Head of Therapies/ Occupational Therapist

Come and join one of the UK’s largest providers in complex care. We proudly employ over 4000+ people - no matter what your experience, we have jobs for everyone.

Active Care Group is one of the UK's leading providers of specialist care and support, delivering high-quality services for adults and young people with complex needs. We are committed to delivering person-centred care that supports recovery. With a strong focus on clinical excellence, compassion, and continuous improvement, we invest in our people through ongoing training, career development, and a positive, inclusive working culture.

At Holybourne Hospital, we provide intensive mental health treatment within a safe and compassionate environment for adults aged 18 and over who are experiencing a mental health crisis with severe and complex conditions. Our focus is on helping service users stabilise, develop insight, build coping strategies, and make meaningful progress in their recovery.

The Therapy Team includes Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Art Therapies.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Occupational Therapist to lead this dedicated and friendly multidisciplinary team at Holybourne Hospital on a full-time basis. This is a 37.5-hour-per-week, site-based role that combines clinical and managerial responsibilities. The role also sits within the hospital's wider Senior Management Team (SMT).

As Head of Therapies, you will lead and manage the Therapy Team, ensuring the delivery of high-quality specialist assessments, treatments, and therapeutic interventions. Working closely with the multidisciplinary team (MDT), you will promote clinical excellence, support service development, contribute to governance and research activities, and ensure the delivery of evidence-based, person-centred care.

You will provide expert clinical leadership, oversee therapy programmes, support staff development, and ensure services are aligned with best practice, evidence-based care, and organisational objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical

As an HCPC-registered Occupational Therapist, you will:

• Work alongside a highly skilled, collaborative team to deliver a wide range of evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
• Provide comprehensive therapeutic assessments to support the multidisciplinary team's diagnosis, formulation, and care planning.
• Deliver occupational therapy assessments using a variety of methods, including functional assessments, sensory profiling, observation, interviews, and standardised outcome measures.
• Develop and embed the Occupational Therapy model within the existing service framework.
• Work closely with the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to manage risk, guide treatment, and support patients' wellbeing and recovery.
• Advise on and facilitate the use and interpretation of validated clinical assessment tools to monitor patient progress across the wards.
• Administer and interpret assessments of cognitive and emotional functioning.
• Support the MDT's understanding of patients' psychological, social, and functional needs to ensure appropriate intervention planning.
• In conjunction with the MDT, provide evidence-based psychological and occupational therapy interventions on both an individual and group basis.
• Actively participate in MDT meetings, keeping colleagues informed of therapy interventions and patient progress.
• Ensure referrers, patients, carers, and families are kept informed of therapeutic treatment plans and progress.
• Plan, develop, and deliver group therapy programmes alongside other disciplines, including nursing.
• Advise on patients' future therapy needs and liaise with community providers to support safe discharge planning.

Training and Supervision

• Closely supervise the clinical work of members of the Therapy Team to ensure assessments and interventions reflect current best practice.
• Provide peer supervision to members of the MDT where appropriate.
• Promote a greater understanding of psychological therapies through hospital education seminars and other learning opportunities.
• Co-facilitate group therapy programmes or supervise clinicians undertaking this role.
• Participate in regular meetings with the Medical Director to ensure therapy services continue to meet the needs of the hospital and reflect Active Care Group values.

Administrative

• Ensure professional standards are maintained in line with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), and other relevant regulatory body requirements, as well as Active Care Group policies.
• Ensure the work of the Therapy Department is informed by current evidence-based practice, research, and Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) professional guidance.
• Monitor the effectiveness of therapy interventions through clinical audit and quality assurance processes.
• Ensure the Therapy Team's performance and conduct align with organisational objectives.
• Support the continuing professional development of all members of the Therapy Team.

 

Research

• Promote and actively participate in clinical audit, research, and service development initiatives.

Management

• Lead and manage the Therapy Team, including performance, conduct, timekeeping, training, supervision, and annual leave.
• Be accountable to the Hospital Director.
• Advise the Clinical Governance Committee and Senior Management Team on therapy staffing levels and skill mix.
• Ensure therapy interventions meet patients' needs and reflect best practice, including National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.
• Contribute as a member of the SMT to clinical governance and the ongoing development of therapy services across the hospital.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain your own continuing professional development in line with HCPC requirements and the company's Personal Development Plan.
• Keep up to date with developments in professional practice, clinical guidance, legislation, and policy. Comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics, relevant professional guidance, and Active Care Group policies and procedures.
• Maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing.

Other Duties

• Undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required in response to changing service needs, as requested by the Medical Director or Hospital Manager.

About you:

• HCPC-registered Occupational Therapist with extensive post-qualification experience.
• Advanced clinical expertise within an inpatient mental health setting.
• Proven ability to lead, inspire, and develop multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in assessment, admissions, care pathway management, and outcome measurement.
• Passionate about innovation, rehabilitation, and improving patient outcomes.
• Experience in service development and continuous quality improvement.
• Involvement in clinical audit and research.
• Experience contributing at senior leadership or management level.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
• Successful candidates will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check.

What to look forward to:

• 25 days plus bank holidays
• Birthday off
• Join the Active Learning Hub and benefit from a wide range of e learning and face to face training and development opportunities
• Benefits Hub giving discounts and savings on your weekly shop
• Free 24 hour confidential Employee Assistance Programme Helpline & App to support with legal, health, wellbeing, relationship and consumer advice
• A Nest Personal Pension account
• Access to join a Medicash Health Plan for you and your family to save money on everyday health essentials – like going to the dentist or opticians
• We recognise outstanding Active Behaviours via the Active Awards programme
• Enhanced Sick & Maternity Pay benefits
• Refer a Friend Scheme and earn yourself up to £1500 by recommending someone you know
• ……and, of course, the support and guidance of our qualified clinical and business leadership teams so that you can really develop your career with Active Care Group

Take a look around the company https://activecaregroup.co.uk/