Ward Based Occupational Therapist

Job overview

We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for a full-time Band 5 Occupational Therapist to join the team at the newly opened Carsington Unit, located at Kingsway Hospital in Derby.

This role is based on Robin Ward, part of our state-of-the-art, purpose-built 54-bed facility that opened in May 2025. The Carsington Unit is designed to enhance the care experience for adult acute mental health patients, offering en-suite single rooms to promote safety, privacy, and dignity.

It’s a great time to join Derbyshire Healthcare and be part of a dynamic, supportive team making a real difference in mental health care.

• Robin Ward is a new 18-beded Female Working Age Adult Acute Ward, based at our new Carsington Unit in Derby.
• Robin Ward will focus on therapeutic interventions and deliver care to national recommendations.
• This is a great opportunity for you to support shaping the service and build the team along with the Ward Manager and other senior leaders. You will work alongside others to establish and develop this new ward for Derbyshire and collaborate with an innovative and forward-thinking programme team and senior leaders.

The post is 37.5 hours a week between Mon-Sun and shifts are expected to be 7.5 hours, ranging from earlies and lates, covering times between 8am to 4pm and 12 noon  to 8pm shifts .

Patterns of work can be discussed upon recruitment.

Main duties of the job

As a member of the Ward Occupational Therapy Team, You  will be expected to adopt the policies and philosophy of the service and provide occupational assessment and treatment using a range of appropriate interventions based on the recovery philosophy and the Model of Human Occupation.

Additionally, You  will be expected to work and support the wider MDT to provide a safe and effective discharge plan back into the community.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please review the Job Description and Person Specification.   To apply, please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB - this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site.  You will need to register if you do not already have an account.

As part of the MDT, the Occupational Therapist will work flexibly in an occupation focused way by developing and delivering meaningful activity within an individual and group environment that focuses on person centred care and recovery principles. The post holder will ensure each assessment and treatment is delivered in a person-centred manner ensuring the gender, sexual orientation, ethnic, cultural and spiritual needs of service users are adhered to and support the Care Programme Approach including enabling service users/carers/significant others to become involved in decision making processes for the implementation and evaluation of treatment.

Within the role you will need to have the ability to work independently to develop and deliver an Occupational Therapy Service on the ward for inpatients and support the Occupational Therapy care pathway based on evidence-based practice. You will need the show initiative, drive and ability to think creatively for solutions. You will actively manage your own workload, effectively and efficiently prioritising competing demands. Therefore, the post holder will be required to be a dynamic clinician and demonstrate a range of skills, including effective communication, empathy, self-awareness and critical, self-reflection skills.

DHCFT can offer both personal and clinical development opportunities, in addition to regular professional and clinical supervision, personal development plans, and support for continual professional development activities.

As a member of the team you will be expected to adopt the policies and philosophy of the service and provide occupational assessment and treatment using a range of appropriate interventions based on the recovery philosophy and the Model of Human Occupation. They will promote social inclusion, enabling independence and enhancing the autonomy of the service user. This will involve being proactive in initiating and sustaining a respectful, consistent, and reliable therapeutic relationship with service users that enhances their ability to build social networks and work in partnership with other agencies.

You will be aware of and work within all legislative requirements relevant to occupational therapy (Mental Health Act, Code of Practice, Human Rights Act, Disability Discrimination Act etc), and ensure that Child and Adult protection procedures are followed.

You will also nurture a culture of respect for others, and an environment that values and is pro-actively respectful of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, culture and individuality for service users and staff. Whilst also ensuring Trust policies, procedures, and legislative directives are adhered to e.g. Equal Opportunities, Human Rights Act, Disability Discrimination Act, Race Relations, Sex Discrimination etc.

They should: Demonstrate the ability to monitor personal practice ensuring that Health Professions Council registration is maintained. Ensure personal professional development promotes good practice, prevents poor practice, and intervenes in unacceptable practice. Working with service users within the limitations of inpatient environments and being aware of potential hazards. Taking responsibility for utilizing local support systems as necessary e.g. manual handling, management of violence and aggression, lone worker policy etc.

This job description will be reviewed annually with you according to the needs and development of the service; alterations will only be made after consultation and agreement. You may be asked to undertake duties not directly highlighted within this job description. This will only be done when the skills and experience of the post holder meet the requirements of the job.