Principal Occupational Therapist | West London NHS Trust


Company:	West London Mental Health Trust
Salary:	£66,274 - £73,496 per annum inclusive of 20% HCAS
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	London, W6 8NF
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	27 Jul 2026
Closing date:	26 Aug 2026

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Summary

Principal Occupational Therapist (band 8a)

Full-time (37.5hrs/week), secondment/fixed-term contract for 6 months

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Principal Occupational Therapist within the Mental Health Autism Team. Over the past 2 years, the service has expanded from inpatient and crisis services only, to cover a defined cohort of autistic service users within community mental health services, who are at increased risk of readmissions to inpatient mental health services or frequently utilise unplanned care. .

The post spans acute and community mental health services across Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow. The post will be based across both Hammersmith and Fulham and Lakeside Mental Health Units, but will involve outreach provision and therefore travel across all three boroughs.

As a senior clinician, the post holder would have a clinical leadership role, supporting in the clinical governance of the Mental Health Autism Team. The post holder will use therapeutic approaches to engage autistic individuals and to facilitate communication that will support the diagnostic pathway and the care of autistic people within mental health services. The role will also include drawing on profession-specific skills relevant to the client group and setting. The post holder will be actively involved in shaping the development of the service, care pathways and interfaces with other services.

This secondment/fixed-term role offers an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and experienced Principal Occupational Therapist looking to specialise in mental health and Autism within a clinical leadership role. The successful candidate will offer a thorough, compassionate and evidence-based service to adults with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of Autism within inpatient, crisis and community mental health services, with the community focus being on people at risk of readmission to inpatient mental health services or who frequently utilise unplanned care. They will also be involved in co-producing and co-delivering training to staff, and in the establishment and facilitation of an autism consultation provision for community mental health services.

As a senior clinician, the post holder would have an integral role in the development and delivery of a safe and effective service, both through direct clinical work and provision of supervision and leadership. The post holder will have knowledge and understanding of taking a strengths-based approach to working with autistic people, supporting the individual and teams to identify and meet unmet needs, and tailoring care to the needs of the individual. They will draw on profession-specific skills relevant to the client group and setting.

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

This advert closes on Saturday 8 Aug 2026

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