The closing date is 1st Sep 2026
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Anticipated Interview date(s) 11/9/2026
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Job summary
We are seeking an enthusiastic, experienced and motivated Occupational Therapist to join our Allied Health Professional (AHP) Leadership Team within Adult and Older Persons' Mental Health Services across Portsmouth and South East Hampshire. As an AHP Team Lead, you will provide professional and managerial leadership to our AHP Therapy Team and Personality, Trauma and Response (PTR) Team. Working across inpatient and community services, you will support and develop Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, AHP Support Staff, Activity Coordinators and Peer Support Workers, helping to deliver safe, effective and person-centred care for adults and older people experiencing mental health difficulties.
This is an exciting opportunity to influence service delivery, support workforce development and contribute to the ongoing growth of AHP services within a large and dynamic mental health division. We pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and collaborative culture, underpinned by visible and compassionate leadership. In return, we offer regular clinical and managerial supervision, peer support and a strong commitment to professional development.
In recognition of our commitment to workforce development, innovation and high-quality patient care, our AHP services were honoured with the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer Workforce Award 2025. We continue to build on this success as we strengthen and develop services for adults and older people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
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Main duties, tasks & skills required
Why Join Us? We are a friendly, established and forward-thinking AHP team that values collaboration, innovation and continuous learning. As AHP Team Lead, you will shape practice, drive service improvement and champion the role of AHPs in mental health services, while leading and managing staff to make a meaningful difference for adults and older people accessing our services.
This rewarding role offers the opportunity to:
- Lead, manage and develop Occupational Therapists, Allied Health Professionals and Support Staff across Adult and Older Persons' Mental Health Services.
- Provide professional leadership, supervision and workforce development within inpatient and community settings.
- Drive service improvement and innovation through the use of audit, outcome measures and service user feedback.
- Support effective caseload management and patient flow across mental health pathways.
- Represent the AHP workforce within operational, governance and service development forums.
- Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues, partner organisations and external agencies to improve outcomes for service users.
- Support student education, practice placements and the development of future AHP professionals.
- Contribute to clinical governance, professional standards and wider AHP initiatives across the Trust.
- There is scope to work clinically where appropriate, to support direct patient care and clinical leadership.
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About us
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides joined-up mental and physical healthcare for around two million people across our communities. With over 13,000 staff working in the community and local hospitals, we deliver care at every stage of life, helping people live their best and healthiest lives.
Our mental health services include community-based support and early intervention in psychosis (EIP) for both adults and young people, alongside a network of specialist inpatient wards covering forensic, learning disability, eating disorder and older person's care.
We deliver extensive physical health services too, from urgent community response teams helping frail and older patients remain safely at home, to hospitals at home teams providing acute-level care in familiar surroundings. Our neurological services offer rehabilitation and treatment for conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Head Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. Across Hampshire, our community hospitals provide inpatient rehabilitation as a step down from acute care, and our dedicated teams also staff Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Portsmouth, offering expert, compassionate support.
Everything we do is underpinned by our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect and excellence
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Job description
Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.
Flexible Working - We understand that flexibility matters. We are happy to discuss flexible working options and encourage candidates to raise these during the recruitment and interview process.
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Person specification
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Qualifications
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Essential
- Degree-level qualification in the relevant Allied Health Profession - Occupational Therapy.
- Current HCPC registration as an Occupational Therapist.
- Evidence of leadership or management qualification, training and/or equivalent experience.
At present, the Trust is unable to offer Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.
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Desirable
Evidence of study at Masters' level or working towards this qualification relevant to area of practice.
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Experience
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Essential
- Significant post-registration experience within mental health services.
- Experience of working in complex clinical environments and making decisions in challenging, unpredictable situations.
- Proven clinical leadership and presentation skills.
- Knowledge of the Clinical Governance Framework and implementation for service delivery.
- Knowledge of professional standards, codes of conduct and current mental health policy.
- Knowledge of supervision, reflective practice and staff development.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act.
- Knowledge of national agendas relevant to mental health and AHP practice.
- Experience of working autonomously, managing competing priorities and supporting teams effectively.
- Competence in using clinical systems, digital tools and management information systems.
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Desirable
- Experience supporting student practice placement education.
- Experience delivering teaching, training or professional development programmes.
- Knowledge of local health and care strategies.
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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.
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UK Professional Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
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For help with your application, contact:
Su Ho
[email protected]
03001233922
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Pay scheme
Agenda for Change
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Band
Band 7
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Salary
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£47810.00 to £54710.00 Yearly
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Contract
Permanent
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Working pattern
Part-Time, Flexible Working
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Reference number
348-PSE-12282
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Job locations
The Limes, St James' Hospital
Woodlands Walk
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO4 8GB
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Attachments
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Job Description
AHP Team Lead JDPS.pdf – 288KB Opens in a new window
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Additional document 1
EmployeeBenefits_hiowh_v1-compressed_3.pdf – 1001KB Opens in a new window
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