Lead Occupational Therapist for Mental Health | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

We are looking for a dynamic Lead Occupational Therapist to join Havering Community Mental Health Services. The post is for a Lead Occupational Therapist for Mental Health, incorporating the leadership for Recovery and Social Inclusion for Mental Health Services in the locality, leading on the review and oversight of all specialist and supported accommodation placements in mental health.

This role will directly report to the Assistant Director for Mental Health and Learning Disabilities in Havering.

The successful applicant should be able to evidence extensive experience as a clinical occupational therapist in mental health and learning disability practice, leadership within multidisciplinary team working as well as experience with project delivery and strategic partnership work.

This opportunity will give the successful applicant the opportunity to participate in the delivery of the transformation of mental health services in Havering considering occupational therapy workforce needs and bringing expertise to the workforce planning and recruitment of associated personnel for the neighbourhood teams. The successful candidate will also play a key role in developing drop in and group work, across all mental health services in Havering and be a core member of both the health and social care funding panels and working in partnership with specialist health and community placement providers.

Interviews will be held on the 14th of May 2024 at 137-145 Church Road, Harold Wood, RM30SH

The post holder's responsibility will include:

• Working as a key member of the senior management team within the directorate.


• Contributing to the success of operational and strategic objectives of the senior management team within the directorate.


• Providing professional leadership for occupational therapy staff within the directorate, including supervision, appraisal, professional development and effective recruitment and retention.


• Providing specialist advice, direction and support to senior managers, team managers on occupational therapy issues.


• Being a core member of Mental Health Services Trust Professional Lead OT group and picking up specific objectives relating to professional governance e.g. student placements/preceptorship and CPD


• Being a core member and decision maker within the health and social care placement funding panels


• Promoting a recovery focussed step down ethos, ensuring regular placement reviews and step down plans are in place which promote good clinical outcomes, and value for money


• Taking a lead role in the Directorate for implementation of recovery oriented practice and social inclusion pathways


• Supporting the delivery of the IPS employment service in the community mental health teams


• Maintaining and coordinating regular interfaces with social inclusion partners particularly in relation to Employment, Education and Training (EET)


• Providing leadership or participation in borough, directorate, MHS or Trust wide projects as requested.


Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focusing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

High Cost Area Supplement - London
This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £3,898 and a maximum payment of £4,967 per annum pro rata).

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification

COVID-19 Vaccination
We continue to encourage all staff to ensure that they have been double vaccinated and received their booster. We recognise that taking the vaccine provides the best defence against COVID 19 for our patients, our staff and their families.

Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).