships and boundaries
- High level of ability to grade and adapt practical skills
- Evidence of delivery of training and professional development sessions
Desirable
- Car driver (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving)
QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATION TRAINING
Essential
- BSc/MSc/PG Dip Occupational Therapy
- HCPC registration
- Proficient use of Microsoft Office and associated packages.
- Completion of preceptorship and/or evidence of having met the full KSF Gateway for Band 5 OT’s
- Evidence of relevant post grad training.
Desirable
- Membership of RCOT
- Practice Placement qualification
- SI/BBAT training
- Broad base of clinical experience
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Specialist Occupational Therapist - Intensive Support Team with Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in Hatfield, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 6 Occupational Therapist role. The advertised salary is £39,959 - £48,117 per annum pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 02 Jul 2026.
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