Job summary
To work as a Band 5 Occupational Therapist within the Crisis Assessment Unit and Police Pathway (inclusive of S136 suite), providing rapid, recovery-focused occupational therapy assessment and intervention for adults presenting in mental health crisis.
The role involves working closely with multidisciplinary colleagues to support individuals at points of acute distress, promoting safety, engagement, and pathways to ongoing support.
Manage a defined caseload of service users presenting in acute mental health crisis, including individuals detained under, or at risk of detention under, the Mental Health Act.
Deliver brief, targeted occupational therapy interventions to support emotional regulation, engagement, self-care, structure, and coping strategies.
Work as part of a 24/7 multidisciplinary ward team, including nurses, medics, health support workers and activity coordinators.
Main duties of the job
Complete timely occupational therapy assessments focusing on occupational performance, daily functioning, strengths, risks, and immediate support needs.
Contribute to crisis formulation, safety planning, and short-term intervention planning.
Support service users to identify meaningful occupations that promote stability and recovery following crisis.
Communicate clearly with inpatient units, community teams, emergency services, and voluntary sector partners to support continuity of care.
Actively participate in risk assessment and risk management, including suicide and self-harm risk.
Follow Trust and local policies for safeguarding adults, incident reporting, and lone working.
Maintain accurate, contemporaneous electronic records in line with Trust standards.
Practice within HCPC standards and RCOT Code of Ethics.
Engage fully in regular supervision, appraisal, and reflective practice.
Maintain CPD to support safe practice in crisis and acute settings.
Participate in service development, audits, and quality improvement initiatives.
Support OT students or therapy support workers when required.
Ability to work in emotionally intense, unpredictable environments, including exposure to distress, aggression, or trauma.
Ability to respond flexibly to fluctuating demands and shift patterns.
About us
The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) is the main provider of Mental Health and Learning Disability services in Leeds. We also provide specialist inpatient services in York and some highly specialised services across the country. As a teaching trust with strong links to local universities, we are a centre of excellence for teaching, research and development.
There are many benefits of working for LYPFT including fantastic employee wellbeing support, 27 - 33 days annual leave, flexible working and remote working arrangements, the NHS Pension Scheme, coaching, support and opportunities for career development and training and education support alongside a range of exclusive discounts and payment schemes including for cars, extra leave days and more NHS Discount Offers.
We also have a bank department, offering variety of roles in nursing, allied health professions, healthcare support worker and administration clerical. Permanent employees are automatically added to bank.
Applicants should be aware that individuals requiring a visa to work in the UK, the Trust only provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles(this does not include Healthcare Support Workers). This is an essential requirement, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you do not meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.
So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read theCandidate Guide to Values Based Recruitment. This document provides you with information to help you apply.
We recruit people based on their values and qualifications (where required) and believe that their lived experience is an advantage, this means that together we are as diverse as the communities we care for. Simply put, when we employ caring people who act with integrity and have the right skills, we can give those with mental health challenges, learning disabilities and neurodiversity high-quality care and support to live fulfilling lives, and make our staff feel purposeful, happy and valued.
All our information is available in accessible formats. Please contact the Recruitment team recruitment.lypft@nhs.net
Attached to this advert is our candidates guide to values-based recruitment and supporting guidance on how to make a successful application.
If you require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Recruitment Team or see the attached candidate guide to reasonable adjustments.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.
So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read theCandidate Guide to Values Based Recruitment. This document provides you with information to help you apply.
We recruit people based on their values and qualifications (where required) and believe that their lived experience is an advantage, this means that together we are as diverse as the communities we care for. Simply put, when we employ caring people who act with integrity and have the right skills, we can give those with mental health challenges, learning disabilities and neurodiversity high-quality care and support to live fulfilling lives, and make our staff feel purposeful, happy and valued.
All our information is available in accessible formats. Please contact the Recruitment team recruitment.lypft@nhs.net
Attached to this advert is our candidates guide to values-based recruitment and supporting guidance on how to make a successful application.
If you require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Recruitment Team or see the attached candidate guide to reasonable adjustments.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy. Registered with HCPC.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to complete rapid, effective occupational therapy assessments.
- Strong clinical reasoning skills in crisis and time pressured environments.
- Ability to manage risk and contribute to safety planning.
- Clear, confident verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work both independently and with supervision
- IT skills for electronic clinical records
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people with mental health needs (including student placements).
- Experience of assessment and intervention in complex or high risk situations.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of occupational therapy models and their application in mental health crisis settings.
- Understanding of acute mental health presentations, including risk, distress, and trauma.
- Awareness of Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, and safeguarding principles.
- Understanding of recovery focused and trauma informed care.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy. Registered with HCPC.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to complete rapid, effective occupational therapy assessments.
- Strong clinical reasoning skills in crisis and time pressured environments.
- Ability to manage risk and contribute to safety planning.
- Clear, confident verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work both independently and with supervision
- IT skills for electronic clinical records
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people with mental health needs (including student placements).
- Experience of assessment and intervention in complex or high risk situations.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of occupational therapy models and their application in mental health crisis settings.
- Understanding of acute mental health presentations, including risk, distress, and trauma.
- Awareness of Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, and safeguarding principles.
- Understanding of recovery focused and trauma informed care.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
