Job summary A new opportunity has arisen for a Specialist Occupational Therapist within our Adult North Integrated learning disabilities team. This is a full time post covering North Durham. The Adult North Integrated learning disabilities team work with adults that have a learning disability, and their families, to provide high quality assessment and intervention, enhancing quality of life. As a Specialist Occupational Therapist in TEWV you will manage a complex caseload independently, assessing occupational performance and delivering specialist occupational interventions, demonstrating adherence to the Trust Values at all times and operating as a leader in the team, service and organisation. Main duties of the job To be responsible for receiving referrals for occupational therapy, triaging and prioritising these, completing evidence-based assessments and interventions to address key occupational areas of self care, productivity and leisure. To use client-centred approaches to co-producing negotiated occupational goals and evaluate these with service users collaboratively. To participate in clinical/professional and management supervision To contribute to multi-disciplinary team working To contribute to and lead on service improvement and quality initiatives To use the Trust electronic patient record system To abide by all Trust policies and procedures To be able to respond flexibly and creatively to challenges About us We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby. From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for. We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health. We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it. We won't rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life. Date posted 04 March 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 6 Salary £37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 346-DDL-010-25 Job locations Chester Le Street Health Centre Newcastle Road Chester Le Street DH3 3UR Job description Job responsibilities The post holder will provide evidence-based Occupational Therapy assessment and interventions and offer input to individuals, their families and carers, in community settings. We are looking for an OT who can work flexibly to meet service need and has the vision, energy and inspiration to develop creative, imaginative solutions to working with adults with a learning disability and their families/carers. It is advantageous for the postholder to have experience of working with people with a Learning Disability. The postholder will access wider support from the occupational therapy network in ALD in TEWV, to develop a way of delivering a high quality, needs-led OT service, utilising core occupational therapy skills to ensure all of the young people have a robust occupational therapy assessment and intervention plan in place. Clinical/Professional supervision is provided by the Lead Occupational Therapist Lead for ALD Durham for the Trust. The postholder will attend OT Learning and Governance Networks to ensure fidelity to core occupational therapy delivery, enhance CPD and contribute to the wider OT service developments. All team members must be committed to providing the best possible care for the young people and their families/carers. The successful candidate will be compassionate, enthusiastic and motivated to improve the lives of adults with a learning disability, whilst also minimising the impact of mental ill health. The successful candidate will be delivering occupational therapy working flexible hours across the entire week. The ability to engage and communicate with adults with learning disabilities as well as the families/carers and system around them is essential. They must be able to demonstrate experience of delivery of occupational therapy, keenness to continually develop themselves and others, and a particular interest in this field of OT. Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying. Job description Job responsibilities The post holder will provide evidence-based Occupational Therapy assessment and interventions and offer input to individuals, their families and carers, in community settings. We are looking for an OT who can work flexibly to meet service need and has the vision, energy and inspiration to develop creative, imaginative solutions to working with adults with a learning disability and their families/carers. It is advantageous for the postholder to have experience of working with people with a Learning Disability. The postholder will access wider support from the occupational therapy network in ALD in TEWV, to develop a way of delivering a high quality, needs-led OT service, utilising core occupational therapy skills to ensure all of the young people have a robust occupational therapy assessment and intervention plan in place. Clinical/Professional supervision is provided by the Lead Occupational Therapist Lead for ALD Durham for the Trust. The postholder will attend OT Learning and Governance Networks to ensure fidelity to core occupational therapy delivery, enhance CPD and contribute to the wider OT service developments. All team members must be committed to providing the best possible care for the young people and their families/carers. The successful candidate will be compassionate, enthusiastic and motivated to improve the lives of adults with a learning disability, whilst also minimising the impact of mental ill health. The successful candidate will be delivering occupational therapy working flexible hours across the entire week. The ability to engage and communicate with adults with learning disabilities as well as the families/carers and system around them is essential. They must be able to demonstrate experience of delivery of occupational therapy, keenness to continually develop themselves and others, and a particular interest in this field of OT. Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying. Person Specification Specialist Occupational Therapist Essential Degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent Registration with HCPC Successful completion of preceptorship year as a graduate occupational therapist (or equivalent in non-NHS sectors) Clinical Supervisory Skills course (or willingness to undertake within agreed timescale) Trust training in Appraisal and Recruitment (or willingness to undertake within an agreed timescale) Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent) Desirable Accredited Practice Placement Educator (APPLE) Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area Experience Essential Significant experience of delivering Occupational Therapy including experience working with service users in mental health or learning disabilities with complex needs Experience of supervising students on placement Experience of participation in quality improvement activities Experience of participation in quality improvement activities Experience of developing and delivering training Desirable Day to day supervision of staff Knowledge Essential National guidance and key standards in own specialist area Health and Safety legislation and its application in practice Legal aspects of Moving and Handling Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act and its application in practice Clinical Risk Assessment and Management and its application in practice Clinical Governance and its application in practice Care Programme Approach and its application in practice Safeguarding and its application in practice Significant knowledge to post-graduate level of the needs and difficulties of service users in designated specialist area Significant knowledge of evidence based practice in designated specialist area Research and development methodology Knowledge of the Trust's Quality Improvement System (or willingness to learn in agreed timescale) Person Specification Specialist Occupational Therapist Essential Degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent Registration with HCPC Successful completion of preceptorship year as a graduate occupational therapist (or equivalent in non-NHS sectors) Clinical Supervisory Skills course (or willingness to undertake within agreed timescale) Trust training in Appraisal and Recruitment (or willingness to undertake within an agreed timescale) Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent) Desirable Accredited Practice Placement Educator (APPLE) Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area Experience Essential Significant experience of delivering Occupational Therapy including experience working with service users in mental health or learning disabilities with complex needs Experience of supervising students on placement Experience of participation in quality improvement activities Experience of participation in quality improvement activities Experience of developing and delivering training Desirable Day to day supervision of staff Knowledge Essential National guidance and key standards in own specialist area Health and Safety legislation and its application in practice Legal aspects of Moving and Handling Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act and its application in practice Clinical Risk Assessment and Management and its application in practice Clinical Governance and its application in practice Care Programme Approach and its application in practice Safeguarding and its application in practice Significant knowledge to post-graduate level of the needs and difficulties of service users in designated specialist area Significant knowledge of evidence based practice in designated specialist area Research and development methodology Knowledge of the Trust's Quality Improvement System (or willingness to learn in agreed timescale) 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications 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 (Opens in a new tab). 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 (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications 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 (Opens in a new tab). 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 (Opens in a new tab). 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 Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust Address Chester Le Street Health Centre Newcastle Road Chester Le Street DH3 3UR Employer's website https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)