Professional and Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist

Professional and Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 13 January 2026

We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 7 Lead Occupational Therapist to join our adult community learning disabilities teams in beautiful Cornwall.

Our multidisciplinary teams support adults (18+) with a GP in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, working together to meet the health needs of the whole person. The team includes nurses, support workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, dieticians, and psychiatrists.

As Lead Occupational Therapist, you will be an expert practitioner passionate about helping people with learning disabilities live fulfilling lives. You'll lead and supervise staff, drive service improvements, and manage a complex caseload including mental health needs, physical disabilities, sensory processing difficulties, and behaviours that challenge.

You will provide an occupational therapy focus within the wider multi-disciplinary team and play a key position in the senior leadership team, delivering an effective, evidence-based service. Responsibilities include leadership of OT staff, clinical supervision, appraisals, recruitment, and professional development, as well as supporting practice placements for pre-registration OT students.

This post will be based in the Adult Learning Disability service line, providing professional and clinical leadership for the Occupational Therapy staff. The post holder will be accountable for the professional and clinical performance of Occupational Therapy staff. The post holder will perform an advisory role within Learning Disability Services for all matters relating to Occupational Therapy. The post holder will work with the senior management team to develop and deliver safe and effective services in accordance with national targets, national and local standards, service priorities and performance indicators, ensuring the provision of evidence based occupational therapy assessments and interventions for service users and their families/carers.

The post-holder will be a member of the Trust-wide AHP professional leadership structure, coordinating undergraduate and post-qualification learning, development and CPD for occupational therapy in the service line and representing occupational therapy at relevant operational and corporate meetings. The post holder will maintain their clinical skills through the provision of direct face-to-face complex clinical work. Maintaining a highly complex caseload and using highly developed specialist knowledge and skills to ensure a high standard of professional assessment, treatment and care of patients.

We're an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people's physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.

Over 4,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 13 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increase the numbers of people who use out services.

To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see supporting documents.

This job is currently only open to people who already work for the NHS in Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly. We are committed to supporting our dedicated staff, so only current employees of the following organisations can apply:

• Cornwall Foundation Trust
• Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
• Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board

If you do not currently work for one of these NHS organisations, your application will not be considered at this time.

• Diploma/ degree in occupational therapy
• Current registration with HCPC
• Evidence of post graduate training in specialist assessment and treatment approaches for people with a learning disability, eg; AMPS, MOHO, SI.
• Extensive experience in adult learning disabilities settings
• Experience of managing and supervising other qualified staff
• Masters level qualification or equivalent
• Qualification in coaching and mentoring
• Experience of research and audit

• Highly developed clinical…