Job summary
Are you an Occupational Therapist with a passion for problem-solving, data analysis, and making a real difference?

Join our Intensive Support Team in Oxford, where you'll support children and adults with learning disabilities and complex behavioural needs across Oxfordshire. Using your OT expertise alongside Positive Behaviour Support and behavioural approaches, you'll help uncover the reasons behind behaviour, influence support plans, and improve outcomes for the people we work with.

This varied role combines community visits, assessments, data analysis, and intervention work, giving you the opportunity to develop your skills in OT, PBS, and Applied Behaviour Analysis while managing your own diary within team core hours.

If you're enthusiastic about learning, collaboration, and delivering meaningful person-centred support, we'd love to hear from you.

Applicants must have a full valid driving licence and have access to a vehicle for work. Adjustments can be considered in line with the Equality Act 2010 where required.

Please note: This role is offered on a fixed-term basis for 11 months to cover maternity leave (from September 2026). The post is also available as a secondment opportunity.

Main duties of the job

• To work with adults and children with a learning disability whose health need relates to the effect of their learning disability upon their occupational performance, enabling the client in the areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.
• To manage own clinical caseload of clients with complex needs, to include mental illness, complex physical needs, challenging behaviour, learning disability and autism within the remit of the Intensive Support Team.
• To formulate, implement, evaluate and adapt individual client centred interventions.
• To ensure all assessments and interventions link effectively with client centred plans e.g. health action plan, person centred plan, multidisciplinary team plan, behaviour plan and care management.
• To collect, collate and analyse data/ information regarding the effectiveness of behaviour support plans and occupational therapy interventions, measure progress and ensure effectiveness of the intervention, and provide written reports as appropriate.

About us
Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

• Excellent opportunities for career progression
• Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
• NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
• Competitive pension scheme
• Lease car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)
• Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Job responsibilities

• To work with adults and children with a learning disability whose health need relates to the effect of their learning disability upon their occupational performance, enabling the client in the areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.
• To manage own clinical caseload of clients with complex needs, to include mental illness, complex physical needs, challenging behaviour, learning disability and autism within the remit of the Intensive Support Team.
• To formulate, implement, evaluate and adapt individual client centred interventions.
• To ensure all assessments and interventions link effectively with client centered plans e.g. health action plan, person centered plan, multidisciplinary team plan, behaviour plan and care management.
• To collect, collate and analyse data/ information regarding the effectiveness of behaviour support plans and occupational therapy interventions, measure progress and ensure effectiveness of the intervention, and provide written reports as appropriate.
• To have competent written, organisational, IT and administrative skills and gather and present information to promote the service and multi-disciplinary working for the benefit of individuals on the caseload, while adhering to the specified time frame.
• To work holistically as part of the Multi-Disciplinary Team involved with each individual. To provide awareness, advice, teaching, and training to other members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team regarding occupational therapy, to enable them to carry out required programmes.

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.

Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge and an understanding of the needs of people with learning disabilities and autism, who challenge services and can have complex health needs
• Knowledge of OT models, underpinned by theory and practical experience, including application of OT standardised assessment
• Demonstrates knowledge of range of OT assessment tools & therapeutic interventions relevant to the client group

Desirable

• Knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support and Functional Analysis, and experience in their application
• Knowledge and application of standardised behavioural assessments
• Knowledge of learning disability guidelines in current practice
• Presentation and training skills

Qualifications
Essential

• Occupational Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent
• Registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Desirable

• Post-qualifying courses relating to challenging behaviour and learning disability
• Sensory Integration qualification
• Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Experience
Essential

• Experience and knowledge of working with people who exhibit challenging behaviour
• Experience of working with individuals with a learning disability
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues
• Experience in the development, assessment, application, and evaluation of Positive Behaviour Support plans, OT interventions
• Experience of organising own workload

Desirable

• Experience within a community learning disability health setting
• Experience supporting junior staff e.g. support workers
• Analysing professional and ethical issues to find resolution

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Ability to work collaboratively with people with a learning disability and complex health needs, and the wider multidisciplinary team
• Excellent organizational skills - ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals
• High level communication skills (written and verbal), including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be emotive

Desirable

• Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectivel
• Ability to tolerate emotionally demanding/challenging situations, and to seek support appropriately
• Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.