Clinical Specialist Occupational TherapistClosing date: 23 August 2026
Job summaryAre you an experienced Occupational Therapist, passionate about perinatal mental health?
Do you thrive on service development, clinical leadership, and making a difference where it matters most?
We're looking for a dynamic Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist to lead and develop occupational therapy provision in our Mother and Baby Unit at the Bethlem Royal Hospital.
We have recently been accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, making us the only MBU in London currently to have achieved these standards.
Our specialist unit supports women experiencing mental illness during pregnancy and the postnatal period, including postnatal depression, postpartum psychosis, and relapse of any and all serious mental illness. You'll play a pivotal role in supporting recovery, attachment, and meaningful occupation for mothers and their babies.
This is a standout opportunity to:
- Lead high-quality OT practice in a specialist inpatient setting
- Shape and grow a vital service
- Share your expertise and influence practice within a multi-disciplinary team
- Lead with compassion, confidence and purpose
If you're ready to lead, innovate, and make a lasting difference for mothers and babies, apply now and be part of something truly meaningful.
Main duties of the job- To provide a range of specialist Occupational Therapy assessments of antenatal and post-natal women.
- To have specialist knowledge to carry out OT assessments and interventions in both one-to-one and group sessions.
- To manage a caseload of service users with complex needs
- To lead on the planning, co-ordination, development and evaluation of Occupational Therapy provision on the Mother and Baby Unit.
- To provide leadership for junior Staff, Students, Sessional Workers and Volunteers
- To lead on and hold responsibility for defined projects as agreed with the Ward Manager and/or Head of Therapies.
About usBy coming to work on the Mother and Baby Unit you would be part of the SLaM Perinatal Services, which include the MBU and Community Perinatal Teams for the local boroughs.
The team work in a multi-disciplinary manner and the different professional skills of each team member make a valuable contribution to the care and recovery of the mothers who are admitted here. There is a strong ethos of working with the mother and baby relationship, the wider family and friendship systems and in keeping the social and cultural context of the family in mind. In addition to this we are a trauma led service.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre.
SLaM has more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services and by coming to work at SLaM, you will be part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities, and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field with an extensive range of learning opportunities for staff. In addition, our working relationship with King's Health Partners allows those working at the Trust to get involved in academic research.
DetailsDate posted: 31 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £55,524 to £62,652 a year per annum inclusive of HCAs (outer)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 334-CLI-8027682-A
Job locations: Mother and Baby Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3BX, United Kingdom
Job responsibilitiesClinical- Provide a range of specialist Occupational Therapy assessment of antenatal and post-natal women in the perinatal period, including those with high risk diagnosis and multiple complex safeguarding needs, taking into consideration the service users physical/cognitive/perceptual skills to identify their abilities and areas of difficulty.
- Have specialist knowledge in order to carry out OT assessments and interventions in both one-to-one and group sessions, underpinned by relevant theoretical approaches whilst ensuring regular evaluation of the care plan.
- To be responsible for organising and prioritising own caseload in the day to day allocation of work, whilst being able to work flexibly to meet the needs of service users, their families and the service as a whole.
- To manage a caseload of service users with complex needs, using evidence based and person-centred principles to assess, plan, implement, modify and evaluate occupational therapy interventions.
- To work with service users in a way which actively promotes personal autonomy, social inclusion and recovery.
- To ensure accurate and timely documentation in accordance with Trust and RCOT/HCPC standards of practice.
- To lead on the planning, co-ordination, development and evaluation of Occupational Therapy provision on the Mother and Baby Unit.
- To provide leadership for junior Staff, Students, Sessional Workers and/or Volunteers through induction, co-ordination of activities, supervision, appraisal, informal and formal training.
- To regularly supervise Occupational Therapy Students on practice placement.
- To lead on and hold responsibility for defined projects as agreed with the Ward Manager and/or Head of Therapies.
- To demonstrate and apply an in-depth level of understanding of the effect mental ill health has on a persons occupational functioning and recommend adaptations to the service users physical and social environment as required.
- To work effectively as a member of the multi-disciplinary team and actively contribute to and lead on service improvement and development projects.
- To actively participate in and be responsible for relevant planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols across the perinatal pathways for the MBU and for OT, as required.
- Support the development of, and lead on the Neurodivergent pathway for the MBU client group and across the perinatal pathway as appropriate.
- Lead the development of a coherent therapeutic programme to ensure patients receive advice and develop practical skills
- To have organisational knowledge relating to Trust protocols and procedures and adhere to them.
- Act as a role model for Occupational Therapy, raising the profile and value on the profession within your role on the Mother and Baby Unit.
- To act as an autonomous, registered practitioner who is legally and professionally accountable for own unsupervised actions guided by the professional code of conduct and Trust guidelines and protocols.
Communication- To be able to effectively communicate with colleagues, peers, senior managers and clinical leads within and outside of the Trust.
- To anticipate barriers to communications and resistance to change and to be able to manage these effectively, liaising and seeking appropriate support as required.
- To have a wide range of knowledge in approaches to communicating and managing service users care.
- Communicate agreed treatment/care plans to other colleagues and partnership agencies and liaise with them at formal and informal meetings as required.
- Provide written and verbal reports as per the Occupational Therapy Pathway or at any stage in the treatment process as required.
Continued Professional Development- Evaluate the quality of own work and make improvements where necessary ensuring all issues and related risks are raised with Line Manager and Professional Supervisor
- To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through continuing professional development activities, maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development and encourage others to do likewise.
- To actively participate and undertake a regular appraisal, developing a personal development plan in conjunction with your supervisor.
- To ensure own continued professional development and support a culture of lifelong learning in self and others.
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential- Registered Occupational Therapist
Desirable- Post-graduate training relevant to the specialist area
- Post-registration qualification
ExperienceEssential- Significant post registration experience as an OT
- Substantial post registration experience working with Mental Health service users
- Extensive clinical experience including individual and group work
- Experience of supervising junior staff and students
- Experience of audit, procedures research and their and clinical application in governance practice
Desirable- Experience of working with Older adults / people with dementias
- Experience of working with people whose behaviours challenge services
- Experience of working in an inner city, multicultural
Knowledge/SkillsEssential- High level understanding of Mental Health disorders and treatment models
- Extensive knowledge of the principles or risk assessment and risk management
- Specialist knowledge and application of OT assessments and interventions and outcome measures, relevant to client group
- Skills in applying evidence-based practice
Desirable- Detailed knowledge of legislation relevant to Mental Health and specialist practice where appropriate
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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.
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.
UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
Employer detailsEmployer name: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Mother and Baby Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3BX
Employer's website: Apply through our website
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact: Ward Manager June Judd
Email: June.Judd@slam.nhs.uk
Phone: 07596892626
