Occupational Therapist ( Pre or post Preceptorship)

Job summary

Are you an Occupational Therapist motivated to work in mental health? Would you thrive working with people with complex needs? If so, our Band 5 Occupational Therapist role at the Department of Psychiatry in Eastbourne may be the job for you!

You will work across our adult wards alongside a dedicated therapy team. With patients at the heart of everything we do, you will bring compassion and care to patients and their family, friends and carers, supporting them on their recovery journey.

If you have passion, experience in mental health care, and want to work with an amazing team, we want to hear from you. You will need effective time-management skills to manage your caseload and work through the OT process, carrying out specific assessments and recovery-based interventions for individuals with a range of mental health needs, and playing a key role in safe and effective discharges.

You will be joining a small, friendly team, with opportunities to work closely with multidisciplinary colleagues. Professional support is provided by the Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist through supervision and practice development.

With the option for this to be a rotational post with East Sussex Healthcare Trust (ESHT), this is a fantastic development opportunity for a newly qualified or experienced Band 5 OT who wishes to develop skills and knowledge in mental health and beyond.

Main duties of the job

To plan and provide a range of occupational assessments and interventions that will promote recovery and wellbeing for the people you support. This will include home assessments and group work, with regular support and supervision.

To manage a caseload of clients, using evidence based/ client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.assessments and group work with regular support and supervision.

To support the promotion of Occupational Therapy within the clinical area.

About us

In return for your skills and expertise we can offer you highly rewarding work within an established, supportive, innovative, occupational therapyteam based in Eastbourne which is situated on the south coast and at the edge of the South Downs National Park.

You will have access to:

• Regular Professional supervision
• Access to a wide range of Training and CPD opportunities including;
• A programme of AHP specific training
• Monthly Occupational Therapy CPD Hubs.
• Communities of Practice (AMPS, Sensory Strategies and Recovery Through Activity, Occupational Formulation)
• The opportunity to participate in a range QI work and service innovations.
• Varied development opportunities
• There is also the opportunity to be part of a rotation within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and East Sussex Healthcare Trust.

Details

Date posted

30 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

354-AE-21228

Job locations

Department of Psychiatry

Kings Drive

Eastbourne

BN21 2UD

Job description

Job responsibilities

To plan and provide a range of occupational assessments and treatments that will promote recovery and wellbeing for the people that the post holder works with. To support the promotion of Occupational Therapy within the clinical area.

To provide occupational therapy interventions for referred clients using evidence based, client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.

To promote and develop the role of Occupational Therapy within the clinical area.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To plan and provide a range of occupational assessments and treatments that will promote recovery and wellbeing for the people that the post holder works with. To support the promotion of Occupational Therapy within the clinical area.

To provide occupational therapy interventions for referred clients using evidence based, client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.

To promote and develop the role of Occupational Therapy within the clinical area.

Person Specification

Essential

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy
• Registration with the HPC as an occupational therapist
• Experience of working with people with mental health difficulties
• Experience working as part of a team
• Experience running groups/activities
• Experience of being supervised
• Establish and maintain both verbal and written communication with people on routine and operational matters
• Provide and receive confidential client information of a sensitive and often complex nature.
• Able to communicate in a sensitive and reassuring manner
• Able to report to the OT supervisor and wider team in meetings and reviews, on progress with clients personally working with
• Liaise with other teams and services including external agencies to promote occupational activities for individuals in their communities
• To undertake assessment tasks related to individuals health and wellbeing including functional observation assessments
• Collect, collate and report routine data and information
• Able to delegate work to others in clinical team
• Ability to use IT systems including word, internet and e-mail
• To plan and deliver straightforward OT interventions and assessments to meet people's health and wellbeing needs
• Ability to prioritise workload with support
• Able to support individuals in their personal occupational needs which can include supporting them in their creative and physical activities within the service or in community settings
• Ability to be able to concentrate on complex client assessment and intervention
• Ability to deal with conflicting demands
• Ability to deal with a range of clients presenting with mental health difficulties, their supporters and the clinical team on a daily basis
• Ability to be able to concentrate on specific activities for up to an hour at a time
• Ability to be able to deal with conflicting demands in an unpredictable work pattern
• Ability to work flexibly and adapt to each person as appropriate to their needs in a variety of settings
• Ability to deal directly with distressing or emotional circumstances when they arise
• Ability to deal with distressing or emotional circumstances due to complex nature of work with service users
• Ability to report untoward incidents
• Ability to work in a variety of settings dependent on client need including the community and clients home which may include occasional unpleasant working conditions
• Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Care Group and those of the Trust
• Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
• Team working
• Ability to travel across sites
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required

Desirable

• Practice education training
• Experience of training others in technical/leisure/creative skills
• Lived experience of mental health issues
• Experience of supervising or delegating work to others
• Member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists
• Additional technical skills able to use with individuals e.g. gardening, cooking, art or sport

Person Specification

Essential

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy
• Registration with the HPC as an occupational therapist
• Experience of working with people with mental health difficulties
• Experience working as part of a team
• Experience running groups/activities
• Experience of being supervised
• Establish and maintain both verbal and written communication with people on routine and operational matters
• Provide and receive confidential client information of a sensitive and often complex nature.
• Able to communicate in a sensitive and reassuring manner
• Able to report to the OT supervisor and wider team in meetings and reviews, on progress with clients personally working with
• Liaise with other teams and services including external agencies to promote occupational activities for individuals in their communities
• To undertake assessment tasks related to individuals health and wellbeing including functional observation assessments
• Collect, collate and report routine data and information
• Able to delegate work to others in clinical team
• Ability to use IT systems including word, internet and e-mail
• To plan and deliver straightforward OT interventions and assessments to meet people's health and wellbeing needs
• Ability to prioritise workload with support
• Able to support individuals in their personal occupational needs which can include supporting them in their creative and physical activities within the service or in community settings
• Ability to be able to concentrate on complex client assessment and intervention
• Ability to deal with conflicting demands
• Ability to deal with a range of clients presenting with mental health difficulties, their supporters and the clinical team on a daily basis
• Ability to be able to concentrate on specific activities for up to an hour at a time
• Ability to be able to deal with conflicting demands in an unpredictable work pattern
• Ability to work flexibly and adapt to each person as appropriate to their needs in a variety of settings
• Ability to deal directly with distressing or emotional circumstances when they arise
• Ability to deal with distressing or emotional circumstances due to complex nature of work with service users
• Ability to report untoward incidents
• Ability to work in a variety of settings dependent on client need including the community and clients home which may include occasional unpleasant working conditions
• Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Care Group and those of the Trust
• Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
• Team working
• Ability to travel across sites
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required

Desirable

• Practice education training
• Experience of training others in technical/leisure/creative skills
• Lived experience of mental health issues
• Experience of supervising or delegating work to others
• Member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists
• Additional technical skills able to use with individuals e.g. gardening, cooking, art or sport

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

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Department of Psychiatry

Kings Drive

Eastbourne

BN21 2UD

Employer's website

https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Department of Psychiatry

Kings Drive

Eastbourne

BN21 2UD

Employer's website

https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)