Occupational Therapist

Transformationunitgm; Hemel Hempstead; Hybrid; GBP 31,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in Hemel Hempstead is seeking an Occupational Therapist for a 12-month fixed-term contract to support older adults. You will manage a diverse caseload while working in a collaborative and inclusive environment. This role offers flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional development in mental health. Candidates with an Occupational Therapy background are encouraged to apply for this rewarding position that focuses on enhancing the quality of life for our service users.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Career progression to senior posts

Paid opportunities for OTs Returning to Practice

Qualifications

• Experience of leading a range of groups and 1:1 interventions in a health or social care setting.
• Documented evidence of continuing professional development.
• Working knowledge of standardised assessment and outcome measures.

Responsibilities

• To manage a case load of clients with complex OT needs using evidence-based principles.
• Focus on what matters to Service Users using creativity.
• Support the Assistants and Nursing Staff to engage with Service Users.

Skills

Knowledge of key policy, health legislation and guidelines

Strong communication skills written and verbal

Ability to work effectively in a team

Education

BSc/MSc/PG Dip Occupational Therapy

HCPC registration

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Main area MHSOP Grade Band 6, Band 5, or Band 5 to 6 development Contract Fixed term: 12 months (maternity cover) Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Job share
• Flexible working

30 hours per week Job ref 367-SS-9988-A

Employer Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Seward Lodge, Lilbourn Drive, Hertford, SG13 7HL Town Hertford Salary £31,049 - £46,580 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 30/01/2026 23:59

Occupational Therapist - Band 6

Band 6, Band 5, or Band 5 to 6 development

Values Based Screener

At Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust we are looking for people to join us who share our values and those of the NHS. Before your application can be considered please take part on our online values questionnaire, which you can find below. When you have finished you will be sent a 'completion code' by email, which will be valid for 6 months and required to submit your application form.

We are looking for a Occupational Therapist (OT) who loves working with older adults and a great team to work with us in our award winning Allied Health Professional Services. The role is a 12 month fixed term maternity leave contract, and would suit someone who would like to specialise in Mental Health for Older Adults and / or Frailty. We would consider full time applicants. We are able to support a variety of needs of the postholder, including return to practice OTs, 5 - 6 development roles, part-time and flexible working.

You will not find a more supportive, friendly or flexible service. Our team won Inclusive Team of the Year Award in 2023 in the HPFT annual awards. We'd love to meet you and would welcome a visit. This is what some of our staff say about working in this team;

"I’ve never worked with such a professional, welcoming and friendly team, the team support is great, it has been the happiest job I have ever had" VK, Physiotherapist.

"I feel so fortunate to have joined such a fantastic team; I feel inspired to work alongside other AHPs who clearly share my passion in doing the very best for each of our service users" BC, Occupational Therapist.

"I came back (to work in MHSOP AHP Team) because the team is the most supportive and welcoming team I have worked with, and a such a friendly environment to work in"

HI, Physiotherapist

Main duties of the job

• To manage a case load of clients with complex OT needs, using evidence based / client centered principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions in wards and community settings, and on home vists.
• Focus on what matters to Service Users, using your creativity and promoting their occupational identity.
• Support the Assistants (ATP’s), Physiotherapists and Nursing Staff to engage with Service Users in meaningful ways.
• Be part of a large OT / PT team working across Hertfordshire
• Supervision, support and line management provided by OT's
• Participate in the promotion and teaching of your profession
• Be part of an MDT that values and respects OT and PT
• Access specific Older Peoples CPD opportunities and development programs
• Receive support and be part of a network across all the mental health and learning disability OT services
• Develop knowledge and application of the Model of Human Occupation and other specialist assessments.

Our family of over 4,000 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This is a fixed term contract providing maternity cover for 12 months. The unit, Seward Lodge, has 16 beds and a number of Allied Health Professional staff. You will work alongside experienced Occupational and Physio Therapists providing assessment and treatment. You will also work alongside a Music Therapist, Dietician and Speech and Language Therapy. We aim for the best quality of life possible for all our Service Users and Occupational Therapists are key in delivering this.

We have a broad range of services for Older People with many opportunities:

• Functional frail Assessment and Treatment inpatients
• Organic Assessment and Treatment inpatients
• Early Memory Diagnosis and Support Services
• Recovery and Therapy in the Community
• Crisis Intervention Services
• IntegratedCare Services (mental health OT)
• Care Home Support Services

We offer:

• Flexible working for a great work/life balance
• Job swaps, try a different area of work
• Career progression to senior posts and specialist skill development
• Our training offers are excellent with opportunities to specialise in specific areas such as Contented Dementia, Sensory Integration.
• Relocation packages if you need to move to work in Hertfordshire
• Ringfenced OT roles, you can be creative and ‘do’ occupation!
• Support to put your ideas into action
• Paid opportunities for OTs Returning to Practice after a break or for those wanting to expand their experience into a new field of practice.
• Flexible bank work for qualified and unqualified experienced staff.
• Opportunities for bank work if you are currently studying your OT qualification.
• 5-6 and 6-7 development opportunities
• Assistant development opportunities, we have band 3, 4 and 5 unqualified roles.
• OT Apprenticeship Program in conjunction with University of Hertfordshire
• OT pre-apprenticeship support to prepare you to apply for the OT Apprenticeship

Our Inpatient Occupational Therapists are well respected and have key roles in our services. You will be working with a team of AHPs, within an MDT, in an inpatient unit. As a full-time or part-time member of staff you have senior OTs, junior OTs, Assistant Therapy Practitioners (ATP) and Physiotherapy staff in the team. We have a number of Inpatient Units in Hertfordshire; Radlett (Wren Ward), St Albans (Lambourn Grove) , Hemel Hempstead(Logandene), Hertford (Seward Lodge), Stevenage (Victoria Court). There are opportunities to focus on an area of specialist interest such as Sensory Integration, Creative Interventions, Teaching to name a few.

For full details of the role and responsibilities for this vacancy please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification documents attached.

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATION TRAINING

• BSc/MSc/PG Dip Occupational Therapy
• HCPC registration (or applied for)
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office and associated packages.
• Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disability
• Training in the use of the Model of Human Occupation in practice areas

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

• Application of the OT process and use of functional assessment and activity analysis
• Working knowledge of Recovery principles and how these relate to OT
• Working knowledge of standardised assessment and outcome measures appropriate to area of practice
• Experience of the application of an OT model in practice
• Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disability
• Documented evidence of continuing professional development
• Experience of leading a range of groups and 1:1 interventions in a health or social care setting

SKILLS KNOWLEDGE and ABILITY

• Knowledge of key policy, health legislation and guidelines which impact on OT practice.
• Ability to provide and receive sensitive and difficult information regarding services users care and social situation
• Strong communication skills written and verbal
• Ability to work effectively in a team
• Knowledge of and effective use of appropriate professional relationships and boundaries
• Ability to grade and adapt practical skills
• Training and presentation skills
• Working knowledge of the Trusts' values

ANALYTICAL SKILLS

• Creative problem solving and clinical judgement skills
• Ability to understand ,respond and adjust appropriately to the changing needs of service users
• Well-developed Observational skills
• Knowledge and experience of using the range of Model of Human Occupation Assessment tools and other OT related OT.
• Ability to Critically evaluate group interventions and outcomes
• Ability to use case formulation to guide OT intervention plan
• Involvement in outcome measures, audit and promotion of Occupational Therapy

PHYSICAL SKILLS

• Ability to use a range of IT equipment relevant to the role
• Ability to engage in a range of physical activities
• Car Driver(unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving)

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is rated by the Care Quality Commission as an Outstanding provider of mental health and learning disability services. In 2021, we won the prestigious Health Service Journal award for Mental Health Trust of the Year, with the judges saying they were “blown away” by our people’s achievements and that everything they saw “sings and hums”. This year, our staff rated us the 4 th best mental health and learning disability trust to work for out of all 52 trusts in the country. Our staff tell us that they are proud to be part of the HPFT team, proud of the standard of care we provide and proud that service users are our top priority. Our people tell us they feel supported though a great development, wellbeing and work-life balance offer and a highly compassionate, values-driven culture. We are equally proud of our staff, who live our values of being welcoming, kind, positive, respectful and professional so that together we provide great care and great outcomes for our service users and carers.

If you would like to join a team to be proud of and you share our values and passion for great care and outcomes for our service users and carers, we would love to hear from you.

Additional Information

HPFT is committed to being an equal opportunities employer and in order to reflect the diversity of its population, positively encourages applications from all areas of the community. We aim to be a representative organisation with regards to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, beliefs and sexual orientation and are fully committed to equality, diversity and human rights and encourage applications from all sections of the community including users of mental health services.

The Trust is committed to helping staff balance work and home life and welcomes applications from candidates wishing to work part-time or under flexible working arrangements.

Infection Control

All our staff will need to comply with current Infection Prevention and Control measures which could include wearing a mask on all our Trust sites and in all roles

AI Usage Guidance

While Artificial Intelligence (AI) can aid you in completing your application, these tools cannot fully grasp the context of requirements of the job you’re applying for, nor can they accurately reflect your skills, knowledge and experience. Please ensure you have tailored your application before submitting it.

For further information, please refer to the Trust’s guidance on AI usage document which can be found below.

Visa, Immigration and Sponsorship

As a Trust we will offer sponsorship to roles which require professional registration, unfortunately, if you apply for a role that is outside of that your application will not be considered for the role. If you hold a different visa type, you must have a minimum of 2 years on your current visa to be considered for a role.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Please email and I will contact you by phone or arrange an MS Teams call according to what you would prefer.