About this role
Job summary Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen within Barking & Dagenham Community Mental Health Services for an experienced and motivated Band 8a Occupational Therapist to join the service in a senior leadership role.
The successful candidate will be a key member of a supportive and forward-thinking management team, providing professional leadership, clinical oversight, and strategic direction for Occupational Therapy staff across the directorate. You will play a central role in the development, delivery, and promotion of high-quality Occupational Therapy services for adults with serious and enduring mental health needs.
This post requires substantial experience of working within community mental health services and a strong understanding of recovery-focused, person-centred care. You will be expected to demonstrate effective leadership skills, the ability to support and develop staff, and a commitment to service improvement within a multidisciplinary environment.
The role offers an excellent opportunity to further develop senior leadership and management skills while contributing to service transformation and innovation. You will be supported by a strong local infrastructure and benefit from collaborative working across the wider health and social care system.
We welcome applications from enthusiastic, skilled Occupational Therapists who are passionate about improving outcomes for people with complex mental health needs and who are committed to upholding NHS values.
Main duties of the job What youll be doing
Providing professional and clinical leadership for Occupational Therapy across community services Supporting and developing a diverse OT workforce at different stages of their careers Shaping pathways and contributing to service transformation alongside the wider leadership team Strengthening the visibility and impact of Occupational Therapy within multidisciplinary teams Driving a focus on meaningful outcomes and demonstrating the value of occupational approaches Creating consistency, quality, and identity across the Occupational Therapy workforce
What were looking for
An experienced Occupational Therapist who is ready to lead at a system level while staying grounded in practice. Strong professional identity and credibility as an Occupational Therapist Experience of leading or developing others across teams or services Confidence to influence beyond your own discipline The ability to navigate change and uncertainty constructively A focus on improving outcomes for service users You dont need to have worked at Band 8a before, but you do need to be ready for that level of impact.
Interested?
If you want to be a part of transformation! If you want to lead a valued and developing OT workforce! If you want to influence the wider system! If you want to make a visible difference Then, wed like to hear from you.
About us
NELFT NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and community services for over 4.9 million people living in the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and across Essex.
We work to ensure our patients, their friends and family, feel confident that their health needs are well met. With an excellent reputation for research and development, our skilled health professionals are at the cutting edge of evidence-based innovation, opening up the possibilities for better ways of working and delivery of care.
Job description Job responsibilities
Main duties of the job
The post holder will report directly to the Head of Adult Mental Health Services for Barking & Dagenham, with professional supervision provided by the Trust Professional Lead for Allied Health Professions (AHP).
As a key member of the senior management team, the post holder will contribute to the delivery of operational and strategic objectives across the directorate. They will provide professional leadership for Occupational Therapy staff, including supervision, professional development, workforce planning, and supporting effective recruitment and retention.
The role includes providing specialist Occupational Therapy advice and guidance to Integrated Care Directors, Associate Directors, and team managers, and contributing to Trust-wide Professional Lead Occupational Therapy and Allied Health Professional groups to support professional standards and service development.
The post holder will lead on Social Inclusion, Recovery, and Wellbeing agendas and manage NELFT ISA (Barking & Dagenham)–funded specialist mental health community placements, ensuring effective placement reviews, value for money, positive clinical outcomes, and appropriate throughput.
They will also contribute to borough, directorate, Mental Health Services, and Trust-wide projects as required, and ensure appropriate supervision and development of STR, Peer Support Workers, and other designated staff.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Graduate qualified Occupational Therapist, fully registered with the appropriate professional or regulatory body (HCPC).
Evidence of Continuous Professional Development through access to relevant courses
Desirable
A recognised management qualification
Experience Essential
Clinical professional leadership experience within a Children and Young Peoples service Experience of clinically supervising and managing less experienced colleagues Experience of working in a multi-agency and/or multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
Working in an NHS environment
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.
Employer details Employer name NELFT North East London Foundation Trust
Address Barking Community Hospital
Barking
Essex
IG11 9LX
Employer's website https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)