Senior Forensic Occupational Therapist with certificate of sponsorship to the UK
Visa Note
While this employer offers certificate of sponsorship, international applicants must verify their visa eligibility directly with the employer. The certificate of sponsorship does not guarantee visa approval, and applicants should confirm specific visa requirements, costs, and processing times with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust before applying.
Job Details
Company: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Location: River House, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham, BR3 3BX
Job Title: Senior Forensic Occupational Therapist
Salary: £44,485 to £52,521 per annum inclusive of outer HCAs
Employment Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full-time
Reference Number: 334-CLI-7740262-B
Application Deadline: 17 May 2026
About the Role
South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a passionate and innovative Occupational Therapist to join our supportive forensic inpatient team at River House. This full-time Band 6 position offers an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of service users within our forensic mental health services.
We are recruiting three Band 6 Occupational Therapists: two substantive positions and one maternity cover position. As a valued member of our multidisciplinary team, you’ll take a lead role in coordinating therapeutic activities and delivering evidence-based interventions grounded in the Model of Human Occupation and sensory-based approaches.
Your work will support service users through their recovery journeys and help shape safe, effective discharge plans. This role is perfect for Occupational Therapists who are looking to develop their skills in forensic mental health settings while working with a diverse and friendly team.
Why Join Us?
Joining our Occupational Therapy team means becoming part of a supportive, multidisciplinary environment that values innovation and professional growth. We offer creative, therapeutic approaches tailored to service users’ needs, providing meaningful opportunities for professional development.
You’ll have the chance to play a key role in supporting recovery and independence while working with men and women who have a range of mental health problems and a history of offending behavior. Our team is diverse and friendly, comprising Occupational Therapists, OT Technicians, OT Assistants, Clinical Exercise Instructors, and Education Tutors.
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer with a range of accreditations including Disability Confident Employer, Stonewall Silver Employer 2022, Living Wage Employer, and CQC Good rating. Our commitment to staff development and wellbeing makes us an excellent choice for your career progression.
Key Responsibilities
As an Occupational Therapist in our service, you will be part of a multi-professional clinical team and carry a caseload in various pathways including A2 (Acute pathway), Specialist, ARP (Assertive rehab pathway), or OPD pathway (Offender Personality Disorder).
You will support the delivery of specialist assessments and recovery-focused, occupation-based interventions in line with Royal College of Occupational Therapy national practice guidance. This includes taking on clinical leadership for specific hubs and supporting innovation and ongoing service development.
There will also be opportunities to support various involvement projects within the service and the Forensic Recovery College. You will coordinate a varied therapeutic activity program in partnership with the ward Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) and serve as the ward link OT and key contributor to the Recovery Hub.
About Our Service
Our Occupational Therapy team offers a range of Recovery Hub-based interventions, including Remotivation, Vocation and Employability, Physical Activities and Health Promotion, Creative Arts, and Education. We have a café and library that form the basis for our commercial vocation schemes and have well-established links with mainstream employers and community vocation projects.
We work in partnership with CALAT (Croydon Adult Learning and Training) to offer a range of accredited qualifications delivered in-house. The service is mainly based at the Bethlem Royal Hospital, where we support service users within medium and low levels of security in River House and Chaffinch ward.
In addition, we support service users at Ward in the Community, based on the Lambeth Hospital site in Clapham. We work with men and women who have a range of mental health problems and a history of offending behavior, which have brought them into contact with the criminal justice system.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential:
- Qualified and HCPC registered Occupational Therapist
- Post registration experience as an OT
Desirable:
- Post-registration qualification in related area
- Practice Placement Educator course
- Membership of OT professional body and/or special interest group
Experience
Essential:
- Post registration experience as an OT
- Working with mental health service users (pre or post qualification)
- Advising and supporting/supervising junior staff and students
- Experience of audit, research and clinical governance procedures and their application in practice
>li>Extensive clinical experience including individual and group work
Desirable:
- Preceptorship programme
- Experience of working in an inner-city, multi-cultural environment
- Experience of working with people with challenging behaviors
- Experience of specialist Mental Health settings
- Leadership and first line management experience
Knowledge and Skills
Essential:
- High level understanding of Mental Health disorders and treatment models
- Working knowledge of the principles of CPA (Care Programme Approach)
li>Detailed knowledge of legislation relevant to Mental Health and Specialist practice
li>Extensive knowledge of the principles of risk assessment and risk management
li>Specialist knowledge and application of OT assessments and interventions relevant to client group
Desirable:
- Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
li>Commitment to OT student education
li>Skills in applying evidence-based practice and use of outcome measures
li>Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues
Additional Requirements
Essential:
-
li>Demonstrate a commitment to life-long learning
li>Flexible approach to work to meet service user and service needs
li>Must be prepared to work evenings and weekends if required and ability to travel efficiently between sites
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. The employer is able to offer a Certificate of Sponsorship to eligible candidates.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must 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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website for overseas health professionals.
How to Apply
Apply Instructions: Apply via NHS Jobs website.
International applicants should follow these steps:
- Verify your eligibility for a Skilled Worker visa with the UK Visas and Immigration website
li>Gather required documents including proof of qualifications, professional registration, and criminal record certificates
li>Prepare a comprehensive CV and cover letter highlighting your relevant experience
li>Submit your application through the NHS Jobs website before the closing date
li>Contact the employer directly if you have questions about visa sponsorship requirements
Contact Information
Contact Person: Sarah Cook and Miriam Pucyutan (Joint Professional Heads of Occupational Therapy)
Email: miriam.pucyutan@slam.nhs.uk
Phone: 02032288400
Employer Website: https://www.slam.nhs.uk/
Privacy Notice
Please review South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust’s privacy notice at https://www.slam.nhs.uk/about-us/privacy-and-gdpr/ for information on how your data will be used during the recruitment process.
Supporting Documents
Job description and person specification documents are available for download from the NHS Jobs website.