Occupational Therapist

Helping others improve and turn their lives around – there’s no better feeling. It’s what we do for thousands of people at more than 150 sites across the UK. Be a part of it.

Would you like to explore a rewarding career experience as an Occupational Therapist?

Cygnet Health Care was established in 1988 as an independent provider of health and social care services in England, Scotland and Wales.

Occupational Therapist (Band 5/Newly Qualified)

Working hours:

40 Hours per week
Salary: from £31,317 per year

Contract duration: 12 month FTC

Start date:

April 2026
Service Line:
Mental health Rehabilitation

Location:

Cygnet Hospital Colchester, Boxted Rd, Mile End, Colchester CO4 5HF

Responsible to:
Head of Occupational Therapy and Regional Lead Occupational Therapist

Cygnet Hospital Colchester is a 59 bed service providing a range of intensive support and rehabilitation services for men with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders or mental health needs.

The aim of our services is assessment, stabilisation, treatment and engagement, with a view to supporting service users in the least restrictive environment appropriate to their needs. Our services are recovery-focused, with the aim of preparing individuals for a move to rehabilitation or step-down services, and ultimately, back into the community wherever possible.

The team at Colchester consists of nurses, psychologists, psychology assistants, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and psychiatrists as well as 24/7 support from the nursing team. This means that we are able to meet the changing needs of our service users as they progress through their care pathway, while ensuring their safety is maintained and their independence supported.

You would be responsible for the assessment and treatment of occupational dysfunction for patients on your allocated caseload, including the delivery of person centred group and individual therapy sessions. You will work with a full multidisciplinary team in a coordinated way to support each service user to develop their skills and move through our clinical model of care from admission to discharge.

You will have the support of an Occupational Therapy team. You will receive regular clinical supervision from an experienced Occupational Therapist on-site, including weekly 1:1 check in’s.

You would report directly to the Head Occupational Therapist on site. You would also hold leadership and management responsibilities of the Occupational Therapy service of your allocated ward providing clinical and managerial supervision for an Occupational Therapy Assistant.

Under the leadership of our occupational therapy directors we support over 170 Occupational Therapists and supported by occupational therapy assistants. Working together as a large team we provide support to each other across the group, with the opportunity to be part of specialist interest groups & become involved in service development.

Every service line has a clinical lead occupational therapist to lead and develop evidence based practice and agreed occupational therapy pathway.

We ensure our occupational therapy team members have a voice through participating in service model development, utilising the expertise and support of our clinical lead occupational therapists.

• A registered Occupational Therapist with the HCPC (Health Care Professions Council).
• An experience of working with individuals diagnosed with mental health
• An understanding of Occupational Therapy process/ interventions and can take a “hands on” approach.
• Excellent communication and time management skills
• Passionate about student education
• Ability to manage highly demanding clinical presentation
• Interest in the field of adult mental health

Cygnet encourages applications from newly qualified, or soon to be qualified, Occupational Therapists. Cygnet is a great place to launch your career in Occupational Therapy, offering lots of learning opportunities and support. We provide a monthly Band 5 development programme, a…