Perinatal Occupational Therapist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Fixed-term
- Pattern
- Part-time
- Posted
- 07/09/2026
- Closes
- 28/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This role is for an experienced Occupational Therapist to join the Essex Perinatal Mental Health Service. The post holder will work within a multidisciplinary team, providing high-quality OT interventions to mothers experiencing mental health difficulties during the perinatal period. Responsibilities include managing a complex caseload, conducting assessments, and collaborating with external services to support improved mental and physical health for mothers and their families. The therapist will operate autonomously, maintaining professional competence in line with HCPC regulations.
Essential criteria
- HCPC Registration
- OT BSc/MSc Degree
- Car driver with full access to vehicle
- Knowledge & Skills
- At least 2 years post qualified
- Safeguarding experience in both adult and children
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in the community
- Experience of Working with those with Mental Health needs
- Experience of Working in Perinatal Mental Health Services
- Experience of supervising OT students
- Experience setting up and running OT groups
- Job description
- Job responsibilities
- To apply highly specialist OT clinical knowledge in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of women in the perinatal period. Applying an understanding of the effects of multiple, enduring and complex mental health needs on Occupational Performance within a parenting role.
- To hold a caseload of women in the Perinatal period who have identified areas of difficulty in relation to function and Occupational Performance and to work collaboratively with Perinatal Practitioners, Psychology, Perinatal Social Workers, Support Workers, Nursery Nurse and Psychiatrists when required.
- To conduct both single handed and joint high quality mental health assessments as required to identify mental health needs for people referred to the Perinatal Mental Health Service.
- To ensure risks are effectively managed and interventions are effectively prioritised.
- To ensure the monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of Occupational Therapy interventions, and agreed mental health and parent-infant interventions against clear aims.
- To ensure care plans are developed in partnership with service users and that they reflect personal recovery goals focused on improving Occupational Performance. These should be strength-based and oriented towards reinforcing a positive identity and developing valued social roles.
- To facilitate smooth transitions for service users between primary and secondary care services where required. Establishing links and working in collaboration with partner agencies in order to contribute and manage aspects of an individuals care plan.
- HCPC Registration
- OT BSc/MSc Degree
- Car driver with full access to vehicle
- Knowledge & Skills
- At least 2 years post qualified
- Safeguarding experience in both adult and children
- Experience of working in the community
- Experience of Working with those with Mental Health needs
- Experience of Working in Perinatal Mental Health Services
- Experience of supervising OT students
- Experience setting up and running OT groups
- Qualifications & Professional Registration
- HCPC Registration
- OT BSc/MSc Degree
- Skills & Experience
- At least 2 years post qualification experience.
- Experience of carrying out individual interventions and group work.
- Experience of Working with those with Mental Health Needs.
- Experience of Working in Perinatal Mental Health Services.
- Qualifications & Professional Registration
- HCPC Registration
- OT BSc/MSc Degree
- Skills & Experience
- At least 2 years post qualification experience.
- Experience of carrying out individual interventions and group work.
- Experience of Working with those with Mental Health Needs.
- Experience of Working in Perinatal Mental Health Services.
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £39,959 – £48,117 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 21d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Perinatal Occupational Therapist
The closing date is 28 September 2026
Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Occupational Therapist to join our small Occupational Therapy team, within the Essex Perinatal Mental Health Service. The post holder will work closely as part as multidisciplinary team within our South West & East Essex hubs, contributing to the care and support of mothers experiencing mental health difficulties within the perinatal period.
Main duties of the job
You will be clinically responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality Occupational Therapy while working collaboratively within the wider MDT.
You will manage a caseload of women in the perinatal period with complex, severe and enduring mental health needs, providing Occupational Therapy interventions which support and promote improved mental and physical health for mothers, their babies and wider family.
You will actively liaise with and work alongside external partner services such as Primary Care, Maternity services, Health Visiting, Adult and Children's Social Care and Community Mental Health Services.
As an autonomous therapist, you will manage your own caseload and exercise professional judgment without direct supervision. You will also be expected to maintain and develop your professional competence in line
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