Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist

Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist to join the Learning Disability inpatient service at Bankfields Court in Middlesbrough.

This is a key clinical leadership role, providing highly specialist occupational therapy assessment and intervention for people with complex needs. The successful candidate will work autonomously while being an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, supporting person-centred care, positive risk-taking, recovery, independence and wellbeing. The role includes responsibility for a highly complex occupational therapy caseload and the provision of specialist advice, guidance and clinical leadership to colleagues. The post holder will provide evidence-based occupational therapy assessment and interventions as part of the OT Pathway linked and offer input to individuals, their families and carers, in learning disability inpatient services. The ability to engage and communicate with individuals with complex learning disabilities as well as the parents/family/carers and system around them is essential.

Main duties of the job
The role will include clinical supervision and leadership for the Occupational Therapy Assistant, helping to develop the role, clarify responsibilities and support high-quality occupational therapy practice across the service. The postholder will attend OT Learning and Governance Networks to ensure fidelity to core OT delivery, enhance CPD and contribute to the wider OT service developments. The post holder will access wider support from the occupational therapy network in the occupational therapy learning disability community teams in TEWV, to develop a way of delivering a high quality, needs-led OT service, utilising core occupational therapy skills to ensure all of the people we work with have a robust occupational therapy assessment and intervention plan in place.

Although Bankfields Court will remain your priority service, there will be an opportunity to use the Intensive Support Team base at Lancaster House, Stockton, as an office base when needed to provide valuable access to peer support, professional networking and opportunities for collaborative working. Where clinical activity within Bankfields Court allows, there may also be opportunities to contribute to work within the IST while maintaining Bankfields Court as the primary focus of the role.

We are looking for an occupational therapist who can demonstrate compassionate and collective leadership, sound clinical judgement and a commitment to evidence-based practice, co-production and continuous improvement.

Details
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum
Band: Band 7
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 346-TSL-030-26-A
Closing date: 09 November 2026
Location: Bankfields Court, Bankfields Road, Middlesbrough, TS6 0NP

Essential qualifications

• Pre-registration qualification in occupational therapy as recognised by HCPC
• Registration with HCPC
• Evidence of post-registration Masters level learning, or equivalent experience in a relevant area (e.g. relevant level 7 courses, researcher role, quality improvement activity, leading service development, project management, strategic leadership, NICE involvement, service evaluation)

Essential knowledge and experience

• Substantial clinical experience of complex occupational therapy delivery in relevant specialist area in collaboration with people who use our services, families, and relevant others
• Significant experience of supporting people with mental health conditions, learning disability or autism
• Significant understanding of the needs of people who use our services with mental health conditions or learning disabilities or autism

Essential personal attributes

• Ability to work as part of a collective and compassionate leadership team
• Able to work in accordance with the Trust Values
• Able to work effectively in complex, distressing and challenging circumstances
• Able to use own initiative and make decisions independently
• Self-aware and committed to professional and personal development

Desirable

• Comprehensive awareness of professional standards and their application to practice
• Experience of participating in quality improvement activities, service development, and/or project management
• Experience of clinical governance activities including clinical audit and quality assurance of practice
• Participation in research and development
• Substantial knowledge of evidence-based practice in designated specialist area
• Experience of working in a Multidisciplinary Team

Employer contact
For questions about the job, contact Rebecca Stonehouse, Service Manager, at rebecca.stonehouse@nhs.net or 07775786563.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check.