Specialist Occupational Therapist

Job summary
Are you an enthusiastic and motivated Occupational Therapist looking to make a difference? Join PARALEL, an innovative rehabilitation, relapse prevention and alternative to admission service supporting adults with eating disorders across community and inpatient settings. As part of a developing multidisciplinary team, you will provide specialist Occupational Therapy support to help people maintain recovery and remain safely within their communities.

The role will include:

• Completing complex Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions.
• Managing a caseload, including individuals with complex needs.
• Delivering individual and group interventions.
• Supporting discharge planning, transitions from inpatient care and relapse prevention.
• Facilitating therapeutic activities, including psychoeducation, cooking, shopping and social eating.
• Working with service users in community settings, at home and virtually where appropriate.
• Supporting the development of the PARALEL service and alternative to admission pathway.

The successful candidate will have a good understanding of Occupational Therapy, mental health and eating disorders, and be committed to delivering compassionate, recovery-focused care within a developing service.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will play a key role within the multidisciplinary team, providing specialist Occupational Therapy assessment, intervention and rehabilitation for adults with eating disorders. Interventions will be delivered using recovery-focused, person-centred approaches across community settings, including face-to-face, remote and home-based appointments.

The post holder will contribute to multidisciplinary working, support service development and help shape the ongoing delivery of the alternative to admission pathway within the Eating Disorder Service.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a friendly, supportive and innovative service.
• Help shape and develop an exciting new service model.
• Benefit from ongoing professional development, including:
• Clinical supervision
• Annual appraisal
• Practice placement education
• A wide range of training opportunities
• Regular peer support

Who We're Looking For
We're seeking an individual who is:

• Passionate about mental health and improving lives.
• Organised and able to manage a varied caseload.
• Caring, enthusiastic, adaptable and eager to learn.
• Motivated to contribute to a developing service.
• Able to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Experience and knowledge of eating disorders and mental health would be desirable.

About us
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Details
Date posted: 03 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 18 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 373-SMH2757
Job locations: Pioneer House and Springview hospital, Unit 4, Pioneer Business Park, North Road Ellesmere Port, CH65 1AD, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: View email address on meeveem.com or by calling View phone number on meeveem.com.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Diploma or BSc in Occupational Therapy
• Registration with Health Professions Council
• Accreditation as Practice Placement Educator or working towards accreditation

Desirable

• CLAIT/ECDL or equivalent
• Postgraduate clinical training relevant to the post
• Leadership or management training

Knowledge and Expertise
Essential

• Specialist clinical skills relevant to the role
• Current disability equipment training or be willing to gain as appropriate for the post
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Good knowledge and awareness of current legislation and guidance pertaining to Mental Health services and implications for Occupational Therapy
• Ability to work under pressure and set priorities
• Good knowledge of effective care co-ordination and planning of treatment packages
• Ability to manage own caseload and work as part of a team
• Group leadership skills
• Excellent negotiation and organisational skills, with individuals and groups
• Working knowledge of clinical governance principles
• Computer literacy
• Skills in moving and handling

Desirable

• Training, presentation and facilitation skills
• Ability to resolve complex professional and ethical issues Research experience

Experience
Essential

• At least 18 months experience in mental health
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary environment
• Experience of supervising and supporting junior staff and students
• Experience of using Staff Performance and Development Process
• Documented evidence of Continued Professional Development
• Working knowledge of clinical audit
• Experience of introducing new and innovative interventions

Desirable

• Minimum of 3 years post registration experience
• Experience of care co-ordination

Trust Values
Essential

• : Demonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C's: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency)

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Pioneer House and Springview hospital, Unit 4, Pioneer Business Park, North Road Ellesmere Port, CH65 1AD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Team Manager/Occupational Therapist, Mandy Eardley, View email address on meeveem.com, View phone number on meeveem.com

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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.