Forensic Lead Occupational Therapist

Job overview

Across Prospect Place & Tatton Unit – Low Secure Services

Birch Hill Hospital & Tameside General Hospital, Greater Manchester

Join a Trust that recognises and values the essential role of occupational therapy in transforming mental health care.

We are seeking an experienced and forward‑thinking Forensic Lead Occupational Therapist to provide clinical leadership across our adult low secure units: Prospect Place, a 45‑bedded service based at Birch Hill Hospital, and Tatton Unit, a 16‑bedded service located within Tameside General Hospital.

At Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, occupational therapy is central to our vision for modern, recovery‑focused inpatient care. In this senior role, you will lead and develop OT practice across both sites, championing holistic, person‑centred approaches and evidence‑based interventions that support service users to build meaningful, fulfilling lives.

You will play a pivotal part in shaping the future of OT within our low secure pathway — driving quality, innovation, and professional leadership within multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring occupational therapy remains at the heart of safe, therapeutic, and recovery‑oriented care.

Main duties of the job

Who we’re looking for

You’ll be a HCPC-registered occupational therapist with substantial experience in mental health and secure services, bringing strong leadership skills and a genuine passion for enabling others to thrive.

You’ll be committed to delivering holistic, person-centred care, confident in evidence-based practice, and motivated to contribute to service improvement. With excellent communication and collaboration skills, you will build effective relationships across multidisciplinary teams.

You might currently be working in another NHS trust, in the private sector, or through an agency. You may be based in Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, or the wider North West. Wherever you are in your career, if you’re looking for safer staffing, stronger support, and meaningful opportunities to grow, Pennine Care is ready to welcome you.

Working for our organisation

Why choose Pennine Care?

• Top mental health trust to work for in the North of England (NHS Staff Survey 2024)
• A clear commitment to safe staffing levels and quality patient care
• Work in a collaborative, values-led organisation
• Multidisciplinary working embedded in our care models
• Leadership and career development support

Your opportunity

You’ll be working alongside dedicated multidisciplinary teams, using your skills to deliver person-centred care in line with our values of kindness, fairness, ingenuity and determination.

Not only will you help shape the future of person-centred care, it’s your chance to influence service development, lead a committed OT team, and ensure that occupational therapy is placed at the centre of care where it belongs.

What we offer

• Career development, including access to training and development relevant to your role
• Mentoring and coaching opportunities to support your growth
• Flexible working options to support your work-life balance
• Comprehensive staff wellbeing service
• Generous NHS pension scheme and staff benefits package
• A Trust-wide commitment to diversity, inclusion and psychological safety

Make the move to a Trust that listens, supports and invests in you. Apply now and help us build a better future for mental health care.

For informal enquiries, contact Francis Ukpebor - Clinical Service Manager - Low secure Service

francis.ukpebor@nhs.net

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Your main responsibilities in this role are to take the lead in the development and management of the Occupational Therapy service across the low secure unit (adults of working age), in the two localities within Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust (PCFT) using highly specialist clinical and leadership skills developed through experience and post graduate training, ensuring quality of service and compliance with the Trust’s core values, standards and regulations.
You will work in partnership with Clinical Service and Ward managers, quality leads and other Occupational Therapists to support and develop the Occupational Therapy workforce, ensuring person centred, high quality, evidence based, safe and effective OT service delivery across inpatient Mental Health Services.

Please see the job description for further details about the role and responsibilities.

Person specification

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Proven experience of effective multi -disciplinary/interagency working and secure care standards
• Able to communicate effectively complex and sensitive information, both verbally and in writing.
• Skills in providing consultation to professional and non -professional groups
• Good presentation and teaching skills
• Able to organise and respond effectively to complex information
• Demonstrate application of Forensic Risk Assessment and management in clinical practice
• Demonstrate an excellent understanding and clinical application of the Model of Human Occupation with people with complex mental health needs

Work related circumstances

Essential criteria

• Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
• Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.

Education/qualifications

Essential criteria

• BSc (Hons) or equivalent Occupational Therapy qualification
• Health and Care Professions Council registration
• Accredited Fieldwork/Practice Educator
• Evidence of relevant post graduate courses / CPD
• Clinical supervision training
• Post registration study equivalent to master’s level
• Management / leadership training

Desirable criteria

• Speciality related postgraduate qualification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Extensive mental health/secure service experience which demonstrates competencies to meet the job description activity including practice at a clinical specialism level.
• Current specialist Forensic OT knowledge and application of OT assessments and intervention relevant to inpatient service users occupational needs.
• Applying and interpreting standardised OT assessments
• Proven experience of line management / supervision of OTs / support staff
• Extensive experience of supervision of OT students and/or OT apprentices
• Demonstrable experience of involvement in service development
• Research and Audit experience
• Experience of supporting effective change management within teams

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of post graduate research experience
• Evidence of leading a team of OT’s

Skills and abilities

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable knowledge of up -to - date evidence based forensic practice
• Applied knowledge of relevant national policy and legislation related to people with complex mental health needs, MCA/MHA/MAPPA
• Awareness and knowledge of factors relating to Occupational Therapy service provision within inpatient services
• Experience of applying the Model of Human Occupation to assess and evaluate service user outcomes.
• Detailed knowledge of the principles of clinical quality and its application in practice
• Well-developed people skills, respectful and empathic towards others
• Commitment to lifelong learning and an ability to direct own professional development

📝 Application support - We recommend tailoring your application to each role you apply for, particularly your supporting information. This gives you the best chance of success. Your supporting information should clearly explain, with examples, how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role.

We are aware of the increase in AI being used for job applications. AI can be a useful tool to assist in writing your application, but these tools may not understand the context or requirements of the job you are applying for and using for all your application will not be a true reflection of your skills and experience. Relying on AI for your whole application can negatively impact on your chances of success throughout the recruitment process as you will be asked to provide evidence to support what you have written. Take the time to proofread your application to ensure you can evidence what you have submitted, whether this is by your experience or certificates

We also offer virtual application support sessions each month, where you will learn some hints and tips to support you in completing your application form. To secure your place, and to find out more visit the on our website.

🌍 Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the

📬 After You Apply - Once your application is submitted, you’ll receive updates via email. Shortlisting is based on how well you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, and invitations will be sent by email.

✅ If You're Offered the Role - If successful, the hiring manager will contact you directly with a verbal offer. They will then notify the Recruitment Team and submit the necessary paperwork. You’ll receive a formal conditional offer via email

🔍 Pre-Employment Checks - To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre-employment checks in line with . These include:

• Identity verification
• Right to work check
• Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role)
• Professional registration and/or qualification check
• Occupational health assessment
• Employment history and reference validation

All applicants external to Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history and references.

If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.

🚀 Once Checks Are Complete -

The Recruitment Team will coordinate with you and the hiring manager to confirm a start date. You’ll be booked onto a Trust Welcome Session and receive your Pennine Care NHS Terms and Conditions.

📣 Additional Information -

Pennine Care are committed to the ‘Get ahead on Flex’ pledge initiative to support the right to request flexible working for all colleagues. “We can work flexibly, as a modern and model employer, flexible and less than full-time working isn’t a barrier to progress in the NHS – it is commonplace”. To support a positive experience for all colleagues we are committed to considering all requests for flexible working, in line with service needs.

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds to help us grow, innovate, and improve.

If you wish to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.

If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us on 0161 716 3181 as early as possible so we can support you.

Please note:

• We do not accept unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies. Hiring managers should not be contacted directly.

• We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. If you have a disability or long‑term health condition and need extra time or adjustments to complete your application, please contact us as soon as possible. We will ensure you are not disadvantaged where a reasonable adjustment is appropriate.

If you have problems applying, contact

Address

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
225 Old Street
225 Old Street
OL6 7SR

Telephone

01617163181