Specialist Occupational Therapist | Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust


Company:	Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Salary:	£32,073 - £48,117 per annum
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Liverpool, L9 7LH
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	31 Jul 2026
Closing date:	30 Aug 2026

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Summary

This role is advertised as a Band 6 Specialist Occupational Therapist. However consideration will be given to a Band 5 with the stipulation that the individual will be employed as a Band 5 for a period of time until the individual has achieved the agreed competencies. The competencies are based on agenda for change and ensure that the individual demonstrates the required knowledge and experience for the role. Once the agree competencies have been achieved the automatic pay progression will be applied and they will move to the agreed banding (as per job description).

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is the health provider for the delivery of an Integrated Mental Health Team (IMHT) at HMP Altcourse. The service is designed to support the holistic mental health needs of our client group in partnership with our Physical Health providers and Sodexo colleagues.

The service provides individual and group-based interventions based on the needs of the population.Core aims of the service are to improve mental and psychological wellbeing via a range of interventions, build the development of independent core skills, reduce risk, and advocate for mental health within the wider prison.

We are now recruiting an Occupational Therapist to join our team at HMP Altcourse. The post holder will have clinical responsibilities via the provision of OT assessment, individual and group based therapeutic interventions based on the needs of the individual.

This will cover the array of clinical work that would promote occupational, psychological, recreational and supportive activity to meet the holistic needs of the individual. The post holder will also contribute to regular MDT meetings and be involved in the assessment and management of risk.

The post holder should have some experience of working with individuals with complex clinical and risk presentations including within institutional settings and as part of a multi-disciplinary team. This should include work with clients whose needs may mean that they find it difficult to engage with services.

Experience of working in complex service and organisational settings is required alongside an ability to constructively manage the personal, professional and ethical opportunities and challenges such work can involve.

Within the IMHT’s, we prioritise the development of our staff team and have proven that we value and nurture diverse clinical interests. We are committed to creating an empowered staff team. We strive to be reflective and supportive of each other which is vital given the challenges this work can entail.

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

To utilise developed specialist knowledge to provide the professional contribution within designated Occupational Therapy Services and to assist in the organisation, development, co- ordination and evaluation of the Occupational Therapy Service in conjunction with the Clinical Principle Occupational Therapist and relevant Team/Service

Manager.

The post holder will contribute to an environment that works with local services to provide evidence based assessment and delivery of care, using relevant models of Occupational Therapy, and within the context of Effective Care Coordination. They will continue with their own professional development and assist with that of other OT staff.

They will be required to have a flexible approach to working hours to ensure that the needs of their clients are met.

Duties and responsibilities:

Clinical – Shared Team

Work in a professional and collaborative manner with the multi-disciplinary team.

Where required, to be involved in the multidisciplinary team duty system and undertake duty assessments, as necessary.

Fulfil the care-coordinator role under ECC framework, including planning and coordinating Case Conferences/Reviews.

Ensure intervention is provided in a range of settings suitable to meet the needs of clients.

Provide information, education and support for family members, carers and other relevant professionals.

Participate and promote positive intra-agency working.

Participate in case load supervision to monitor the standards of service user care and ensure record keeping is in accordance with Professional and Trust standards.

Participate in regular clinical supervision with Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist, as per Trust policy.

Contribute to the development and implementation of integrated care pathways, including appropriate service user assessments/referrals and models of care.

Contribute to client related developments and therapeutic interventions carried out by the whole team e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy, psycho-social interventions.

Compile and maintain effective client records and record outcome measures in conjunction with clients and in accordance with Professional and Trust policies, procedures and standards.

Participate in the induction, training or education of a variety of staff, students or volunteers attached to the team/service.

Clinical – Occupational Therapy Specific:

Undertake occupational therapy assessments, addressing occupational performance and skill deficits in areas of self-care, productivity and leisure.

Plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, using selected and graded activity to develop the client’s skills in identified areas of deficit.

Undertake occupational therapy assessments, addressing occupational performance and skill deficits in areas of self-care, productivity and leisure.

Plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, using selected and graded activity to develop the client’s skills in identified areas of deficit.

Managerial / Professional Leadership:

Assist in the organisation and planning of OT service delivery e.g. OT recruitment panels, ensuring OT staff/service cover.

Provide professional advice as required, for performance management of OT staff e.g. competency monitoring.

Participate in Serious Untoward Incident investigations/reviews as required.

Deputise for the Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist, as required.

Contribute to the writing and implementation of practice guidelines, policies and procedures, and use specialist knowledge to propose service changes.

Contribute to staff participation in the formulation of new ideas/suggestions to improve service user care and service delivery.

Ensure the principles of Clinical Governance are incorporated in service delivery by maintaining a High-quality service based on agreed clinical standards.

Contribute to the strategic development of the OT services.

Manage and prioritise designated occupational therapy referrals according to need, risk and service capacity.

Provide specialist professional/clinical leadership to occupational therapists and support staff.

Liaise with and develop effective working links with the wider multi-disciplinary team. Attend professional meetings as required.

Maintain an effective supervision structure, and provide professional supervision for designated OT staff, addressing clinical, personal and professional issues.

Assist in the induction of OT staff to the service.

Participate in the performance monitoring of services in accordance with national and local targets.

Provide statistical information on workforce and service user activity as required.

Be responsible for the care, maintenance and monitoring of equipment used by clients and bring any defects or deficits to the attention of the appropriate authority. E.g. ADL equipment.

Ensure requirements for health and safety and safe working practice are met through formal and regular risk assessments and communications as required. E.g. Cascade of HSA alerts.

Assist in the maintenance and updating of the unit’s equipment inventories and service schedules. Ensure regular servicing, maintenance, repair or replacement as required adhering to Health & Safety, COSHH and Medical Devices Agency regulations.

This job description provides an outline of general activities and is not

exhaustive. It will be reviewed as the Trust’s needs change, in consultation with the post holder 19/06/2024

Please refer to both Band 6 and Band 5 job descriptions and person specifications for more details.

This advert closes on Sunday 16 Aug 2026

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