Senior Occupational Therapist MHST

Haringey GP Federation; Harrogate; On-site; GBP 35,000 - GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization is seeking a full-time Senior Occupational Therapist to join their Mental Health Support Team based in schools. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing assessments and interventions for young people, collaborating with educational staff, and developing a whole-school approach to mental wellbeing. This permanent role requires a qualified therapist with experience in mental health and a passion for improving lives. Competitive salary and comprehensive support will be provided.

Benefits

Professional supervision and development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 months of post-qualifying experience in occupational therapy delivery.
• Experience working with individuals with learning disabilities or autism.
• Awareness of professional standards and their application to practice.

Responsibilities

• Manage referrals and conduct evidence-based assessments for young people in education settings.
• Provide consultation and training to education staff regarding wellbeing.
• Collaborate with multiple agencies and community groups to enhance service delivery.

Skills

Experience with mental health issues

Communication with young people

Team collaboration

Flexibility

Education

Appropriate professional qualification for occupational therapy

Current relevant registration with specific regulatory body

Post graduate training in relevant specialist area

Job description

Senior Occupational Therapist - MHST

The closing date is 20 February 2026

We have an exciting opportunity for a qualified, competent, confident and enthusiastic full time permanent Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join the Harrogate Wellbeing in Mind Team, based in schools. Occupational Therapy is a governed complex intervention; as a Specialist occupational therapist in TEWV working as part of the national Mental Health Support Team (MHST) agenda, you will be responsible for managing this complexity as part of the three strands of MHST delivery that the Wellbeing in Mind Team (WiMT) must undertake, ensuring adherence to the Trust Values at all times.

Main duties of the job

• Offer consultation, advice, and guidance to staff in each education setting
• Contribute to the 'Whole School Approach' offer via training, assemblies, group work and attendance events which relate to wellbeing within each education setting
• Receive referrals for occupational therapy, triage and prioritise these, completing evidence-based assessments and interventions to address key occupational areas of self care, productivity and leisure
• Use client-centred approaches to co-produce negotiated occupational goals and evaluate these with service users collaboratively
• Participate in clinical/professional and management supervision
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary team working
• Contribute to and lead on service improvement and quality initiatives
• Use the Trust electronic patient record system
• Abide by all Trust policies and procedures
• Be able to respond flexibly and creatively to challenges

About us

The Wellbeing in Mind service is a mental health support team that works directly into education. This is in line with the government's priority to increase access and availability of mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people within education settings.

Each MHST national has 3 core functions:

• Support the development of a whole-school or college approach to wellbeing. This can include, but is not limited to, supporting sites to develop and implement mental health and wellbeing policies, development of resources, supporting campaigns and delivering training, assemblies and PHSE curriculum.
• Provide timely advice and consultation to education staff. This is designed to support teaching staff to build their skills and confidence in supporting the wellbeing needs of their students/pupils. This is offered in both a formal and informal way.
• Undertake direct assessments and intervention for young people within education. We offer a low intensity service model, predominantly using cognitive-behavioural therapy.

Each function accounts for a third of the team's workload.

We are looking for OTs who can work flexibly to meet service need and have the vision, energy and inspiration to develop creative, imaginative solutions to working with young people and families.

Job responsibilities

The successful candidate will work with young people in a variety of primary, secondary and further education settings, their families and educational staff. The postholder will consider the wider social prescribing agenda and support the creation of opportunities for young people. The postholder will access wider support from the Occupational Therapy network in CAMHS in TEWV, to develop a new way of delivering a high quality, needs-led OT contribution to the service, utilising core Occupational Therapy skills to ensure all of the young people referred have a robust occupational therapy assessment and intervention plan in place. The post-holder will work collaboratively with a wide number of agencies, voluntary services and community interest groups to develop the ability of young people to be able to engage in occupation, to improve and/or maintain their mental wellbeing. As part of the team the post holder will also deliver activities related to the whole school approach to wellbeing agenda as well as offering informal advice and support to educational staff.

The successful candidates will be compassionate, enthusiastic and motivated to improve the lives of young people experiencing a mental health problem whilst also minimising the impact of mental ill health. The successful candidate will be delivering occupational therapy working flexible hours across the entire week.

The role of the OT will help bring a fresh perspective to the needs of the young people we work with and enhance the existing care offered. In return for a forward-thinking, creative approach, you will be supported to utilise your core OT skills to inform and complement care.

The ability to engage and communicate with children and young people across the developmental spectrum as well as the parents/carers and systems around them is essential. The post holder must be able to demonstrate experience of delivery of occupational therapy, keenness to continually develop themselves and others, and a particular interest in this field of OT.

You will access wider support from the occupational therapy network in CAMHS in TEWV, to develop a way of delivering a high quality, needs-led OT service, utilising core occupational therapy skills to ensure all of the people we work with have a robust occupational therapy assessment and intervention plan in place.

Clinical/Professional supervision is provided by the Lead occupational therapist for CAMHS for the Trust. The postholder will attend OT Learning and Governance Networks to ensure fidelity to core occupational therapy delivery, enhance CPD and contribute to the wider OT service developments.

All team members must be committed to providing the best possible care for the people we work with and their families/carers.

For further information please contact Jo Evanson - Lead OT - 03000 132 000 option 5

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Appropriate professional qualification for occupational therapy role
• Current relevant registration with specific regulatory body
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) level 7 (SLT =8) for International recruits
• Post graduate training in relevant specialist area

Experience

• Minimum 12 months post qualifying experience of occupational therapy delivery
• Experience of supporting people with mental health issues, learning disability or autism
• Experience of working in Multidisciplinary Team

Knowledge

• Understanding of the needs of people who use our services with mental health conditions or learning disabilities.
• Clinical risk assessment and application in practice
• Knowledge of evidence based practice in designated specialist area
• Post graduate training in specialist area if applicable to post (e.g. dysphagia, autism diagnostics)
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of managing complex occupational therapy cases
• Awareness of professional standards and its application to practice

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust