North London NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 28 April 2026

Job summary

We are seeking a motivated and community-focused Occupational Therapist to join the Tottenham Talking project, an innovative partnership between the NHS and the voluntary sector. Tottenham Talking provides safe, creative and inclusive community spaces for adults effected by mental health to build confidence, develop skills and connect with others. The project supports individuals to better manage their mental health and to move towards meaningful activity, work and wider community participation.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will deliver both individual and group interventions within community settings, working closely with colleagues across NHS and voluntary sector teams to ensure a safe, effective and person-centred service. You will play an active part in designing and facilitating a varied programme of groups that reflect the needs, identities and interests of local residents. As the project continues to grow, you will also contribute to ongoing service development, evaluation and quality improvement, helping to shape the future direction of the programme and strengthen its impact.

We are looking for an Occupational Therapist with experience in community and mental health settings who is confident working with both adults and young people. You will bring creativity, flexibility and a genuine passion for community-based practice, along with an interest in co-production and partnership working. Experience in developing or delivering group programmes will be valuable, as will a commitment to reducing inequalities and improving access to mental health support for diverse communities.

This role offers the opportunity to be part of a unique and evolving community mental health initiative. You will join a supportive multidisciplinary environment and have the chance to contribute meaningfully to a project that is making a real difference to wellbeing and opportunity across Haringey.

About us

North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.

Our Five-Year Strategy:

  1. We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
  2. With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
  3. We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.

Why NLFT?

  • We develop and retain our staff through leadership behaviours and managers programme and many more opportunities.
  • We promote flexible working and support staff with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
  • NHS Discounts, generous annual leave and NHS pension scheme
  • Excellent internal staff network

In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.

Details

Date posted

14 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£47,951 to £56,863 a year Per annum including HCAS (pro-rata)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

11 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

455-NLFT-0759

Job locations

Chestnuts Community Centre

St Ann's Road

London

N15 5BN


Job description

Job responsibilities

Group Facilitation and Support:

  • Co-Facilitate Groups: Lead and co-facilitate therapeutic and activity-based groups, such as arts & crafts, movement groups, community access, self-care and life skills sessions.
  • Specialised Groups: Develop and lead groups tailored to specific needs, including those for neurodiverse adults and young people transitioning from CAMHS.

Individual Support:

  • One-to-One Sessions: Provide up to 6 one-to-one peer support sessions for participants, focusing on sensitive issues and helping individuals who may be anxious about group settings and wanted to achieve a specific goal in relation to their engagement with Tottenham Talking and personal mental health needs.
  • Goal Setting and Safety Planning: Assist participants in setting personal goals and creating safety plans during the welcome chats and ongoing check-ins.
  • Self-Management and Skill Building:
  • Teach Self-Management Tools: Support participants in using apps and tools for mindfulness, recovery, yoga, and healthy eating.
  • Employment Support: Collaborate with organisations like Twining & Hestia to provide employment support and help participants gain work experience through the volunteer programme.

This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Group Facilitation and Support:

  • Co-Facilitate Groups: Lead and co-facilitate therapeutic and activity-based groups, such as arts & crafts, movement groups, community access, self-care and life skills sessions.
  • Specialised Groups: Develop and lead groups tailored to specific needs, including those for neurodiverse adults and young people transitioning from CAMHS.

Individual Support:

  • One-to-One Sessions: Provide up to 6 one-to-one peer support sessions for participants, focusing on sensitive issues and helping individuals who may be anxious about group settings and wanted to achieve a specific goal in relation to their engagement with Tottenham Talking and personal mental health needs.
  • Goal Setting and Safety Planning: Assist participants in setting personal goals and creating safety plans during the welcome chats and ongoing check-ins.
  • Self-Management and Skill Building:
  • Teach Self-Management Tools: Support participants in using apps and tools for mindfulness, recovery, yoga, and healthy eating.
  • Employment Support: Collaborate with organisations like Twining & Hestia to provide employment support and help participants gain work experience through the volunteer programme.

This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.

Person Specification

Qualifications /registration

Essential

  • oDip. COT/ BSc/ MSc Occupational Therapy
  • oRegistration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
  • oEvidence of participation in continued professional development

Desirable

  • oQualifications in specific activities e.g. craft, gym etc
  • oExperience of working in Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • oAbility to apply and develop core OT skills
  • oEffective verbal communication skills and Maintains professional standards of communication
  • oProactive team member and willingness to contribute towards project service development
  • oCommitment to working within a diverse and inclusive organization

Desirable

  • oAbility to work autonomously as sole Occupational Therapist in the team.
  • oAbility to provide assessment and consultation to team which contribute to the global understanding of a participants needs

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working autonomously
  • Experience of offering groups and individual interventions to service users in a community setting
  • Experience of applying OT Models into Practice

Desirable

  • o Experience of using MOHO assessments i.e. MOHOST, ACIS.
Person Specification

Qualifications /registration

Essential

  • oDip. COT/ BSc/ MSc Occupational Therapy
  • oRegistration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
  • oEvidence of participation in continued professional development

Desirable

  • oQualifications in specific activities e.g. craft, gym etc
  • oExperience of working in Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • oAbility to apply and develop core OT skills
  • oEffective verbal communication skills and Maintains professional standards of communication
  • oProactive team member and willingness to contribute towards project service development
  • oCommitment to working within a diverse and inclusive organization

Desirable

  • oAbility to work autonomously as sole Occupational Therapist in the team.
  • oAbility to provide assessment and consultation to team which contribute to the global understanding of a participants needs

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working autonomously
  • Experience of offering groups and individual interventions to service users in a community setting
  • Experience of applying OT Models into Practice

Desirable

  • o Experience of using MOHO assessments i.e. MOHOST, ACIS.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

North London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Chestnuts Community Centre

St Ann's Road

London

N15 5BN


Employer's website

https://www.northlondonmentalhealth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

North London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Chestnuts Community Centre

St Ann's Road

London

N15 5BN


Employer's website

https://www.northlondonmentalhealth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of AHP Community Care Group

Camilla Cox

camilla.cox2@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

14 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£47,951 to £56,863 a year Per annum including HCAS (pro-rata)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

11 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

455-NLFT-0759

Job locations

Chestnuts Community Centre

St Ann's Road

London

N15 5BN


Supporting documents

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