Band 7 Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist.
Home First DORS (Discharge, Outreach and Recovery Support)
Are you passionate about supporting people to regain independence and achieve meaningful recovery following mental health crisis?
Home First DORS is an award-winning, innovative partnership between Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) and VCSE partners, providing recovery-focused outreach and specialist occupational therapy to support timely discharge, prevent avoidable admissions and promote independence in the community.
Across hospital and community settings, Home First DORS offers specialist occupational therapy assessment, intervention and consultation for people with complex mental and additional physical health needs, supporting safe, timely and sustainable recovery.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, innovative Band 7 Occupational Therapist to join our developing Home First DORS service in West Sussex.
This role offers the chance to support timely discharge, prevent unnecessary admissions and promote recovery through occupational therapy in people’s homes and communities. Working with DORS recovery workers, inpatient teams, social care, housing and community mental health services, you will bring specialist OT expertise to people with complex mental health and additional physical health needs.
You will:
Provide specialist occupational therapy assessments and interventions for adults with complex mental and physical health needs.
Support timely and sustainable discharge from inpatient mental health services.
Work collaboratively with DORS recovery workers, offering clinical advice, consultation and joint interventions.
Undertake functional, environmental and home-based assessments.
Identify and recommend equipment, minor adaptations and Technology Enabled Care where appropriate.
Promote recovery, independence and engagement in meaningful occupations.
Attend MDT meetings, ward reviews, discharge planning meetings and community reviews to identify appropriate referrals across West Sussex.
Contribute to service development, quality improvement and evaluation of outcomes.
Provide professional leadership and support to colleagues across the Home First DORS pathway.
Develop strong partnerships with acute, community, social care, housing and voluntary sector services.
Why Join Us?
This role offers the opportunity to:
Shape and further develop an innovative Home First and DORS model.
Work across hospital and community settings in West Sussex.
Develop specialist skills in discharge planning, rehabilitation and recovery-focused practice.
Influence system-wide approaches to patient flow and alternatives to admission.
Access professional supervision, leadership development and Trust-wide OT and AHP networks.
Be part of a supportive occupational therapy profession committed to quality, innovation and continuous improvement.
Attend OT CPD network and development hubs
We are looking for an Occupational Therapist who:
Is registered with the HCPC.
Has significant post-registration experience within mental health services.
Has experience of working with people with complex mental health needs.
Demonstrates strong clinical reasoning and risk assessment skills.
Has experience of community-based practice, discharge planning or rehabilitation.
Has experience of partnership working across health, social care, housing and/or voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations.
Has experience of contributing to service development, quality improvement, innovation or pathway redesign.
Is passionate about recovery-focused and person-centred care.
Can work autonomously whilst contributing effectively within multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams.
Has excellent communication, leadership and relationship-building skills.
Is enthusiastic about working within an award-winning, innovative service that is transforming discharge and recovery pathways across West Sussex.
