Senior Occupational Therapist

Overview

Job title: Senior Occupational Therapist (Adult Acute Services) – The Cedars, Exeter. We are recruiting two Senior Occupational Therapists to join the Adult Acute Services at The Cedars, Exeter, which comprises two 16-bed acute inpatient wards (Delderfield and Coombehaven) providing specialist assessment, care and treatment for adults with severe or complex mental health needs. We are seeking OTs passionate about recovery-focused, evidence-based practice who can shape therapeutic interventions, lead occupationally focused assessments and contribute to a collaborative MDT culture.

Creativity is central to our approach, and we champion the therapeutic use of activity as a vital part of mental health recovery. This is an excellent opportunity to broaden your experience, step into senior responsibilities and apply your specialist skills to support individuals during acute phases of their mental health journey. You will work within an OT provision that includes a Band 6 OT, Band 5 OT and OTAs in each ward, forming an expanding and dynamic MDT.

We are looking for individuals dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where people feel they belong and have meaningful ways to spend their day.

Details

Date posted: 06 March 2026
• Band 6
• Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
•

Contract:

Permanent
• Working pattern:
Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working
•

Location:

The Cedars, Dryden Road, Exeter, Devon, EX2 5SN

About Us

Devon Partnership NHS Trust provides mental health and learning disability services, along with specialist and secure services for the wider southwest region and nationally. We promote good mental health and wellbeing and strive to deliver high quality services that are safe and recovery-focused. We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of protected characteristics.

We encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health and learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Employer.

Our values

We recruit for qualifications and experience and also for behaviours that underpin the core values of our organisation—quality of care, improving lives, respect, dignity and compassion. We value kindness, time for people, openness to new ideas, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Actively shapes and assesses the OT Pathway within Acute Inpatient Services, deputising for the Occupational Therapy Manager while maintaining a clinical caseload and engaging with the multidisciplinary team.
• Share specialist skills to enhance patient care quality and effectiveness.
• Apply evidence-based, client-centred principles to design, implement, and review group and individual interventions, embedding the Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability (VdT MoCA) across Acute Services.
• Support the OT process for individuals with complex biopsychosocial needs.
• Advocate for patients' rights and equal access to recovery-supporting opportunities, addressing occupational discrimination related to mental health.
• Role model the OT approach within the multidisciplinary team with strong awareness of mental health care and ward culture.
• Contribute to occupational therapy service development through clinical governance, including audits.
• Provide leadership and management to Band 5 OTs and OT support staff under the supervision of the Advanced Occupational Therapist, as part of the Senior OT role.
• Deliver OT interventions as part of the MDT to maximise independence in self-care, productivity and leisure.

Qualifications and experience

• Essential
  :
  Diploma/degree in Occupational Therapy; evidence of further training with emphasis on mental health.
• Experience
  :
  Substantive post-graduate experience in a range of mental health settings; experience supervising staff.
• Desirable
  :
  Short specialist courses to Masters level; experience leading service development; experience in Urgent Inpatient care.
• Knowledge and skills
  :
  Evidence of ongoing professional development; sound knowledge of current OT theory and practice; highly developed communication and interpersonal skills; ability to present information clearly both verbally and in writing; ability to manage complex and emotionally charged situations; flexibility and adaptability; professional judgement; leadership skills; ability to engage and motivate individuals during acute illness; ability to plan and deliver service change;
  
  confidentiality, empathy and patient-centred approach; commitment to Trust Visions and Values. Desirable: ability to think quickly and calmly in emergencies.

Additional information

Applications from job seekers who require Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered. Current UK professional registration is required. This role is with Devon Partnership NHS Trust.