Job Overview
Westminster Recovery House is a newly established unit providing short-term, intensive support for individuals discharged from acute mental health inpatient settings and those from the homeless population requiring additional support.
As a
Band 7 Specialist Occupational Therapist, you will lead and deliver the Recovery Pathway in close collaboration with the Lead Nurse, who oversees the joint homeless team pathway. Your role will focus on designing and implementing occupational therapy within a trauma-informed, recovery-focused environment, helping individuals maximise independence and reduce the risk of readmission. This is an exciting opportunity to shape a new service and make a real difference.
Main duties of the job
- Lead the development and implementation of the recovery pathway.
- To manage and triage referrals to the recovery pathway.
- Manage a complex caseload using evidence-based, person-centred principles.
- Complete robust risk assessments and management plans for all residents.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across the system, supported accommodation, social care and voluntary sector partners.
- Provide clinical leadership and supervision to support staff.
- Participate in quality improvement, audit, and research projects.
- Undertake Open Dialogue training and contribute to its implementation within the Recovery House.
Who We Are Looking For
We are seeking a compassionate, experienced Occupational Therapist who is passionate about recovery-focused practice and trauma-informed care.
You should have:
- Significant post-qualification experience in adult mental health across acute and community settings.
- Expertise in managing complex caseloads and delivering specialist OT interventions.
- Strong leadership, mentoring, and communication skills.
- Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Experience in service development and audit.
Working for our organisation
Come and join us and be one of the friendly and supportive 300 Occupational Therapists (OTs) in CNWL. We work in many different teams in both physical and mental health, as well as a number of specialist areas.
OT in CNWL is very fortunate in having a long-established professional structure and this includes an AHP director, Trust wide Professional Head of OT, borough and specialist Head OTs. This has the huge benefit of ensuring representation of our profession at all levels - both strategically and operationally.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
- Lead the design and implementation of the recovery pathway with an emphasis on rehabilitation and core activities of daily living.
- To manage and triage referrals to the recovery pathway.
- Manage a complex caseload, using evidence-based, person-centred approaches to assessment, planning, and intervention.
- Complete robust risk assessments and management plans for all residents.
- Work in close partnership with the lead nurse for the Joint Homelessness Pathway and provide cross-cover as needed.
- Provide clinical leadership and supervision to support staff within the Recovery House.
- Collaborate with acute, community and rehab teams, supported accommodation, voluntary sector partners, and statutory agencies to ensure continuity of care and effective transitions.
- Deliver training and education to occupational therapists and other professionals, and mentor OT apprentices and students on placement.
- Participate in quality improvement, audit, and research projects, and contribute to the development of the Discharge to Assess model.
Key relationships include residents, carers/ supporters, the multidisciplinary teams (across acute and community settings), adult social care , voluntary organisations, and senior managers across Westminster Mental Health Services.
For a full breakdown of duties, essential criteria, and person specification, please refer to the job description and person specification documents.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
- UK HCPC registered Occupational Therapist
Desirable criteria
- Post graduate training specific to clinical specialty
- Management & Leadership training
- Sensory integration training
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant post qualification experience working in adult acute and community mental health services.
- Experience of leading and/or developing a service/component of a service
- Experience in using a range of standardised OT assessments including MOHO assessments
- Experience of supervising and appraising staff / unqualified staff; recruitment and workforce planning.
- Experience of effective partnership working, with internal and external providers, in promoting socially inclusive opportunities for service users.
- Experience in managing a complex caseload- care planning and risk management.
Desirable criteria
- Experience in managing complex HR issues with staff e.g. the management of performance / long term sickness.
- Previous experience in a senior or leadership role within a mental health setting.
- Experience of working in a mental health rehab setting (community inpatient or community)
Skills, Knowledge, Abilities
Essential criteria
- Effective leadership skills through the management of designated projects, service improvement audits and research
- Individual and group work, assessment and intervention skills.
- Excellent communication skills i.e. written, verbal, listening and proficient use of up to date systems of communication i.e. IT systems, e-mail, fax, telephone etc.
- Teamwork - A collaborative and supportive approach to working within a multidisciplinary team, encouraging a positive and inclusive team culture.
- Knowledge of OT models, recovery principles and trauma informed approaches and their application to service delivery
- Ability to work autonomously, on own initiative and under pressure to meet deadlines; & to make and action decisions independently within agreed time frames and to prioritise workload and to delegate effectively.
- Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance, identify and undertake appropriate learning and development opportunities as part of ongoing CPD
- The ability to understand and implement National Policies, Equal Opportunities and the Code of Ethics at level appropriate to the job.
Desirable criteria
- Delivery of formal presentations and teaching sessions.
