Step Into a Role Where You Can Shape the Future of Forensic Occupational Therapy
Are you an Occupational Therapist who thrives on creativity, autonomy, and meaningful clinical challenge? Do you want the opportunity to help shape and develop occupational therapy within a growing forensic community service?
This is not a traditional Band 6 role. This is an opportunity to help build and lead the occupational therapy contribution within our Forensic Outreach and Liaison Service, supporting individuals with complex mental health needs and forensic histories as they transition from secure inpatient settings into community life.
We are looking for an innovative, motivated, and compassionate Occupational Therapist who can think analytically, work creatively within a multidisciplinary team, and help develop a service that truly bridges secure care and community recovery.
Working alongside our inpatient secure unit AHP teams and the wider FOLS MDT, you will play a vital role in creating patient-focused intervention pathways that support sustainable discharge, meaningful recovery, and successful reintegration into the community.
If you are looking for a role where you can innovate, influence, and make a meaningful difference every day, we would love to hear from you.
Apply today and help shape the future of forensic occupational therapy within community services.
This is an exciting opportunity to support individuals at a crucial stage of their recovery journey and help build a service that truly connects inpatient rehabilitation with successful community living.
This role offers a rare opportunity to work from a “blank canvas” and help shape the future direction of occupational therapy within forensic outreach services.
As a Band 6 Occupational Therapist within FOLS, you will:
- Develop and strengthen the OT contribution within FOLS
- Help design innovative and occupation-focused pathways of care
- Work collaboratively across inpatient and community services to support continuity of rehabilitation
- Support service users to build the practical, functional, and social skills needed for successful community living
- Influence MDT thinking through occupational formulation and functional assessment
- Contribute to service development, quality improvement, and innovation within forensic mental health services
This role requires someone who is comfortable working with complexity, ambiguity, and evolving service models, whilst maintaining a strong focus on compassionate, person-centred care.
The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all-age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.
Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.
Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It’s why we’re passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident.
Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that’s working well together.
Please refer to the attached job description for full details and main responsibilities of the role.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Deliver specialist occupational therapy assessments and interventions for individuals with complex forensic and mental health needs
- Work closely with inpatient secure unit AHPs to create joined-up rehabilitation and discharge plans that support continuity of care from secure services into the community
- Support service users to develop the practical, functional, and social skills needed for successful and sustainable community living
- Deliver interventions focused on:
Functional daily living skills
Community integration and social inclusion
Digital literacy and safe use of technology
Financial literacy and budgeting skills
Vocational, educational, and meaningful activity engagement
Development of healthy routines and wellbeing strategies
- Use analytical thinking and occupational formulation to identify strengths, barriers, risks, and opportunities for recovery
- Work collaboratively within the FOLS multidisciplinary team to support positive risk management and person-centred rehabilitation
- Develop therapeutic relationships with individuals who may present with highly complex needs, trauma histories, and significant occupational disruption
- Contribute to service development and help shape the future occupational therapy model within the team
Who We’re Looking For
We are looking for an Occupational Therapist who is:
- Innovative, reflective, and motivated by service development
- Confident working autonomously whilst remaining highly collaborative within an MDT
- Passionate about rehabilitation, recovery, and social inclusion
- Skilled in building therapeutic relationships within complex environments
- Curious, analytical, and able to think creatively around occupational need
- Resilient, compassionate, and adaptable
You must:
- Hold a recognised Occupational Therapy qualification
- Be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Have post-registration experience within mental health, rehabilitation, forensic, or community services
Previous forensic experience is welcomed but not essential. We value transferable skills, fresh thinking, and a willingness to help shape a developing service.
In return, we offer:
- The opportunity to help shape and influence a developing forensic occupational therapy pathway
- Specialist experience within forensic mental health services
- The opportunity to be part of a growing and diverse AHP workforce within forensic mental health services
- Strong multidisciplinary support and clinical supervision
- Opportunities for leadership, innovation, and quality improvement work
- Ongoing CPD and professional development opportunities
- A supportive, forward-thinking, and collaborative team culture
- NHS pension and staff wellbeing benefits
- Flexible working opportunities where service needs allow
Help Shape Recovery Beyond Secure Care.
