Occupational Therapy Lead

We are seeking to recruit a motivated, enthusiastic and forward thinking experienced Occupational Therapist to lead our Occupational Therapy Service in the Dorset Forensic Service.

The Dorset Forensic Service is based at St Ann’s Hospital in Poole. We are an established multidisciplinary forensic team that provides treatment to community and inpatient forensic service users, covering all of Dorset. The successful applicant will join and lead an already established Occupational Therapy Service.

As a service we have an onsite vocational project, Bright Bean Café, which offers patients training in barista skills and development of vocational skills. This is a developing project that we hope to expand further and link with community projects. This post will oversee the recruitment and management of specific vocational workers for this project.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate skills and knowledge of managing risk and understanding the importance of risk assessments. Experience of leading teams is desirable.

Supervision of students is expected within this role.

We expect and welcome informal enquiries about the post and service prior to interview for information or to arrange a visit please contact Rachel Duke or Dave Walker on

01202 492066

As a member of the Dorset Forensic Service, the successful applicant will be expected to work autonomously across the community and ward. The successful applicant will oversee a community caseload, providing functional assessment, planning intervention and evaluating accordingly and lead the wider OT team in their delivery of OT strategies both individual and group.

To manage the Forensic & Twynham LSU Occupational Therapy Team including and to promote integration between disciplines within the community team and wider forensic services.

To be responsible for a defined Forensic Mental Health caseload and work as part of the multi-disciplinary team providing the strategic assessment and management of care, therapeutic interventions and treatment to Dorset Forensic Services patients, ensuring the highest standards of service are provided; to ensure that services to users and carers are delivered and developed according to Trust, Social and Healthcare departmental policies.

At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.