Jobs Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Senior Occupational Therapist
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Senior Occupational Therapist

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Haywards Heath West Sussex, RH16 4NQ Posted 7 October 2026 Apply by 21 October 2026
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This role is listed by an employer that holds a live Home Office sponsor licence on the Skilled Worker route.

Salary for this role£39,959 – £48,117 a year
Health and Care route minimum£25,000 a year
Pay basisNational pay scales (NHS bands)

This occupation falls under the Health and Care Worker route. Salaries set by national pay scales (NHS bands) at or above the relevant band rate typically meet the occupation's requirement.

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.

Individual eligibility depends on personal circumstances. These figures are public reference information, not advice or a verdict on this job.

Role description

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Occupational Therapist to cover maternity leave, to join our dynamic crisis outreach acute support team (COAST) in supporting young people experiencing acute mental health difficulties.

As a Senior Occupational Therapist you will offer the opportunity to provide occupational therapy interventions for referred clients using evidence based, client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions. To promote and develop the role of Occupational Therapy within the clinical area. To act as a care coordinator if appropriate. Working collaboratively with families, education providers, and multidisciplinary colleagues, you will make a meaningful difference at a critical point in a young person's journey and hope while supporting safe alternatives to hospital admission.

Main duties of the job

Operate as a senior occupational therapy practitioner and manage an appropriate complex clinical caseload.To check JD.

About us

SPFT provides mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex. The trust is rated as 'good' overall and 'outstanding' for caring by the CQC.

SPFT encourage flexible working. We know that a positive work/life balance brings about huge health related benefits, which has a positive impact on the care we provide. Please speak to us about flexible working, for example, flexible start/finish times. If it works for you and works for the role, we'll do our best to make it happen.

You will receive supervision from the CAMHS Occupational Therapy professional lead within the wider CAMHS services and have opportunities to network with Occupational Therapists across Child and Adolescent Mental Health services in Sussex.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation

This is an excellent time for Occupational Therapists to be joining Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust as we have launched our first AHP Strategy and can offer the following to you:

Regular professional supervision

The opportunity to participate in a range of quality improvement work and service innovations.

Access to a wide range of training and CPD opportunities including

oA programme of AHP specific training

oQuarterly Occupational Therapy CPD Hubs

oCommunities of Practice (Recovery through Activity and Sensory Strategies)

Have a look at our AHP strategy and view our film athttps://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/AHP

Details

Date posted

07 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£39,959 to £48,117 a year pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

354-CS-21979

Job locations

Chalkhill

Chalkhill - on the premises of Princess Royal Hospital Site Lewes Road

Haywards Heath West Sussex

RH16 4NQ

United Kingdom


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Registered with HCPC
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced and varied role
  • Able to communicate effectively in complex and challenging circumstances to support professional decision making
  • Adaptable, organised, compassionate and a team player
  • Experienced working in a multi-disciplinary children and young person's environment
  • Experienced working with families who are facing tough times and have a particular affinity for working with young people.

It would also be advantageous if you have your own car as the role will involve direct work with young people and their families in their homes and communities across Sussex.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role.

You will receive supervision from the CAMHS Occupational Therapy professional lead within the wider CAMHS services and have opportunities to network with Occupational Therapists across young people services in Sussex.

The trust

This is an excellent time for Occupational Therapists to be joining Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust as we have launched our first AHP Strategy and can offer the following to you:

  • Regular professional supervision
  • The opportunity to participate in a range of quality improvement work and service innovations.
  • Access to a wide range of training and CPD opportunities including
    • A programme of AHP specific training
    • Quarterly Occupational Therapy CPD Hubs
    • Communities of Practice (AMPS and Sensory Strategies)
  • Have a look at our AHP strategy and view our film athttps://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/AHP

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy
  • Evidence of post graduate level study/training
  • Registration with the HPC as anoccupational therapist
  • Practice Education training
  • Training in the use of standardised occupational therapy assessment tools

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

  • Experience as a qualified occupational therapistin mental health
  • Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
  • Experience of both group and individual work
  • Experience of multidisciplinary working
  • Experience of supervising staff and students
  • Experience as a Care Coordinator
  • Experience in a clinical area related to the post
  • Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of occupational therapy clinical approaches used in mental health

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Chalkhill

Chalkhill - on the premises of Princess Royal Hospital Site Lewes Road

Haywards Heath West Sussex

RH16 4NQ

United Kingdom


Employer's website

https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/


Interested? Apply while it's open. Closes 21 October · Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has 24 other sponsored roles if this one goes.
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Last verified against our ingestion on 8 October 2026; sponsor register dataset 2026-09-25.

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