What qualifications do I need to work as an NHS occupational therapist?

You need a degree in occupational therapy approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and HCPC registration. Most NHS OT roles start at Band 5 for newly qualified practitioners.

What settings do NHS occupational therapists work in?

NHS occupational therapists work in hospitals (acute and rehabilitation), community services, mental health trusts, and specialist services. Settings include wards, outpatient clinics, patients' homes, and specialist units.

How much do NHS occupational therapists earn?

Under the 2026/27 pay scale, NHS occupational therapists start at Band 5 (approximately £32,000-£39,000), with specialist roles at Band 6 (£40,000-£48,000), senior specialists at Band 7 (£49,000-£57,000), and consultant OTs at Band 8 (£58,000+).

Which NHS trusts hire occupational therapists in London?

Major NHS employers for occupational therapists in London include Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and more.

Occupational Therapist Jobs in London

NHS occupational therapy posts cover physical rehabilitation, mental health, paediatrics, hand therapy, and community reablement. OTs assess how illness, injury, or disability affects someone's ability to manage daily tasks and work, then plan interventions around those specific barriers. Most roles start at Band 5 and progress to specialist, advanced, and consultant levels.

42 live vacancies in London · 20 NHS employers · updated hourly

View all NHS jobs in London

Open Positions

£32k - £65k

Salary Range

NHS Trusts

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Working in Occupational Therapist roles in London

London has more NHS employers than any other UK city. Roles span major teaching hospitals, standalone specialist centres like Great Ormond Street, community trusts, and mental health providers. High-cost area supplements of up to 20% apply to most posts. For occupational therapist candidates, this means roles can appear across acute hospitals, community services, specialist teams, mental health providers, and integrated care settings depending on the local NHS workforce mix.

Job Clerk is currently tracking 42 live occupational therapist vacancies in London from 20 NHS employers. New posts can include permanent, fixed-term, bank, part-time, and rotational opportunities, so it is worth checking both the broad Occupational Therapist results and the band-specific pages below.

Recent salary data for these occupational therapist roles ranges from about £32,073 to £65,261 per year, depending on band, specialist experience, and whether high-cost area supplements apply.

Common work areas

Functional assessment and goal-setting with patients
Home environment assessment and discharge planning
Equipment prescription and housing adaptation recommendations
Specialist group or individual intervention programmes

Typical requirements

HCPC registration as an occupational therapist
Subspecialty experience relevant to the post (physical, mental health, paediatrics, hand therapy)
Postgraduate training for specialist or advanced roles
RCOT membership (recommended but not essential)

Local employers

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust
South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust NHS Trust

Bands hiring in London

Current occupational therapist pages for London include Band 6, Band 7, and Band 5. Use these band pages when you want salary expectations, seniority, and job descriptions narrowed to a specific level.

Local practical context

Most major NHS sites are reachable by Tube, Overground, or bus. Commuting from outer London or the home counties is common, and journey time should factor into shift-based role decisions.

London is the most expensive UK city for housing. Inner London posts receive a 20% HCAS (capped at roughly £5,800-£8,700 depending on band), outer London 15% (roughly £4,500-£5,800), and fringe areas 5%. The zone is determined by workplace postcode, not home address, so two hospitals a few miles apart can fall in different zones. After tax and NI, the net benefit is roughly 65-72% of the headline figure.