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Occupational Therapist (Band 5)

Cygnet Health Care

Bradford, BD4 6AD £32,883 – £35,465 a year Permanent Posted 27 August 2026 Apply by 26 September 2026

Home Office register entry: Cygnet Health Care Ltd, West Malling

Visa sponsorship

This role is listed by an employer that holds a live Home Office sponsor licence on the Skilled Worker route.

Closest occupation match: SOC 2222, Occupational therapists. Pay for this occupation is set by national pay scales (NHS bands), so no single Home Office going rate applies.

This occupation falls under the Health and Care Worker route. Public reference figures for that route: the general salary minimum is £25,000 a year, and salaries set by national pay scales (NHS bands) at or above the relevant band rate typically meet the occupation's requirement. Individual eligibility depends on personal circumstances. These figures are public reference information, not advice or a verdict on this job.

Role description

Job summary

Are you a newly qualified or experienced Band 5 Occupational Therapist looking to develop your career within women's secure mental health services?

We are looking for a compassionate and motivated Occupational Therapist to join the multidisciplinary team on Bronte Ward at Cygnet Hospital Bierley.

Main duties of the job

Service Line: Secure Services

Post: Band 5 Occupational Therapist

Site: Cygnet Bierley Hospital (Bradford)

Ward: Bronte Ward- Women's Low Secure Service

Salary: £32,883 - £35,465 per annum depending on experience

Hours: 37.5 Hours per week

Contract: Permanent

This is an exciting opportunity for either a newly qualified Occupational Therapist or an established Band 5 who would like to develop specialist knowledge and experience within a supportive low secure service.

Working as part of the wards multi-disciplinary team, you will manage a defined caseload and use occupationally focussed assessment and intervention to support women with their recovery, independence and progression towards less restrictive environments.

You will contribute to collaborative care planning and support service users to identify meaningful recovery goals, develop daily living skills, establish balanced routines and prepare for successful reintegration into the community. Newly qualified Occupational Therapists will be supported through a structured preceptorship programme.

You will also receive regular clinical supervision, protected professional development time and access to specialist training relevant to secure services.

About us

Cygnet Hospital Bierley is a 62-bed hospital in Bradford, providing a range of acute and low secure mental health services for men and women across four wards. The hospital works within a recovery-orientated and trauma-informed model of care. Its multidisciplinary teams support individuals experiencing acute, medium-term and longer-term mental health needs, including people with complex presentations and behaviours that may challenge.

Bronte Ward is a 15-bed low secure service providing assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for women with complex and enduring mental health needs, some of whom may have a dual diagnosis or a history of involvement with the criminal justice system.

The service supports women who may present with risks including aggression or self-harm and can also support individuals with a secondary diagnosis of personality disorder, autism or other mental health or neurodevelopmental condition. Some individuals on Bronte ward have additional support needs such as, communication difficulties and sensory needs.

Care is recovery-focused, collaborative and person-centred. The team works with each woman to understand and reduce risk while developing the skills, confidence and occupational identity required to progress towards greater independence and the least restrictive environment.

Date posted

27 August 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£32,883 to £35,465 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

VPF8B58928

Job locations

Bradford

BD4 6AD

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

As the wards Occupational Therapist, you will have an important role in helping women to:

Identify personally meaningful recovery goals.

Develop independent living and community skills.

Establish healthy, balanced and sustainable routines.

Participate in meaningful occupations and therapeutic activity.

Prepare for progression, discharge and community reintegration.

Occupational Therapy Directorate:

Under the leadership of our occupational therapy directors we support over 185 Occupational Therapists. Working together as a large team we provide support to each other across the group, with the opportunity to be part of specialist interest groups & become involved in service development.

Every service line has a clinical lead occupational therapist to lead and develop evidence based practice and agreed occupational therapy pathway.

We ensure our occupational therapists have a voice through participating in service model development, utilising the expertise and support of our clinical lead occupational therapists.

Occupational Therapy Preceptorship & Induction:

We offer a 12 month Occupational Therapy Preceptorship for all newly qualified Occupational Therapists to support and consolidate core Occupational Therapy skills.

We also offer a sensory integration preceptorship for those with an interest in sensory integration.

All new starters will complete an induction which incorporates service line Occupational Therapy processes as inhouse orientation.

Five Reasons to Apply Today

Join a service where occupational therapy is central to recovery, risk reduction and progression.
Receive regular clinical supervision and protected professional development time.
Access a structured preceptorship programme if you are newly qualified.
Develop specialist skills and experience within womens low secure mental health services.
Become part of a large and supportive national Occupational Therapy Directorate with clear opportunities for continued career development.

Cygnet Health Care Benefits

Free parking.
Free meals for staff while on duty.
Relocation package, where eligible.
Group pension plan.
NHS discounts and access to the Blue Light Card scheme.
Wellbeing resources, including physical, financial and mental health support.
Dedicated CPD time and access to specialist training.
Opportunities for ongoing professional and career development.

Apply Now:

Apply now to develop your occupational therapy career while making a meaningful difference to womens recovery and future independence.

If you would like to discuss the role or arrange an informal visit to the service, please contact our Specialist Recruitment Consultant, Katie Dixon, at KatieDixon@cygnethealth.co.uk

Requirements:

Applicants must:

Hold a degree or postgraduate qualification in Occupational Therapy.
< span>Be registered, or eligible for registration, with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Demonstrate an understanding of person-centred and evidence-based occupational therapy practice.
Be able to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory employment reference checks.

Recruitment agencies, please note: Speculative candidate details should not be sent directly to clinical staff. These must be submitted through our internal recruitment team. Candidates introduced directly to members of the clinical team may be considered to have been submitted without agency ownership.

What next?

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Person Specification

General Requirements

Essential

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Desirable

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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

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