Band 8b Lead Occupational Therapist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an exceptional and highly experienced candidate to provide professional leadership for Occupational Therapy (OT) within adult mental health services in H&F, ensuring safe, effective, and recovery-focused practice. This is an interim part-time position for 6 months to provide cover for maternity leave.

As the Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy in Hammersmith & Fulham), you will lead the strategic development, professional governance, and workforce planning for OT staff working within adult mental health services across in-patient and community settings in the borough and will represent the profession on operational and strategic groups as required.

The post holder will ensure the delivery of a high quality, safe and modern OT service where policy, law and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) professional standards of practice are consistently applied whilst assuring the Associate Director for AHPs that this is so.

You will act as the senior professional voice for OT in adult mental health, promoting the unique contribution of the profession to recovery, social inclusion, and quality of life. Additionally, you will ensure high professional standards, support service transformation, and provide expert clinical leadership to embed occupational approaches across the care pathways., The post holder will provide strategic and professional leadership for Occupational Therapy (OT) services within adult mental health, ensuring alignment with Trust, regional and national priorities. They will promote recovery-focused and trauma-informed practice, representing the OT profession at senior management and decision-making forums. The role includes providing expert consultancy across operational and strategic groups, supporting service development, and leading innovation to enhance patient care, including digital transformation initiatives.

The post holder will ensure robust professional governance frameworks are in place, leading on quality assurance, clinical audit, risk management, and supervision standards. They will promote evidence-based practice and ensure compliance with NICE and CQC standards, including the effective use of outcome measures embedded into routine practice. The role also involves supporting operational managers in meeting strategic and regulatory requirements and contributing to borough-wide projects in collaboration with senior leadership.

In addition, the post holder will lead workforce development initiatives, including workforce planning, supervision, and leadership of senior OT staff. They will support career progression, promote advanced practice roles, and ensure the workforce has the skills and capacity to meet the needs of the service.

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.

The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative