Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and innovative Occupational Therapist to join HPFT as the Mental Health Occupational Therapy Professional Lead for our new Experts at Hand (EaH) service.

EaH is a jointly delivered early-help model funded by Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and developed in partnership with HCT. The service is evolving to provides structured, consistent support to children, young people, staff and systems across mainstream educational settings (0-25), bringing together OTs, SaLTs, EPs and specialist teachers.

We are seeking a highly skilled Mental Health OT with strong leadership capability and substantial experience in CYP mental health. You will shape and embed the Mental Health (MH) OT offer within EaH, lead the MH OT team, and ensure high-quality, evidence-based assessment and intervention.

You will thrive in a collaborative, multi-agency environment and be passionate about improving participation, emotional wellbeing and functional outcomes for children and young people.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a new, high-impact model that will shape early-help support across Hertfordshire. If you are ready for a strategic leadership role and want to make a meaningful difference, we would welcome your application.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will play a key role in shaping and embedding the Experts at Hand (EaH) model, leading the development of the Mental Health Occupational Therapy offer and providing professional leadership to the MH OT team to ensure service priorities are delivered effectively.

Working as part of the EaH team, the postholder will ensure that Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention are well-managed, evidence-based and delivered in line with professional standards and best practice. The role includes supporting high-quality clinical delivery across mainstream educational settings and contributing to service development, quality improvement and workforce capability.

The postholder will work closely with HPFT Mental Health OTs, HCT Sensory and Functional OTs, SaLTs, EPs, specialist teachers, assistants, MHSTs and mainstream education settings, as well as wider system partners across health, education and social care.

This role provides a unique opportunity to lead a new, funded, system-wide model that strengthens early intervention and improves outcomes for children and young people across Hertfordshire.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from theCare Quality Commission.

Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Details

Date posted

23 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£59,798 to £67,020 a year per annum, pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

367-CYP-101723

Job locations

Rosanne House, Parkway, Welwyn Garden City, Herts , AL8 6HG

Rosanne House, Parkway, Welwyn Garden City, Herts , AL8 6HG

Welwyn Garden City

AL8 6HG

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the full details of the JD/PS attached. The word limit here is capped at 100 characters so I am unable to copy and paste it.

Job description Job responsibilities Please see the full details of the JD/PS attached. The word limit here is capped at 100 characters so I am unable to copy and paste it.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc/MSc/PG Dip Occupational Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of clinical post registration training
• Practice Placement qualification/APPLE accreditation

Desirable

• Membership of RCOT, including specialist section
• Solution Focussed Brief Therapy training
• AMPS/ESI/SI training

Experience

Essential

• Post registration experience working with children, young people and their families with occupational performance challenges and sensory needs at clinical B7 level
• Understanding and knowledge of English school systems and the SEND reforms.
• Highly Specialist knowledge and experience of using and applying the Model of Human Occupation assessment tools, or others appropriate to area.
• Experience of other specialist Occupational Therapy assessment tools, e.g. AMPS, Pool Activity Levels

Desirable

• Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disability in a variety of health and social care settings
• Previous experience of having worked at Band 8A level

Person Specification Qualifications Essential BSc/MSc/PG Dip Occupational Therapy HCPC registration Evidence of clinical post registration training Practice Placement qualification/APPLE accreditation Desirable Membership of RCOT, including specialist section Solution Focussed Brief Therapy training AMPS/ESI/SI training Experience Essential Post registration experience working with children, young people and their families with occupational performance challenges and sensory needs at clinical B7 level Understanding and knowledge of English school systems and the SEND reforms. Highly Specialist knowledge and experience of using and applying the Model of Human Occupation assessment tools, or others appropriate to area. Experience of other specialist Occupational Therapy assessment tools, e.g. AMPS, Pool Activity Levels Desirable Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disability in a variety of health and social care settings Previous experience of having worked at Band 8A level

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.

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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to 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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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. 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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to 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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Rosanne House, Parkway, Welwyn Garden City, Herts , AL8 6HG

Rosanne House, Parkway, Welwyn Garden City, Herts , AL8 6HG

Welwyn Garden City

AL8 6HG

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Rosanne House, Parkway, Welwyn Garden City, Herts , AL8 6HG

Rosanne House, Parkway, Welwyn Garden City, Herts , AL8 6HG

Welwyn Garden City

AL8 6HG

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)