Occupational Therapist

Job summary We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated, forward thinking Occupational Therapist to join the Mental Health Complex Care Service for a 12 month secondment. The service incorporates inpatient rehabilitation, community rehabilitation and the assertive outreach teams. You would be based at Nightingale House which is a level one, mental health rehabilitation unit based in Westbourne, Bournemouth. This is a full time post, 37.5 hours working across Monday - Friday. The focus of the unit is in supporting people to progress on their recovery journey, building functional skills, exploring community resources and working towards independent living. If you are flexible, recovery focused, self-motivated with good communication and organisational skills this is a chance for you to join our team. Main duties of the job You will be responsible for providing occupational therapy assessment and intervention to a 13 bedded, mixed rehabilitation ward. You will be a key part of the multi-disciplinary team, inputting into clinical discussions and the service development of the unit. You will work closely with the OT based within the community rehabilitation team on transitions and discharge planning. You will be a committed, dynamic, motivated professional with excellent communication, organisational skills and the ability to prioritise your work. You should have recent experience of working in a mental health environment and be able to apply the philosophies of engagement and recovery in your work with service users. About us At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost800,000 people. We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities. Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves. Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to create healthier lives, empowered citizens and thriving communities. Details Date posted 30 September 2026 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 6 Salary £39,959 to £48,117 a year p.a. Contract Fixed term Duration 12 months Working pattern Full-time Reference number 152-M330.26 Job locations Nightingale House 49 Alumhurst Road Bournemouth BH4 8EP United Kingdom Job description Job responsibilities For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post. We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidates individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role. All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application. As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net. This is a fixed term role and for those with current NHS service, the role will be offered on a secondment basis only. Please obtain permi