Location
Chester, England
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 per annum
Profession
Occupational Therapist
Grade
Band 6
Deadline
16 Sep 2026
Contract Type
Fixed term: 18 months (until 31st March 2028 due to funding)
Posted Date
03 Sep 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job requirements

Requirements from the employer’s person specification. These describe the role, not your personal match.

Essential

23 listed

Requirements the employer expects applicants to meet.

  • Experience

    At least 18 months experience in mental health

  • Experience

    Experience of working in a multidisciplinary environment

  • Experience

    Experience of supervising and supporting junior staff and students

  • Experience

    Experience of using Staff Performance and Development Process

  • Experience

    Documented evidence of Continued Professional Development

  • Experience

    Working knowledge of clinical audit

  • Experience

    Experience of introducing new and innovative interventions

  • Trust Values

    : Demonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C’s: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency)

  • Qualifications

    Diploma or BSc in Occupational Therapy

  • Qualifications

    Registration with Health Professions Council

  • Qualifications

    Accreditation as Practice Placement Educator or working towards accreditation

  • Knowledge and Expertise

    Specialist clinical skills relevant to the role

  • Knowledge and Expertise

    Current disability equipment training or be willing to gain as appropriate for the post

  • Knowledge and Expertise

    Excellent verbal and written communication skills

  • Knowledge and Expertise

    Good knowledge and awareness of current legislation and guidance pertaining to Mental Health services and implications for Occupational Therapy

  • Knowledge and Expertise

    Ability to work under pressure and set priorities

  • Knowledge and Expertise

    Good knowledge of effective care co-ordination and planning of treatment packages

  • Knowledge and Expertise

    Ability to manage own caseload and work as part of a team

  • Knowledge and Expertise

    Group leadership skills

  • Knowledge and Expertise

    Excellent negotiation and organisational skills, with individuals and groups

  • Knowledge and Expertise

    Working knowledge of clinical governance principles

  • Knowledge and Expertise

    Computer literacy

  • Knowledge and Expertise

    Skills in moving and handling

Desirable

7 listed

Additional qualities the employer would prefer.

  • Experience

    Minimum of 3 years post registration experience

  • Experience

    Experience of care co-ordination

  • Qualifications

    CLAIT/ECDL or equivalent

  • Qualifications

    Postgraduate clinical training relevant to the post

  • Qualifications

    Leadership or management training

  • Knowledge and Expertise

    Training, presentation and facilitation skills

  • Knowledge and Expertise

    Ability to resolve complex professional and ethical issues Research experience

Job overview

Are you an enthusiastic and motivated Occupational Therapist looking to make a difference? Join PARALEL, an innovative rehabilitation, relapse prevention and alternative to admission service supporting adults with eating disorders across community and inpatient settings. As part of a developing multidisciplinary team, you will provide specialist Occupational Therapy support to help people maintain recovery and remain safely within their communities.

The role will include:

  • Completing complex Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions.
  • Managing a caseload, including individuals with complex needs.
  • Delivering individual and group interventions.
  • Supporting discharge planning, transitions from inpatient care and relapse prevention.
  • Facilitating therapeutic activities, including psychoeducation, cooking, shopping and social eating.
  • Working with service users in community settings, at home and virtually where appropriate.
  • Supporting the development of the PARALEL service and alternative to admission pathway.

The successful candidate will have a good understanding of Occupational Therapy, mental health and eating disorders, and be committed to delivering compassionate, recovery-focused care within a developing service.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will play a key role within the multidisciplinary team, providing specialist Occupational Therapy assessment, intervention and rehabilitation for adults with eating disorders. Interventions will be delivered using recovery-focused, person-centred approaches across community settings, including face-to-face, remote and home-based appointments.

The post holder will contribute to multidisciplinary working, support service development and help shape the ongoing delivery of the alternative to admission pathway within the Eating Disorder Service.

Why Join Us?

  • Be part of a friendly, supportive and innovative service.
  • Help shape and develop an exciting new service model.
  • Benefit from ongoing professional development, including: Clinical supervision Annual appraisal Practice placement education A wide range of training opportunities Regular peer support
  • Clinical supervision
  • Annual appraisal
  • Practice placement education
  • A wide range of training opportunities
  • Regular peer support

Who We're Looking For

We're seeking an individual who is:

  • Passionate about mental health and improving lives.
  • Organised and able to manage a varied caseload.
  • Caring, enthusiastic, adaptable and eager to learn.
  • Motivated to contribute to a developing service.
  • Able to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Experience and knowledge of eating disorders and mental health would be desirable.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see ‘documents to download’ section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

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 Specialist Occupational Therapist with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Chester, 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: 18 months (until 31st March 2028 due to funding). The application deadline is 16 Sep 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 (03 Sep 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.

For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.