Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Occupational Therapist
The closing date is 22 November 2026
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Job summary
We are offering an exciting opportunity for an Occupational Therapist to join our innovative and well respected Therapy Services team. We have an established and dedicated team of Occupational Therapists, Support staff, Sports, Fitness & Well-being staff and Peer Support. We work together to provide a comprehensive recovery based programme to meet the therapeutic needs of the patient group. The hospital has a wide range of facilities and work also takes place in the community.

We welcome applications from newly qualified Occupational Therapists. Whilst this is a specialist setting, we utilise core Occupational Therapy treatment approaches.

Arnold Lodge is a medium secure unit which offers an in patient service across three pathways: Male Mental Health, Male Personality and Women's. It is a Consultant-led service and you will have a dedicated case load within named Clinical Teams. Your work will be very varied and consist of individual and group interventions. Within Occupational Therapy we utilise several models including MoHO, VdT MoCA and the Good Lives Model.

Main duties of the job

• To plan and provide occupational therapy for a diverse group of patients within a regional medium secure unit, with support and supervision provided by Senior Occupational Therapists.
• To be a member of the Therapy Services Department and work alongside OT Assistant Practitioners, OT Support Workers, Sports, Fitness & Well-being staff, Education staff and Peer Support.
• Be an active member of the multi-disciplinary team providing clinical reports as necessary and actively contributing to the Care Programme Approach (CPA) process.
• Be actively involved in the clinical risk assessment and development of risk management plans for patients and adhere to these.

About us
#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.

We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.

The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment.

Details
Date posted: 06 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year per annum (pro rata for part time)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Job share
Reference number: 186-1009-26-FS
Job locations: Arnold Lodge, Cordelia Close, Leicester, LE5 0LE, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities

• To be the Occupational Therapy key worker for a defined patient caseload and manage this under supervision.
• To undertake a range of assessments from OT models including MoHO and Vdt MoCA.
• Deliver a needs led Occupational Therapy programme using a range of treatment approaches.
• Be actively involved in clinical governance and quality assurance activities as required.
• Sole escorting of patients within and outside of the secure area.
• Continually update and develop skills, utilise CPD opportunities and maintain own professional portfolio.

You will receive a comprehensive induction training programme and will be supported to develop in the role. We offer preceptorship for newly qualified OTs and a range of CPD opportunities.

You will receive clinical and managerial supervision from a Senior Occupational Therapist and have the opportunity to attend reflective practice.

You can follow us on Twitter @ArnoldLodge_OT

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £20.00 (standard) or £41.00 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £15 per year applies.

Person Specification
Training

• Essential: Training in standardised OT assessments and outcome measures
• Desirable: Practice Placement Educators training and/or APPLE accreditation
• Desirable: Other relevant training

Knowledge

• Essential: Knowledge of patient-focused approaches and user/carer involvement.
• Essential: Knowledge of assessment, treatment and evaluation approaches used in mental health.
• Essential: Knowledge of evidence-based practice.
• Essential: Knowledge of risk and risk assessment.
• Essential: Knowledge of the Mental Health Act, other relevant legislation and current mental health issues.
• Desirable: Knowledge of Arnold Lodge and its purpose.
• Desirable: Knowledge of clinical governance and audit.
• Desirable: Awareness of the current issues relating to forensic services.

Experience

• Essential: Experience in occupational therapy assessment, treatment planning, delivery and evaluation in a mental health setting.
• Essential: Experience of planning and running a variety of individual and group interventions.
• Essential: Experience of maintaining written records, databases and producing reports.
• Essential: Experience of liaison with other agencies, services and professional colleagues.
• Desirable: Experience of working in a secure setting, e.g. prison, young offender institute or forensic unit.
• Desirable: Experience of supervising other staff members or OT students.
• Desirable: Experience in undertaking clinical audit.

Skills

• Essential: Good communication, negotiation and liaison skills (both oral and written).
• Essential: Ability to function effectively within a multi-professional team and develop cohesive working relationships.
• Essential: Ability to maintain clear professional boundaries when working with a challenging patient group.
• Essential: Ability to work independently and prioritise own workload.

Qualifications

• Essential: Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy.
• Essential: Current Health and Care Professions Council Registration.
• Desirable: Relevant post graduate qualifications.

Values and Behaviours

• Essential: All colleagues are expected to demonstrate at interview that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork.
• Essential: All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion as identified within the Trust's Equality and Diversity Policy and associated Equality, Diversity and Human Rights legislation.

Physical requirements

• Essential: Has the ability to perform the full range of duties.
• Essential: Able to undertake and complete annual training in physical interventions, i.e., PMVA, PSPT and Hospital Life Support.

Contractual Requirements

• Essential: Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service, which may include occasional evenings and weekends.

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.

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: Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Arnold Lodge, Cordelia Close, Leicester, LE5 0LE, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Occupational Therapy Manager, Nalda Pope, Nalda.Pope@nottshc.nhs.uk, 01162077700

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