Advertised role location: Whiteabbey Hosp Site
Official document: 55889467 UPDATED JD 22.10 (docx)
Specialist Occupational Therapist
Community Mental
Health Teams
Band 6

Specialist Occupational Therapist
Community Mental
Health Teams
Band 6


The Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) is responsible for the delivery of safe and effective health and social care (HSC) services to the population of the Northern Trust area in Northern Ireland.
We provide compassionate care with our community in our community. In order to do this we require the commitment of a highly skilled and professional workforce that meets the need of the service.
The diagram below outlines our values and our objectives which support the delivery of compassionate care within our community.

The below diagram details the values and associated behaviours that we expect staff working within Health and Social Care (HSC) to display at all times;

HSC Value
 What does this mean?
 What does this look like in practice? - Behaviours

Working Together

We work together for the best outcome for people we care for and support. We work across Health and Social Care and with other external organisations and agencies, recognising that leadership is the responsibility of all.
 

I work with others and value everyone’s contribution
I treat people with respect and dignity
I work as part of a team looking for opportunities to support and help people in both my own and other teams
I actively engage people on issues that affect them
I look for feedback and examples of good practice, aiming to improve where possible

 Compassion

We are sensitive, caring, respectful and understanding towards those we care for and support and our colleagues. We listen carefully to others to better understand and take action to help them and ourselves.
 

I am sensitive to the different needs and feelings of others and treat people with kindness
I learn from others by listening carefully to them
I look after my own health and well-being so that I can care for and support others

 
Excellence

We commit to being the best we can be in our work, aiming to improve and develop services to achieve positive changes. We deliver safe, high-quality, compassionate care and support.
I put the people I care for and support at the centre of all I do to make a difference
I take responsibility for my decisions and actions
I commit to best practice and sharing learning, while continually learning and developing
I try to improve by asking ‘could we do this better?’

Openness & Honesty

We are open and honest with each other and act with integrity and candour.

I am open and honest in order to develop trusting relationships
I ask someone for help when needed
I speak up if I have concerns
I challenge inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour and practice


JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Specialist Occupational Therapist

BAND: 6

DIRECTORATE/DIVISION: Community Mental Health Teams (18-65)

INITIAL LOCATION: Newtownabbey Community Mental Health Team (base Whiteabbey hospital site)

(You may be required from time to time to work in other teams within and across localities to ensure timely provision of services as directed by management.)
REPORTS TO: Service Lead Occupational Therapist for Mental Health and Community Mental Health Team Leader.

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Professional Head of Occupational Therapy

FLEXIBLE WORKING
PROVISIONS AVAILABLE: Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking

JOB SUMMARY:
The post holder will work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary Community Mental Health Team and provide a high-quality, evidence-based occupational therapy service for individuals experiencing a range of mental health conditions, including severe and enduring mental illness.
The post holder will manage a defined caseload of service users with complex mental health needs, undertaking specialist occupational therapy assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and discharge planning. The post holder will utilise occupation-focused and recovery-oriented approaches to maximise independence, social inclusion, vocational participation and quality of life.
The post holder will contribute to the ongoing development of occupational therapy practice within Mental Health Services and support service improvement, clinical governance, student education and staff development.

KEY RESULT AREAS / MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical
Manage a defined caseload of service users with complex mental health needs and prioritise workload in line with service demands and Trust priorities.
Undertake comprehensive occupational therapy assessments to determine the impact of mental illness on occupational performance, daily functioning, roles, relationships and community participation.
Select, administer and interpret standardised and non-standardised occupational therapy assessments to identify strengths, needs, risks and barriers to recovery.
Formulate occupational therapy intervention plans based on assessment findings, recovery goals and evidence-based practice, incorporating occupational therapy models such as the Model of Human Occupation where appropriate.
Develop and implement individualised treatment programmes that promote recovery, self-management, resilience and meaningful occupation.
Plan and facilitate individual and group therapeutic interventions aimed at improving functional ability, emotional wellbeing, social participation and occupational engagement.
Utilise graded activity and occupation-focused interventions to enable service users to develop skills in self-care, domestic activities, leisure, education, employment and community living.
Support service users to identify and achieve vocational, educational and recovery-focused goals and act as a vocational champion within the team where appropriate.
Work collaboratively with service users, carers and relevant agencies to promote recovery and social inclusion.
Participate in risk assessment and risk management processes and contribute to multidisciplinary care planning.
Provide specialist occupational therapy advice and education to service users, carers, colleagues and partner agencies.
Maintain accurate clinical records and prepare reports in accordance with HCPC, RCOT and Trust standards.
Professional
Maintain registration with the Health and Care Professions Council and practise in accordance with HCPC Standards of Proficiency and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Professional Standards.
Accept professional accountability for all aspects of occupational therapy practice.
Participate in regular professional and managerial supervision.
Provide supervision and support to junior occupational therapy staff, support workers and students.
Act as Practice Educator for Occupational Therapy students as required.
Maintain an up-to-date Continuing Professional Development portfolio and participate in mandatory and specialist training.
Contribute to the development and implementation of evidence-based occupational therapy practice within mental health services.
Service Development and Governance
Participate in audit, research and service improvement projects to enhance occupational therapy practice and mental health service delivery.
Contribute to the development of recovery-oriented occupational therapy pathways and interventions.
Monitor and evaluate outcomes of occupational therapy interventions and contribute to service performance reporting.
Promote the role and value of occupational therapy within multidisciplinary and multi-agency settings.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Employees of the Trust will be required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and:-
At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner

At all times demonstrate practice the HSC values of Working Together, Excellence, Openness & Honesty and Compassion

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in a manner which assures patient and client safety

Comply with all instructions in regard to Infection Prevention and Control

Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them

Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with health and safety policy and statutory regulations

Adhere to equal opportunities policy throughout the course of their employment

Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in service provision

Adhere to the Code of Conduct for HSC Employees which aims to guide staff, managers and employers in the work that they do and the decisions and choices they have to make. Professional staff are expected to follow the code of conduct for their own professions as well as this code.

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the NHSCT Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.


RECORDS MANAGEMENT
All employees of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including (for example) the ICT Security Policy, Data Quality and Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

SALARY
£38,682 - £46,580 per annum (pro-rata for part-time)

RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK
Please note this role may not meet the requirements for a Skilled Worker visa (including a Heath and Care Worker visa) and the Trust therefore would be unable to employ anyone that requires Sponsorship. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration).

HOURS
Part time, 22.5 hours a week, 3 days at 7.5 hours a day, exclusive of meal times

MEDICAL
Appointment will be subject to a successful pre-employment health assessment.

HOLIDAYS
27 days each year; 29 days after 5 years’ service; 33 days after 10 years’ service and 10 statutory and public holidays.

PENSION
The post-holder can participate in the Health Social Care Pension Scheme.

NORTHERN TRUST BENEFITS
You can explore the benefits on offer to you in the Northern Trust by clicking here

PROBATIONARY PERIOD
You will serve a probationary period of normally six months.

WAITING LIST
A waiting list may be compiled for similar permanent / temporary, full / part time / bank posts which may arise within the next 6 months in the Northern Trust

PAY PROTECTION
Legacy Trust Staff who apply for a promotion after 1 April 2011 should be aware that they will lose their legacy protection arrangements and will be entitled to pay protection in accordance with circular HSS (JNF)(1) 2011. This circular will also apply to legacy staff who are currently in receipt of protection and who move post on promotion.

Completed application forms should be returned to the BSO Recruitment and Selection Shared Services Centre, on or before the closing date as stated in the advertisement.

Canvassing, either directly or indirectly, will be an absolute disqualification.

We will review this Job Description and it may include any other duties and responsibilities we determine in consultation with the jobholder. We do not intend it to be rigid and inflexible but rather to provide guidelines within which the jobholder works.

October 2026

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Title of Post: Occupational Therapist

Band of Post: 6

Notes to applicants:
You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.
Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.
Volunteering experience may be considered appropriate in particular for roles within the context of direct patient/client care.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA


SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor
Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/ Registration



Experience
Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy

HCPC Registration on application.

Minumum of 2 years post registration experience to include at least 6 months relevant speciality experience- working within a mental health setting – community or hospital.


Shortlisting by Application Form

Other
Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

You will be required from time to time to work in other teams within and across localities to ensure timely provision of services as directed by management.

Shortlisting by Application Form







Interview/Test

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities
Ability to undertake specialist occupational therapy assessment and intervention for people with mental health difficulties.
Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to service users, carers and professionals.
Ability to plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic interventions and demonstrate outcome-focused practice.
Good leadership and organisational skills.
Ability to respond flexibly tin unexpected or complex situations.
Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Ability to communicate complex, sensitive, clinical and procedural information to clients and carers

Interview / Test

Knowledge
Knowledge of the impact of mental health conditions on occupational performance, functioning and participation.
Knowledge of recovery-oriented practice and psychosocial rehabilitation approaches.
Knowledge of occupational therapy models and assessment tools relevant to mental health practice.
A high level of knowledge of the medical, physical, emotional and cognitive impact of a wide range of mental health conditions.
Ability to select, apply and analyse the outcome of a range of assessments – both standardised and non-standardised.
Ability to utilise a range of therapeutic interventions and evaluate their effectiveness.
Knowledge of trends in Health and Social Care.
Commitment to the delivery of a quality service, which is innovative and forward thinking.

Interview / Test

Health Requirements
General good health for the demands of the post.

Acceptable attendance record.

Pre-employment Health Assessment

Application form/Interview/ Referee Report


The following additional clarification is provided:

Value Based Recruitment
Value Based Recruitment is a process adopted by the Northern Trust to attract and select employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with those of the Trust.
It focuses on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ people do what they do.
Candidates who are short-listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required knowledge, skills, competencies and values to be effective in this new role.
In answering the value based questions you have the opportunity to share examples of when you have demonstrated values relevant to the Northern Trust.

Criminal Offences, Investigations and Charges
Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from working with the Trust.  This will depend on the nature of the position, together with the circumstances and background of your offences or other information contained on a disclosure certificate.  Where it is necessary to obtain an Access NI disclosure the Trust operates in line with the Access NI Code of Practice (www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/accessni-code-practice).

If you require further information or a copy of the policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders or the policy on the Secure Handling, Use, Storage and Retention of Disclosure Information, please contact the Trust Human Resources Department.

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an
Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

THE NHSCT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants:
may be required to attend for a Health Assessment
can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range  of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post.  If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.
have the right to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance.
October 2026