Band 5 Occupational Therapist
Go back Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
The closing date is 12 July 2026
This is an exciting opportunity for a Band 5 to join our dynamic team and take the role of CAMHS Inpatient Occupational Therapist.
Lavender Walk is a busy and friendly service which welcomes new skills and new ideas. It is part of Central & North West London (CNWL) Foundation Mental Health Trust and is situated in Kensington & Chelsea (South Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Centre, 1 Nightingale Place, London, SW10 9NG) with close transport links and local amenities.
We are a 12 bed General Adolescent Unit (GAU) that cares for young people between the ages of 13-18 years old, with complex mental health needs and emotional difficulties. We serve young people from Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Hounslow.
The team is made up of two Consultant Psychiatrists (one of which is the Clinical Lead), Consultant Clinical Psychologist (Therapies Lead), Matron (Clinical Unit Manager), Ward Manager, Qualified Nurses, Nurse Associates, Health Care Assistants, Speciality Doctors, Junior Doctors, Lead Occupational Therapist, Art Therapist, Clinical Psychologists, Systemic Family Psychotherapists, Social Worker, Activity Coordinator, Fitness Instructor and Teaching staff.
To find out more about working in CAMHS please CLICK HERE for the video.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a motivated individual who is enthusiastic, forward thinking, and adaptable to work within our well established and welcoming multi-disciplinary team. In your role you will provide individual Occupational Therapy interventions and group work, using assessment tools and trauma informed recovery principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate treatment. You will work closely with the Lead Occupational Therapist to facilitate and help innovate the unit’s therapeutic and activity programme. You will also have development opportunities which include providing supervision to both fieldwork placements for Occupational Therapy students and Activity Coordinators. There are established links and network meetings with other Occupational Therapists within the CAMHS Service Line and CNWL, with opportunities for continued professional development.
About us
We recognise that the step between student and professional needs support so we have invested fully in our Band 5’s development through robust supervision, a preceptorship programme and internal training. Success at preceptorship enables further training to become an educator for OT students. Development opportunities are available and many of our Band 5s chose to stay with us in senior posts.
As a Trust CNWL is one of the largest employers of occupational therapists in the country. We are very fortunate in having a long-established professional structure and this includes an Allied Health Professional director, Trust wide Professional Head of OT, borough and specialist Head OTs.
Personal and professional development is a high priority for the profession and is underpinned by our OT R&D strategy and OT clinical networks. This enables us to invest in the development of our staff by providing excellent internal training as well as commissioning specialised external training and providing quality supervision. This ensures all our OTs reach their full potential at every stage of their career. Our commitment to research, audit and evidence based practice is made possible by our strong links with local universities.
Job responsibilities
The detailed job description has been attached. Please refer to this for specific job description and main responsibilities.
Person Specification
Education/Knowledge
- Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy
- Health Professionals Council (HPC) registered Occupational Therapist or eligible for/awaiting registration
- Evidence of CPD and self-directed learning
Previous Experience
- Undergraduate experience in mental health
- Experience in /knowledge of using a range of standardised OT assessment
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
- Demonstrate ability to be an effective and flexible member of a team.
- Experience in working with children and young people
- Experience of using a range of OT Assessments
- Experience in acute mental health.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES
- Individual and group work skills
- Clear concept of Occupational Therapy and models of practice.
- Able to work creatively to engage patients.
- Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skill
- Ability to treat service users with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach that considers the needs of the whole person.
- Demonstrate an understanding of clinical audit, and evidence based practice in mental health
- Patient centred approach to service delivery.
- Timely reporting and record keeping.
- Good communication skills within various networks of disciplines.
- Experience of promoting recovery and social inclusion
- Ability to make constructive suggestions as to how services can be improved.
- An awareness of the CQC (Care Quality Commission) and its function
- Able to prioritise workload and use initiative
- Knowledge of child and adolescent development
- Ability to carry out physical assessments and intervention to address patients’ physical needs when necessary
- Research and development at undergraduate level.
ATTITUDE, APTITUDES, PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
- Excellent communication skills, written, verbal, listening and use of up to date systems of communication i.e. IT systems, e-mail, telephone etc.
- High level of personal motivation.
- Flexible in approach in the running/activities of the unit/ward (within the clients/patients abilities)
- Demonstrate self‑awareness and an ability to use initiative.
- Demonstrate the ability to reflect on own practice and take responsibility for own personal development
- Ability to work in a team setting i.e. collaborating/facilitating/directing and understanding diversity.
- Good organisational skills and ability to delegate effectively.
- Ability to encourage client participation and support delivery of best practice.
- Ability to manage conflict constructively within the staff and client setting.
- Flexible approach to service needs and ability to adapt to change
- Understanding of the role of therapeutic boundaries and ability to implement and maintain these in work with children and young people
- Experience in reflective practice
- Experience of promoting equality and diversity
Other
- The post holder must have the ability to understand and implement National Policies, Equal Opportunities and the Code of Ethics at level appropriate to the job.
- Willingness to work adjusted hours relative to the needs of the patient group (e.g. earlier starts/later finishes to optimise group delivery)
- Membership of BAOT and Specialist Sections.
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.
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
£38,488 to £46,852 a year per annum inc HCAS (pro rata if P/T)
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