Band 6 CAMHS Occupational Therapist – Essex

Location: Essex
Pay Rate: £25–£26 per hour (dependent on experience)
Contract Type: Ongoing Locum
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week

Job Summary:

The CAMHS Occupational Therapist provides specialist assessment and intervention to young people admitted to an inpatient mental health unit in Essex. The role focuses on supporting adolescents with complex emotional, behavioural, and mental health needs to develop functional skills, promote recovery, and facilitate safe discharge planning.

The post holder works as part of a multidisciplinary team, contributing occupational therapy expertise to the overall care plan and ensuring interventions are person-centred, evidence-based, and aligned with the principles of trauma-informed and recovery-oriented care.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Undertake comprehensive occupational therapy assessments, identifying functional abilities, sensory needs, and barriers to participation in daily living activities.
• Plan and deliver individual and group interventions targeting self-care, emotional regulation, social interaction, education, and leisure participation.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, providing specialist input into clinical formulations, treatment planning, and risk management.
• Support young people in developing routines and coping strategies that enhance engagement in meaningful occupations and promote mental wellbeing.
• Collaborate with families, carers, schools, and community teams to ensure continuity of care and effective discharge planning.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation in accordance with professional and organisational standards.
• Participate in service development activities, supervision, and continuing professional development.

Essential Requirements:

• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an Occupational Therapist.
• Experience working within CAMHS, mental health, or adolescent inpatient services.
• Strong assessment, communication, and clinical reasoning skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Enhanced DBS clearance (or eligibility to obtain one).

Desirable Experience and Training:

• Knowledge of sensory integration, trauma-informed approaches, or DBT-informed practice.
• Experience working within Tier 4 CAMHS or similar inpatient mental health environments.

Additional Information:

• The position offers an hourly rate of £25–£26, dependent on experience.
• The post is an ongoing locum role with potential for long-term extension.
• Full-time hours (Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week) with potential flexibility by agreement.