Specialist Occupational Therapist - Inverclyde Mental Health Services

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The role:

To be an independent expert practitioner managing a variety of conditions which are often complex and challenging and provide a specialist occupational therapy clinical lead within a designated area. This will involve specialist assessment, treatment and evaluation on the efficacy of service user care, both individually and in groups. Standardised clinical tools will be utilised where the postholder has identified their appropriateness using specialist knowledge. The postholder will provide specialist professional advice to other disciplines, carers and agencies.

The postholder will be required to engage with the wider multi- disciplinary team and to work across agencies to deliver packages of care in the role of occupational therapist and/or keyworker and/or care manager including mental health assessments. The postholder will contribute to the evaluation and development of the occupational therapy service within their designated area with reference to clinical governance, clinical effectiveness and national policies and drivers. This will require the postholder to lead on departmental and team projects.

You will be part of a dedicated Occupational Therapy MH service lead by a Team Lead and work aside Band 6/5 staff.

You will receive professional support and supervision from an Occupational Therapy Team Lead, will gain access to appropriate training and will have protected CPD time.

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern:

• Location based in Inverclyde Royal Hospital
• Permanent Contract
• Full-time position (37 hours per week)
• Shift pattern for this post are Monday – Wednesday, 9am – 5pm

Location based in Inverclyde Royal Hospital

Permanent Contract

Full-time position (37 hours per week)

Shift pattern for this post are Monday – Wednesday, 9am – 5pm

Key responsibilities:

• Based within the Adult Acute and IPCU unit with ringfenced outreach to the Community Mental Health Team within multi-agency.
• Independently manage a caseload of complex cases taking on the role of care manager/key worker as required.
• Act independently to assess occupational needs of a defined client group utilising highly specialist skills to assess, implement, grade and evaluate appropriate treatment programmes, whilst incorporating risk assessment to maximise functional independence and rehabilitation potential. Both in community and in-patient settings.
• Act independently to assess individual service users to determine their need for occupational therapy intervention through client-centred practice.
• Work collaboratively with service users to identify goals as part of the overall care plan using specialist/standardised assessment tools.
• Act independently in prioritising service user needs to ensure individual service users receive intervention timeously and appropriately.

Based within the Adult Acute and IPCU unit with ringfenced outreach to the Community Mental Health Team within multi-agency.

Independently manage a caseload of complex cases taking on the role of care manager/key worker as required.

Act independently to assess occupational needs of a defined client group utilising highly specialist skills to assess, implement, grade and evaluate appropriate treatment programmes, whilst incorporating risk assessment to maximise functional independence and rehabilitation potential. Both in community and in-patient settings.

Act independently to assess individual service users to determine their need for occupational therapy intervention through client-centred practice.

Work collaboratively with service users to identify goals as part of the overall care plan using specialist/standardised assessment tools.

Act independently in prioritising service user needs to ensure individual service users receive intervention timeously and appropriately.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:

Essential:

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy.
• Registered with the HCPC.
• Must hold or gain a practice education qualification.
• Up to date mandatory and statutory training record e.g. Fire, Moving and Handling.
• Proven specialist skills and knowledge in relation to OT in mental health gained through a range of short specialist course and experience gained through working in multi disciplinary or multi agency teams.
• Demonstrate highly developed communication observation assessment and risk management skills.
• Must be able to work independently and set own clinical priorities relevant to mental health services.
• Must have documented evidence of continuous professional development relevant to their area of practice and grade.
• Specialist evidence based knowledge of OT assessments, interventions and outcome measures.

Desirable:

• Membership of British Association of Occupational Therapists.
• Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues and respond appropriately.
• Critical analysis skills related to applying research findings within specialist clinical area.
• Experience of participation in research.

What we offer:

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal discussion, please contact:

Siobhan Wilson, Lead Occupational Therapist – Mental Health Community, ON 01475 558000 or email siobhan.wilson4@nhs.scot

Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process: Information for candidates

This post may close early due to the volume of response. Please submit your application form as soon as possible. Due to the volume of applications that we receive, we will not be able to provide shortlisting feedback.

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From 1 April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will reduce from 37 hours to 36 hours. Part-time working hours will be reduced on a pro-rata basis. A corresponding increase in the hourly rate will apply, ensuring that overall pay remains unchanged.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as “various”, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.

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