Lead Occupational Therapist

Posting date:	19 January 2026
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	18 February 2026
Location:	Newark, NG24 4SW
Company:	Elysium Healthcare
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	1455489943

Summary

Are you an experienced Occupational Therapist looking to take the next step in you career and be part of meaningful change? If so, join the team at The Farndon Unit as a Lead Occupational Therapist.

You will be joining a service that has two service lines for women (and transgender people) with mental health difficulties. The low secure service provides 26 beds while the rehabilitation service provides 20 beds. Service delivery is individual and driven by the principles of rehabilitation and recovery and the belief that everyone has the capacity for both.

With experience from the NHS and/or private sector, you will be responsible for managing and leading the Occupational Therapy Service across the low secure, rehabilitation and Bespoke service lines, using evidence based and patient centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions, which provide patients with the confidence, skills and coping strategies required for independent living.

You will report directly to the Hospital Director, with the opportunity to work autonomously in your running of the OT department.

With a strong emphasis on teamwork, you’ll receive support from a regional network of healthcare professionals and enjoy access to a variety of online and CPD training courses to support you reach your career goals.

As a Lead Occupational Therapist, your key accountabilities are:

• To manage and co-ordinate the implementation of individual treatment plans for occupational therapy services ensuring treatments, activities and interventions are delivered through effective application and communication by the occupational therapists.
• To receive and respond promptly to referrals, undertaking patient assessments to identify and prioritise patient needs before planning and delivering the appropriate and relevant interventions either on an individual or group basis.
• Ensure the team maintains accurate and timely records detailing each patient’s rehabilitation / progress.
• The Lead Occupational Therapist will work to develop living skills, rehabilitation, and educational opportunities/therapies under the strategic direction of members of the Senior Management Team.
• The Lead Occupational Therapist will attend any meetings called by the SMT, and will develop therapies (and make any changes to the therapy provision) according to the agreed local occupational therapy strategy at the hospital which will change over time as patient needs change.
• To ensure the effective and efficient management of Occupational Therapists , Occupational Therapy Assistants and OT students.
• To maintain and develop close working relationships with professional and clinical colleagues within the multi-disciplinary team, ensuring clinical practice is in line with Elysium policies and procedures and complies with statutory regulations and quality standards.
• To maintain effective communication links with patients, relatives, carers, and purchasers throughout the patient’s rehabilitation.
• To hold a caseload within the service.
• To complete assessments, plan, implement intervention and evaluate outcomes as per individual service users’ care-pathway, enabling the service users in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.
• To have full oversight and management of the therapeutic timetable system
• To plan and implement individual and group interventions collaboratively with Service users.
• To evaluate outcomes aligned to care plans.
• To maintain accurate patient records, including care notes, written reports and discharge summaries following hospital and professional standards
• To implement and develop evidence-based therapeutic activities to aid service user mental health recovery
• To maintain and develops close working relationships with professional and clinical colleagues
• To provide a professional contribution to, and liaison with clinical teams, associated disciplines and external agencies

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• The post holder will hold a BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy together with full Royal College of Occupational Therapist membership and Active HCPC registration.
• The role holder will require at least 3 years’ experience including at least 1 years’ experience of working within inpatient mental health services.
• Possess confidence and competence in assessing patients with a variety of psychometrics and risk assessment tools.
• Be able to work therapeutically, engaging patients in developing insight and coping skills to manage their complex needs, both clinical and sensory based needs.
• Have good communication skills, both written and oral and is able to pitch complex information to different audiences.
• Have a sound, up to date awareness of legislation and its implications for the profession and working with the mentally disordered client group.
• Able to proactively resolve problems and challenges within the service in a positive and constructive manner.
• Be able to supervise and where appropriate line manage staff in the service.
• Be able to operate within professional boundaries and in line with the RCOT / HCPC Code of Conduct at all times.

Where you will be working:

Location: Farndon Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 4SW

You will be working at the Farndon Unit, a purpose-built low secure hospital which offers personalised assessment and recovery-based treatment pathways for women with complex care needs.

The Farndon Unit provides low secure care for women with a diagnosis of severe and enduring mental illness and/or personality disorder and/or mild learning disability. You will be working alongside a multidisciplinary team offering personalised assessment and recovery-based treatment pathways, including a trauma specific pathway, for women with complex care needs.

What You’ll Get

At Elysium Healthcare, we believe in taking care of the people who care for others, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and future:

• Annual base salary of £50,438
• The equivalent of 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays) – plus your birthday off and the option to buy additional annual leave, in our annual selection window.
• Career development and training to help you achieve your professional goals
• Access to our Rewards & Benefits platform Ely-Vate; Your one-stop destination for everyday savings, exclusive benefits, and wellbeing hub!
• Wellbeing support and activities to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Access to Blue Light Card, which provides a range of exclusive offers and discounts
• Life Assurance, for added peace of mind
• Stream – instant access to earned wages when you need it, plus access to save, directly from your wages, alongside financial wellbeing support.
• 24/7 GP service and second medical opinion, to ensure you are the best you can be
• Enhanced Maternity Package, so you can truly enjoy this special time
• Pension contribution, to help secure your future
• Free/subsidised meals and onsite/local free parking

About your next employer:

Elysium Health care has over 8,000 employees and a unique approach to the delivery of care. With a network of over 90 services across England and Wales covering Mental Health, Neurological, Learning Disabilities & Autism, Children & Education, there is opportunity for you to grow and move.

Elysium Healthcare is part of Ramsay Health Care with a global network that extends across 10 countries and employs over 86,000 people globally.

Elysium Healthcare follows safer recruitment of staff for all appointments and is a Disability Confident employer, committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment. It is a requirement that all staff understand it is each person’s individual responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of service users. All candidates will be subject to a DBS disclosure