Specialist Occupational Therapist

Job Summary

Our Southport & Fomby Urgent and Intermediate Care therapy team are seeking committed Band 6 Occupational Therapists to join our service, supporting patients through shared care within their localities. The role focuses on rehabilitation needs of adults 18+ with complex co‑morbidities or discharge support from hospital settings. The Urgent Community Response service (UCR), Care Transfer Hub and Intermediate Care Bed Base services operate 7 days a week, including bank holidays.

All staff rotate through UCR, Care Transfer Hub and Intermediate Care Bed Bases, working alongside the full multidisciplinary team to cover weekends on a rotational basis. We collaborate across Integrated Care Systems to maximise patient independence and prevent hospital admissions.

The post holder will effectively manage a caseload of patients’ co‑morbidities as an autonomous practitioner, using evidence‑based, patient‑centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions. The post holder will provide leadership for junior staff through supervision and appraisal, participate in planning, development and evaluation of OT services, hold responsibility for defined projects, and take a holistic approach in assessment and treatment.

The post holder works in partnership with other professionals to enable patients to remain in an appropriate environment, supporting the development of the occupational therapy profession and facilitating effective learning for students and practitioners.

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical, mental and specialist inpatient services across North West, North Wales and the Midlands, serving more than 1.4 million people. We offer specialist inpatient and community services for physical and mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury, and are one of only three UK trusts with high‑secure mental health facilities. Our commitment is to 'perfect care' – safe, effective, equitable and efficient – and we support staff to design and develop future services collaboratively.

Date Posted: 08 October 2025

Pay Scheme: Agenda for Change

Band: Band 6

Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full‑time

Reference Number: 350‑CC7073397‑D

Job Location: 5 Curzon Road, Southport, PR8 9PL

• Undertake comprehensive holistic assessments and devise treatment plans individualised to patient needs.
• Gain consent through engaging patients/clients, enabling choice throughout the therapy journey.
• Prioritise OT referrals according to need, risk and service capacity.
• Plan and implement patient‑centred interventions, using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals including sensory integration difficulties in ward/rehabilitation hub setting.
• Monitor, evaluate and modify treatment to measure progress and ensure effectiveness.
• Provide leadership, expertise and clinical advice within the team.
• Develop and review care plans in collaboration with family, carers, GPs and other professionals.
• Lead risk management planning for service users and ensure plan implementation.
• Lead systematic monitoring and evaluation of service users under the sector’s responsibility.
• Ensure high standards in OT activity delivery and comply with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics.
• Use de‑escalation skills for aggressive or distressed service users and liaise with team manager for incident follow‑up.
• Participate in and lead service‑user reviews and develop care plans that sustain optimum health independence.
• Demonstrate understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and relevant statutory guidance.

• Relevant professional OT qualification.
• Current UK HPC registration.

• Fieldwork Educators certificate.
• Post‑graduate accredited study (e.g., PSI, CBT, MSc in relevant health studies).

• Previous experience in relevant health settings.
• Experience supervising staff.
• Effective team working within a multi‑agency framework.
• Experience in service development.
• Experience using both group and individual treatment skills.
• Demonstrated…