Vocational Specialist

Job summary

New Leaf is a vocational rehabilitation service, supporting people with a history of trauma or a mental health diagnosis to develop their skills and self confidence, with the aim of moving into volunteering or employment.

New Leaf is set in a beautiful, 35 acre site overlooking the Exe estuary with an orchard and allotment, a range of glasshouses and polytunnels and a well equipped wood workshop.

The vocational specialist role is pivotal in the team, supporting our service users to identify and meet their personal goals in order to reach their full potential and we are excited to be able torecruit a full time, experienced, confident but empathic occupational therapist, RMN or social worker to join our service.

As part of your role, you will be responsible for completing assessments, assisting with goal planning, supporting reviews and working closely with people to identify the right volunteering or employment opportunities in line with their aspirations.

You will need to have excellent practical, organisational, communication and IT skills in order to have an oversight of the caseload at New Leaf .

Being able to demonstrate creative thinking and problem solving alongside working effectively as part of this small team are also essential qualities.

You will be offered regular supervision and support by the vocational services manager who will work closely with you to support your induction and ongoing development.

Please contact the recruiting manager for further information.

Main duties of the job

As the key clinician on site, you will be responsible for showing people who are interested in applying for placements, around the site prior to application.

Have a good understanding of mental health and associated risks.

You will complete assessments with applicants, discussing suitability with the team at caseload meetings which you will lead with the service manager.

You will be ensuring all documentation regarding service users is recorded on the patient notes system in a timely manner and effectively communicate with individuals to support their attendance on placement.

Supporting individuals to identify person centred SMART goals, ensuring these are updated to reflect achievement and self efficacy.

An important part of the role is to understand the person and their hopes for the future, assisting them to identify volunteering or employment opportunities which they can transition into at the end of their placement.

Networking with a range of stakeholders to support the expansion of volunteering opportunities available and raising the profile of the service to support referral rates.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Details

• Date posted: 16 October 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 5
• Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: C9369-26-0777
• Job locations: New Leaf,, Farm House Rise, Exminster, England, EX6 8AB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

To work with and support people who wish to access the services of New Leaf. The post holder will be required to offer informal visits for people wishing to apply to New Leaf. The role will require the person to promote the services of New Leaf across DPT.

The post holder will provide initial assessment and action planning for newly accepted applicants to New Leaf and will provide on-going clinical support, advice and guidance to the New Leaf team about the mental health and occupational needs of individuals using the service.

Duties and Responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationship Skills:

• Take an active part in the New Leaf team clinical meeting each week, supporting the team to gain a fuller understanding of the needs of people using the service
• To lead the New Leaf clinical meeting in the absence of the VRS manager
• Liaise with Care Co-ordinators over complex issues requiring sensitive handling if required
• Liaise with relevant Workways team when someone is ready to start job searching to ensure timely and appropriate handover
• Liaise with relevant Workways team when someone needs active job retention support to ensure timely and appropriate handover
• Liaise with voluntary services to signpost people who may purely want voluntary work when moving on from New Leaf
• To lead informal group visits to New Leaf for individuals who are interested in accessing the service.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills:

• Be responsible for assessing the suitability of New Leaf for all applicants.
• Make recommendations to the New leaf team about the required plan of action/intervention for each person using the service.

Planning and Organisational Skills:

• Arrange and attend all New Leaf reviews for relevant people using the service.
• Lead those reviews to ensure all present are able to contribute and that an updated plan of action/intervention is agreed upon
• Plan and prioritise own caseload in conjunction with Vocational Services Manager
• Plan and implement agreed groups relevant to the people using the service as agreed with the New Leaf Team manager
• Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy
• Monitor peoples progress between reviews and working closely with and advising the Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources:

• Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties Responsibility for Research and Development

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).