Senior Community Occupational Therapist

Job summary
Fixed term - 12 month (maternity leave cover)

QPP Community Mental Health Hub are seeking a motivated and experienced Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our team

This is an excellent opportunity for a therapist who is ready to take the next step in their career and develop their Occupational Therapy skills in a community mental health setting. We are looking for someone who is passionate about delivering high-quality care, proactive, engaged, and committed to supporting people in their mental health recovery.

The successful candidate will join an Occupational Therapy service that prides itself on innovation, excellent service delivery and continued learning. Further you will join a Hub of services that includes Nursing, Psychology, Community Navigators, Lived Experience Practitioners and Employment Specialists.

This post is based in Queens Park and Paddington Community Hub, but you will be required to visit patients across the Boroughs depending on service demand.

We operate a five-day service and working hours run from 9 am to 5 pm.

View this webpage and video for more information about Occupational Therapy in CNWL Occupational Therapy :: Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

CNWL Occupational Therapy Recruitment (FINAL) | Videos & Movies on Vimeo

Main duties of the job

• To provide the multi-disciplinary team with an Occupational Therapy service and expertise, this will include individual and group work, assessment, intervention and evaluation in accordance with the Royal College of OT Code of Ethics.
• To utilise evidence-based assessment tools such as those described in the Model of Human Occupation, to establish a baseline functional assessment from which recommendations can determine further ongoing care and treatment to enable optimum functioning.
• To integrate evidence-based practice and skilful use of assessments & interventions with personal recovery principles to improve the service users' quality of life and to support them to do the things they want to do and live the life they want to lead.
• To Key Work a caseload of service users and provide specialist occupational therapy interventions for individuals who have identified occupational performance needs within the Team
• To provide group work and build partnerships with local organisations to support individuals on their recovery journey and to improve their health and wellbeing.
• To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of mental illness and physical conditions; providing training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the service user's social and physical environment.
• To provide leadership for junior staff through supervision and appraisal as required. To act as practice educator to students on practice placement.

About us
Are you passionate about helping others live meaningful lives? Join us as an Occupational therapist at CNWL.

At the Queens Park and Paddington Community Mental Health Hub, we are committed to creating a supportive, inclusive and reflective working environment where people feel valued, listened to and able to do their best work. You will be part of a multidisciplinary team that prioritises recovery focused, person centred care and values collaboration, curiosity and compassion.

We recognise that high quality care depends on staff wellbeing, and we actively support flexible working, regular supervision and protected space for reflection and learning. We are committed to developing our OTs and supporting career progression. This includes access to role relevant training such as psychosocial interventions, opportunities to develop leadership capability, and pathways to broaden or specialise your practice within community mental health. As part of CNWL, you will also benefit from a wide range of staff wellbeing resources, award winning staff networks, and an extensive NHS benefits package designed to support your work life balance and personal wellbeing.

Details
Date posted: 10 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £47,951 to £56,863 a year
per annum inc HCAS (pro rata if P/T)
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 333-J-WE-0831-B
Job locations: QPP Community Mental Health Hub, 7A Woodfield Road, London, W9 2NW, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
See attached Job description and Person Specification for further information on the job role requirements.

Key Responsibilities
Clinical
1.1 To provide manage a caseload of service users with multiple, enduring and complex mental health needs through provision of therapeutic care and treatment in the individuals own home and other community venues.
1.2 To provide specialist, culturally appropriate, evidence based occupational therapy assessments for service users within the hub in order to establish and meet their occupational needs.
1.3 To provide full vocational needs assessment, advice and on-going intervention related to an individuals vocational needs.
1.4 To select and use validated standardised assessment tools routinely and in practice, exhibiting clinical reasoning skills; to include the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) assessments.
1.5 To apply specialist clinical knowledge and skills to carry out evidence based occupational therapy interventions, both individual and in groups, which are underpinned by relevant theoretical approaches and in line with the Trusts Research and Development Strategy; to lead and supervise junior staff in this practice as required.
1.6 To plan, implement and review individually tailored programmes of intervention using individual and group work approaches.
1.7 To support service users and colleagues to ensure that care plans are developed in partnership with the individual and that they reflect recovery goals. These should be strengths-based and oriented towards reinforcing a positive identity and developing valued social roles.
1.8 To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions against clear aims, objectives and outcome measures in line with evidence based practice and in conjunction with service users, carers and other professionals.
1.9 To identify opportunities and needs for group work in the community and to plan, implement, facilitate and evaluate community groups which promote social inclusion for service users.
1.10 To establish links with the CNWL Recovery College; and as appropriate, deliver courses within the college alongside peer trainers.
1.11 To apply a high level of understanding of the effects of mental illness and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the service users social and physical environment.
1.12 To determine the impact of mental and physical conditions on service users functional ability and

Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy.
• Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC) registered Occupational Therapist.
• Practice Educator training

Desirable

• Post qualification training in relevant mental health therapeutic skills.

Previous Experience
Essential

• Extensive post qualification experience working in mental health settings as an Occupational Therapist.
• Experience of working with service users presenting with a wide range of complex mental health conditions.
• Experience of delivering healthy lifestyle interventions.
• Experience in assessment and interventions related to physical healthcare needs.
• Experience in using a range of standardised OT assessments.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment.
• Experience of drafting group protocols and setting up / facilitating groups / group programme.
• Supervision of OT students / non-qualified staff.
• Experience of partnership working in promoting socially inclusive opportunities for patients.
• Experience in completing HONOS screening clustering tool / Risk Assessment Tools.

Desirable

• Experience of working in adult mental health community team.
• Experience in audit / research projects

Skills and Knowledge
Essential

• Clear concept of Occupational Therapy and models of practice.
• Good communication skills written, verbal, listening and use of up to date systems of communication i.e. IT systems, e-mail, telephone etc.
• Ability to work autonomously, as well as part of an MDT.
• Individual/group work skills.
• Ability to prioritise workload and use initiative.
• Able to work creatively to engage patients.
• Timely reporting and record keeping.
• To actively supervise both OT students and unqualified staff.
• Regularly identify and undertake appropriate learning opportunities as part of ongoing CPD.
• Recovery focused approach to service delivery.
• Ability to treat service users with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach that considers the needs of the whole person.
• Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills.
• To determine the impact of mental and physical conditions on service user's functional ability and undertake assessment/make recommendations with regards to the provision of equipment/aids and adaptations.
• Good understanding of the application of risk assessment and risk management strategies which facilitates a patient's recovery.
• Good awareness of the principles of safeguarding and how to implement this in practice.

Desirable

• Research and development at graduate level.
• Knowledge of the theory underpinning the Model of Human Occupation.
• Completion of OT medication management training.
• To have completed practice placement educators' course.

Attitudes, aptitudes and personal characteristics
Essential

• High level of personal motivation.
• Ability to work in a team setting i.e. collaborating/facilitating/directing and understanding diversity.
• Good organisational skills and ability to delegate effectively.
• Ability to encourage patient participation and ensure a high delivery of customer service.
• Flexible in approach.
• Demonstrate self-awareness and an ability to use initiative.
• Ability to manage conflict constructively
• Demonstrate a willingness to develop knowledge and skills.
• Ability to take on responsibility.
• To act as a positive role model for junior staff.

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: Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Address: QPP Community Mental Health Hub, 7A Woodfield Road, London, W9 2NW, United Kingdom
Employer's website: (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Lead Occupational Therapist, Gopika Sudhir, 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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.