Welcome to Hunter Gatherer AHP – specialist OT recruitment across the UK.
We place occupational therapists into NHS hospitals, community health services, mental health trusts, local authority social care teams, and private providers on both a locum and permanent basis. Whether you’re a service with a gap to fill or an OT looking for your next role, we offer fast, compliant and genuinely well-matched recruitment from a team that knows occupational therapy.
What is an Occupational Therapist?
An occupational therapist (OT) is an HCPC-registered healthcare professional who helps people of all ages participate in the activities that matter to them – despite the effects of illness, injury, disability, ageing or mental health. OTs assess functional ability, plan interventions, recommend equipment or adaptations, and support people to live as independently as possible.
OTs work across an exceptionally wide range of settings – from acute hospital wards and community rehabilitation teams to mental health services, social care, paediatrics, housing, learning disabilities and forensic services. This breadth makes OT one of the most versatile professions in UK healthcare, and demand for experienced practitioners across all these settings remains consistently strong.
Why Services Choose Hunter Gatherer for OT Recruitment:
- We cover the full breadth of OT practice Acute, community, mental health, paediatrics, social care, learning disabilities – our OT network spans the full range of specialisms. We don’t just place generic OTs; we match on clinical background, specialism and the specific demands of your service.
- HCPC-verified and fully compliant Every OT we place is verified for HCPC registration, DBS, clinical references and relevant experience before we put their name forward. For local authority and social care placements, we also confirm any additional checks required by your organisation.
- NHS, social care and private placements We work with NHS trusts, ICBs, local authority adult and children’s social care teams, independent healthcare providers and private OT services. Whatever your sector, we can help.
- Locum and permanent solutions Need cover from next week or looking to grow your permanent OT team? We support both, with the same standard of compliance and candidate quality.
Need support attracting top Occupational Therapy talent?
OT Specialisms We Cover:
Our occupational therapy network covers the full range of clinical and social care specialisms, including:
- Acute Care – hospital-based OT, discharge planning, early supported discharge, frailty assessment
- Community Rehabilitation – reablement, home visits, discharge to assess, community therapy teams
- Mental Health – adult mental health, CMHT, inpatient MH wards, forensic OT, recovery-focused services
- CAMHS – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, autism assessment (ADOS), neurodevelopmental pathways
- Paediatrics – children’s community OT, sensory integration, school-based OT, developmental assessment
- Learning Disabilities – community LD teams, supported living assessment, specialist inpatient LD units
- Neurological Rehabilitation – stroke, acquired brain injury, MS, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injury
- Elderly Care & Frailty – care of the elderly wards, falls services, frailty MDTs, care home assessments
- Housing & Adaptations – Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) assessments, major adaptations, equipment prescription
- Vocational Rehabilitation – return to work assessment, occupational health OT, workplace assessment
- Social Care – local authority adult and children’s social care OT, safeguarding, community assessment
Roles and Responsibilities:
Occupational therapists across NHS and social care settings are responsible for:
- Holistic functional assessment of individuals presenting with physical, cognitive or psychosocial needs
- Goal-setting and care planning in collaboration with the patient, carers and MDT
- Prescribing and fitting specialist equipment – wheelchairs, hoists, adaptive aids, orthoses
- Assessing for and recommending home adaptations to support independent living
- Running therapeutic groups, activities and interventions to improve function and wellbeing
- Supporting hospital discharge planning and coordinating safe transfer to community settings
- Assessing and managing risk in community and inpatient environments
- Contributing to safeguarding processes and best interests assessments
- Supervising and mentoring occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) and students
Qualifications We Look For:
Every OT we place holds:
- A recognised BSc or MSc in Occupational Therapy (RCOT-accredited)
- Active HCPC registration with no restrictions
- Relevant post-qualification experience appropriate to the band and setting
- Valid DBS and current mandatory training
- Specialism-specific competencies for Band 6, 7 and 8 roles
For social care and local authority placements, additional eligibility checks (right to work, enhanced DBS with barred list check) are confirmed as standard.
Locum OT Opportunities:
Locum occupational therapy work offers genuine variety – moving between different settings, patient groups and MDTs gives you clinical breadth that’s hard to replicate in a permanent role. Whether you want to top up your income, explore a new specialism, or build a long-term locum career, we’ll find opportunities that fit your background and availability.
We have active OT requirements across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond.
OT Pay Rates (2025/26):
Locum OT Rates (Umbrella)
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Band 5£22-£28 per hour
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Band 6£26-£36 per hour
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Band 7£33-£45 per hour
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Band 8a£42-£55 per hour
Rates vary by specialism, location and setting. London and specialist roles – particularly community, mental health, CAMHS and LD – often attract higher rates. Local authority OT roles may follow different pay scales to the NHS AfC framework; our consultants can advise on current market rates for your specific sector.
Permanent OT Salaries
NHS OT roles follow Agenda for Change (AfC) pay scales. Band 5 runs from £31,049 to £37,796 (2025/26); Band 6 from £38,682 to £46,580; Band 7 from £47,810 to £54,710. Band 8a from £55,690 upwards. Local authority social care OT salaries typically range from £27,000 to £45,000 depending on region and seniority, and are set by individual councils rather than a national scale.
Our consultants can advise on current going rates in your specific area and sector.
Career Progression in Occupational Therapy:
OT offers a well-structured career pathway across both NHS and social care:
- Band 5 – newly qualified OT, developing clinical competencies across a core caseload
- Band 6 – specialist OT, defined specialism, increased clinical autonomy and service contribution
- Band 7 – highly specialist OT or team lead, service development, clinical supervision responsibilities
- Band 8a+– advanced practitioner, clinical lead, head of OT service, strategic and professional leadership
Many OTs use locum work to explore different specialisms before committing to a permanent specialism – particularly those deciding between acute, community, mental health and social care pathways. Others build long-term locum careers for the variety, flexibility and competitive rates it offers.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Do you place OTs in social care and local authority roles as well as NHS? Yes. We work with NHS trusts, local authority adult and children’s social care teams, community health services, and private providers. Local authority OT roles – including housing adaptations and DFG assessments – are a significant part of the OT job market and we have active requirements in this sector.
- Can you place OTs in mental health and CAMHS settings? Yes. We have a strong network of mental health OTs at Band 5–8a level, including practitioners with ADOS experience for CAMHS autism assessment pathways. Specify your clinical requirement and we’ll match accordingly.
- Do you place OTs at short notice? Yes. Once an OT is registered and compliant with us, we can mobilise quickly for urgent cover. Contact us directly for short-notice requirements and we’ll respond the same day where possible.
- Do you place Band 5 newly qualified OTs as well as experienced senior practitioners? Yes. We work with OTs at every career stage – from Band 5 newly qualified through to Band 8a clinical leads. We match on experience and specialism to ensure the role is appropriate.
- What areas do you cover? We place OTs across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Sheffield, Nottingham and beyond.
Your future starts here!
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Testimonials:
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