Head Occupational Therapist | East London NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 12 September 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £55,690 - £62,682 per anum |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 26 October 2025 |
| Location: | Luton, LU4 0FB |
| Company: | East London NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 7442800/363-BED7442800 |
Summary
The post holder will work with the Lead of Occupational Therapy Service, other Heads OT's in managing and developing the Occupational Therapy Service within their service area and across the Trust.
They are expected to attended provide professional leadership to their services, work alongside MDT members and develop effective working relationships to ensure effective service provision.
The post holder will also be required to attend the relevant service meetings, manage data collection along with the team's specialist OT and implement strategic plans; ensuring ongoing service development and an equitable service is maintained.
They will ensure up to date supervision is maintained within their service and support with the wider service needs as directed by the Lead OT.
The post holder will take responsibility for the designated areas for Occupational Therapy Services
Ø To lead on all elements of the Occupational Therapy Service, being responsible for the planning and delivery of Occupational Therapy in the designated area, including recruitment, appraisals, CPD and disciplinary procedures.
Ø To be responsible for the management of resources allocated to Occupational Therapy within the designated area.
Ø To analyse information systems data within the service area with respect to Clinical, Financial and Staffing issues in order to meet the service need.
Ø To ensure sickness and absence is managed effectively and in accordance with the Trust policy and liaise with staff to discuss absence trends on a regular basis providing reports as requested.
Ø To foster effective working relationships with Team Manager colleagues to ensure service developments are co-ordinated and managed in an appropriate manner to ensure high quality clinical services to meet client need to ensure maintenance of professional networks.
Ø To maintain, action and update strategic plans in line with trust strategies and local or national guidance.
Ø To maintain an effective supervision framework for Occupational Therapy staff, undertaking appraisal of Occupational Therapy staff in line with Trust policies.
Ø To participate in and develop training of Occupational Therapists and other professionals.
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Management
• To manage all elements of the Occupational Therapy Service, being responsible for the planning and delivery of Occupational Therapy in the designated area, including recruitment, appraisals, CPD and disciplinary procedures.
• To be accountable for equitable service delivery across the services.
• To foster effective working relationships with Team Manager colleagues to ensure service developments are co-ordinated and managed in an appropriate manner to ensure high quality clinical services to meet client need to ensure maintenance of professional networks.
• To liaise with professional colleagues in health and social care as appropriate
• To lead or take part in the various re-provision projects and service developments within the locality, contributing to the professional and multi-disciplinary design of the new working environments and new models of service delivery.
• To represent the Occupational Therapy Service at appropriate forums within and outside the Trust when required.
• To maintain an effective supervision framework for Occupational Therapy staff, undertaking appraisal of Occupational Therapy staff in line with Trust policies.
• To manage staff performance as required in line with trust policy.
• To deputise for Occupational Therapy Service Lead when appropriate at both Professional and Trust forums, and in post holder's absence.
• To attend the monthly Head Occupational Therapists meeting.
Clinical
• To be responsible for the planning and delivery of Occupational Therapy within the designated area, prioritising clinical needs to provide an effective service.
• To support the establishment of focused treatment programmes by Occupational Therapy staff in all relevant teams within the locality according to the agreed models and specific local needs.
• To ensure the MOHOST is implemented and is responsive to client needs.
• To ensure knowledge of Occupational Therapy practice is up to date through professional journals, website information; attendance at relevant courses; conferences and familiarisation with government policies, e.g. NSF’s.
• To be responsible for implementing the Modernisation process within the designated area of Occupational Therapy, working with staff to identify barriers to the provision of services and to develop clinical strategies and processes for overcoming barriers.
• To develop the role and remit of the Occupational Therapy staff extending the boundaries of the profession; as appropriate.
• To facilitate multi-disciplinary working across the service, liaising with Line Managers and Senior Manager Colleagues.
• To provide clinical intervention for a small number of clients.
• To undertake assessment, treatment planning and negotiation, communicating clinical reasoning to clients and carers, as appropriate.
• To communicate agreed treatment plans to multi-disciplinary team colleagues.
• To provide a variety of treatment modalities to meet the needs of the client in individual or group format utilising clinical reasoning processes.
• To review clients progress in order to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and to amend treatment or discharge clients accordingly.
• To ensure risk management systems are in place in the service area.
Administration
• To apply highly developed communication skills to all situations and staff, including negotiation, persuasion and sensitivity.
• To ensure good communication is maintained with all team members by the provision of verbal and written reports as appropriate.
• To maintain adequate written records.
• To be responsible for the signing and completion of positive returns, sickness returns and statistical information, and annual leave authorisation.
• To be responsible for ensuring a robust system of communication is in place for the dissemination of information throughout the designated area.
• To chair a meeting of Occupational Therapists working within the designated locality.
• To ensure record keeping is maintained to required standards within the service area.
• To develop departmental policies.
• To analyse information systems data within the service area with respect to Clinical, Financial and Staffing issues in order to meet the service need
• To advise Occupational Therapy Service Lead to ensure an appropriate skill mix for each area.
Performance and Quality
• To develop and lead on areas of good practice within the designated areas and ensure their dissemination across the Trust.
• To be responsible for ensuring there are effective mechanisms for monitoring the standard and quality of clinical care within the designated areas
• To ensure that treatment offered is based on the best available evidence.
• To keep up to date clinical records in line with professional standards and local record keeping policies.
• To adhere to professional Code of Ethics.
• To provide written or verbal reports as required in line with Occupational Therapy Clinical Governance Standards.
• To work with other staff in identifying clinical service needs and initiating changes and projects to meet these needs.
• To implement service changes as agreed with Head of Service and to manage staff during the process of change.
• To contribute to the development of quality initiatives within the Occupational Therapy Service to include other relevant parties/stakeholders in the process, i.e. clients and carers.
• To identify training needs for the development of individuals in line with service area needs.
• To encourage staff to audit the treatment/care provided against outcome and standards of treatment/care.
• To facilitate the continuing professional development of all staff through effective use of appraisal, course attendance, in-service training, undertaking research, etc.
• To be responsible for Clinical Governance within the designated area, producing and up-dating standards accordingly, ensuring these are implemented.
• To provide careers advice.
Financial and Physical Resources
• To be responsible for the management of resources allocated to Occupational Therapy within the designated area. To hold regular meetings with relevant Management Accountant, to ensure accurate monitoring and control of expenditure.
This advert closes on Sunday 12 Oct 2025