Professional Skills Instructor/Mentor in Occupational Therapy

derby.ac.uk; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in the East Midlands seeks a Subject Lead for Therapy and Rehabilitation. The role involves supporting teaching, mentoring students, and collaborating on professional development within health and social care sectors. Candidates should have a relevant degree and current HCPC registration as an Occupational Therapist. The position offers opportunities for career growth in a dynamic educational environment.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Access to staff discounts

Discounted onsite gym

Flexible working environment

Qualifications

• Experience in the health or care sectors.
• Ability to engage learners and deliver high-quality learning outcomes.
• Knowledge of current higher education environment.

Responsibilities

• Support teaching, learning, and assessment.
• Mentor and coach students.
• Monitor and document training activities.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Time-management skills

Education

Good Honours Degree in a relevant subject

Current professional registration with the HCPC as an Occupational Therapist

Teaching qualification or willingness to obtain

Job description

Subject Lead for Therapy and Rehabilitation

Location

Multi-site

Monday 12 January 2026

£32,260 to £36,251 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £41,689 per annum)

Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground‑breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

At the heart of shaping future professionals and creative thinkers, the College of Health and Humanities brings together two dynamic and diverse schools:

The School of Health and Social Care

Preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals and social care leaders through hands‑on learning, expert teaching, and strong industry partnerships. Our courses are designed to meet the demands of real‑world practice and improve the health and wellbeing of our communities.

The School is made up of a broad range of subjects, reflecting the diversity and complexity of modern health and social care settings:

• Adult Nursing
• Associate and Enhanced Healthcare Practice
• Midwifery, Children’s Nursing and Professional Practice
• Mental Health and Learning Disability Nursing
• Public Health and Social Care
• Diagnostics and Clinical Interventions
• Therapy and Rehabilitation

Through an integrated approach to learning and professional development, our students are equipped with the knowledge, values, and skills to thrive in their chosen fields and make a lasting impact.

The School of Humanities, Law and Creative Arts

Celebrating creativity, critical thinking, and cultural exploration. This school nurtures writers, performers, thinkers and artists, offering opportunities to grow intellectually and creatively across subjects like English, History, Creative Writing, Fine Art, and Media.

Together, the College of Health and Humanities delivers a rich, interdisciplinary environment where students gain the skills, experience, and inspiration to make a meaningful impact in society.

About the discipline

The discipline of Therapy and Rehabilitation at the University of Derby champions the restoration of health, function, and wellbeing; empowering people to live life to the fullest.

Our wide‑ranging expertise spans Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Therapeutic Arts, and related rehabilitation professions.

Through evidence‑based teaching, interprofessional collaboration, and immersive clinical education, our students gain the skills to support recovery and enhance quality of life across a diverse range of populations and settings. Our programmes are enriched by research‑informed practice, creative methodologies, and strong connections with health and care providers.

The Therapeutic Arts strand integrates the healing power of creative expression with clinical insight; an innovative area that continues to grow in impact and relevance.

Our Professional Skills Instructor/Mentors support the development of professional skills, practical, technical, vocational, and associated learning for students and apprentices and, where necessary, support their individual learning needs and progress; monitoring both in the workplace, on placement, at alternative venues, on College/University premises or online. This includes supporting teaching, learning, and assessment, and the provision of work and learning mentoring and coaching. Your role will be to work with our academic teams to support our students develop to their full potential.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting teaching, learning, and assessment
• Mentoring and coaching to enhance learning and growth
• Monitoring progress and addressing individual learning needs
• Maintaining accurate records of both formal and informal training activities

If you’re committed to helping learners succeed and thrive in their careers, we’d love to hear from you!

The anticipated interview date will be week commencing 22nd January 2026.

We're looking for healthcare professionals who have an interest in education and supporting students to achieve highly. This role is suitable for anyone at any stage of their professional career for example early‑career professionals or those considering a change from clinical work. We value all of your knowledge and skills, from whichever field of practice you are in.

We are seeking a healthcare professional with a relevant degree and current registration with the HCPC as an Occupational Therapist, who holds or is willing to work towards a teaching qualification and can demonstrate continued professional development in mentoring or coaching.

You will bring experience from the health or care sectors, with the ability to engage learners and deliver high‑quality outcomes through strong communication, organisation, and time‑management skills.

You will be confident working both independently and as part of a team, committed to widening participation and supporting professional development, and flexible in working across multiple sites and with external partners.

• To plan and deliver professional, practical, technical, vocational and associated theoretical learning activities for students and apprentices including training, support for learning and assessment using a variety of methods both on and off the job.
• Prepare suitable learning materials for a range of activities to develop the student’s knowledge, skills and behaviours linked to relevant apprenticeship standards or regulatory body frameworks.
• Demonstrate tasks and processes to individuals and groups.
• Provide instruction to the specified standards and provide feedback to students on progress through written and online methods, coaching for high expectations of progress and attainment.
• Provide support and mentoring for students and apprentices in the setting of goals and objectives pertaining to their professional skill development needs.
• To deliver advice and support, based on an in‑depth knowledge and understanding of your discipline area e.g.: develop an understanding of course structures, learning outcomes, and PSRB requirements; undertake reviews with students, mentors, external partners and Personal Academic Tutors; review training needs and conduct action planning that support the development of knowledge skills and behaviours in relation to all practice learning opportunities e.g. Virtual, Clinical, Leadership and Management, Education, Research; provide guidance and support to students around setting objectives ahead of practice learning and identifying gaps/areas for further focus.
• Provide individual and group mentoring for students and apprentices to ensure that apprenticeship candidates are selected appropriately and are matched to the needs of the employer.
• Supervise groups of apprentices undertaking knowledge and skill acquisition through scheduled off‑the‑job learning activities, project work or while on work placement.
• Assess knowledge and skills acquisition using a variety of assessment methods including individual coaching techniques to accelerate the learning of knowledge, skills, and behaviours.
• Provide specific learning support and coaching to students and apprentices as required and ensure that learning support records are kept up to date.
• Work with groups of students, apprentices, or individuals to prepare them for external qualification and end‑point assessment according to the requirements of the relevant apprenticeship.
• Complete all associated internal, employer and external documentation and track the student’s progress, including recording student and apprentice data on attendance and achievement using prescribed records systems, both manual and online.
• Ensure that any assessment carried out is completed to the standards laid down by the awarding body and the College Quality Assurance systems.
• Integrate the development of English and Mathematics skills, including their integration into broader learning activities linked to both on and off‑the‑job activities.
• Monitor attendance of students and apprentices at prescribed off‑the‑job learning activities, ensuring that records systems are updated as required and employers are kept informed.
• Ensure that students and apprentices are coached to always behave in a professional manner to a high standard of safety in the workplace and during off‑the‑job activities.
• Work with liaison and business development teams and independently to develop new business opportunities and placements to increase employer engagement and apprentice uptake and progression.
• To undertake any other duties which may, from time to time, reasonably be required within the general level of responsibility.

For complete list of accountabilities, please see the attached Job Description.

• Good Honours Degree in a relevant subject or discipline.
• Current professional registration with the HCPC as an Occupational Therapist.
• Hold or be willing to undertake a teaching qualification.
• Level 2 Qualifications (either in Functional Skills or GCSE A‑C/4‑9) in both English and maths or a willingness to achieve within an agreed timescale.

Experience

• Experience within and/or knowledge of the health and/or care sectors.
• Demonstrable evidence of ability to engage with learners to support high quality learning outcomes.

Skills, knowledge and abilities

• Highly developed communication skills
• Ability to use own initiative.
• Ability to work effectively on your own and with a small team.
• Well‑developed administrative and organisational skills
• Ability to work flexibly within a team.

Business requirements

• A commitment to the principle of widening participation
• A commitment to continued professional development.
• A commitment to College and University values and behaviours.
• Willingness and flexibility to travel and work between University and external sites in a cost effective and timely manner.
• Evidence of CPD in mentoring, coaching or demonstrating

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification(s) in a relevant subject area
• Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
• Fellowship or Associate Fellowship of Advanced HE (HEA)

Experience

• Experience or knowledge of higher education and ability to use a range of techniques to inspire and engage students.
• Experience of Internal and External verification and moderation processes
• Practical experience of promoting equality and diversity.
• Practical experience of promoting Behaviours and attitudes.
• Practical experience of promoting Personal development.

Skills, knowledge and abilities

• An appropriate level of digital capability and aptitude with practical experience of applications which aid student learning.
• Ability to communicate complex and conceptual ideas to a range of groups.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including networking and relationship building skills, both across the University and external.
• Understanding of the current higher education environment and its implications for the student learning experience.

Business requirements

• Ability to work evenings, weekends and during holiday periods.
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family‑friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers.
• Discounted onsite gym;
• Cycle to Work scheme;
• A flexible working environment;
• A commitment to personal and professional development;
• To become a short‑timetable and wanted this long‑?;……….—…—……….;?……....;……?????.

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Kathryn Cassidy, Subject Lead for Therapy and Rehabilitation via [e-mail]

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [e-mail] .

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.

We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.

Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non‑binary‑inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training.

When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender‑neutral title 'Mx'. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns.This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non‑binary candidates.Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system.

The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.

However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide background; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University’s strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University’s objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

Be part of something extraordinary, apply now.

How to apply

You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.

The University reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team at [e-mail] .

Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.