Specialist Occupational Therapist

NHS Scotland:

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Who we are:

NHS Ayrshire and Arran are one of 14 territorial NHS Boards within NHS Scotland.

In support of our core purpose of Working together to achieve the healthiest life possible for everyone in Ayrshire and Arran, we are committed to a culture that is Caring, Safe, and Respectful. You will be required to work collaboratively in a safe, caring and respectful way.

To find out more about NHS Ayrshire and Arran please visit our website - NHS Ayrshire & Arran - Home (nhsaaa.net)

Position:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Specialist Occupational Therapist based at The West Road Centre, Irvine. This post is offered on a permanent basis.

Please note that we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once enough applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at your earliest opportunity.

Hours:

36 hours per week, however part-time hours may be considered.

From 1 April 2026, the working week for NHS Agenda for Change staff in Scotland will be reduced. Full-time hours will reduce from 37 to 36 hours (pro rata for part-time staff) without loss of earnings.

UK Driving Licence:

A UK driving licence is essential for this role.

What you will do:

The post holder will work within the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) to deliver high‑quality Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention to children and young people aged 5–18 years across Ayrshire and Arran. Working as part of the multi‑disciplinary CAMHS team and Occupational Therapy service, the role involves providing clinically effective, evidence‑based interventions within agreed clinical and community settings.

The post holder will take a person centred approach, supporting children and young people to engage in meaningful occupations, activities of daily living, roles and routines that promote emotional wellbeing, participation and independence. The role includes contributing to risk assessment and safeguarding processes, maintaining accurate clinical records, working in partnership with families and partner agencies, and participating in clinical supervision, service development and quality improvement activity in line with professional and organisational standards.

For further information on the role please click the link below to view the job description.

Knowledge, training and/or experience required for this post:

• Qualifications
  • BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy or equivalent recognised qualification.
  • Completion of the Flying Start NHS programme.
  • Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Knowledge & Clinical Expertise
  • Sound and up‑to‑date knowledge of Occupational Therapy practice, evidenced through:
    • Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
    • Post‑graduate learning or additional specialist training
    • Applied clinical experience
  • Demonstrable broad and varied clinical experience within a relevant speciality.
  • Strong clinical reasoning skills and ability to apply evidence‑based practice.
  • Knowledge of legal, ethical and professional frameworks relevant to Occupational Therapy practice.
• Experience
  • Experience working with complex and varied caseloads.
  • Evidence of leadership, supervision and mentoring skills, including supporting staff and students.
  • Experience working effectively within multi‑disciplinary and multi‑agency teams.
  • Ability to manage workload autonomously, prioritise effectively and work under pressure.
• Skills & Personal Attributes
  • Excellent communication skills, particularly when working with patients, carers and partner agencies.
  • Effective organisational and time‑management skills.
  • Confident use of information technology and electronic patient record systems.
  • Committed to team working, service development and self‑directed professional learning.
  • Ability to work independently with initiative and accountability.
• Training
  • Completion of Mandatory and Statutory Training (MAST) and role‑specific mandatory training requirements.

For further information on the requirements for the role please click the link below to view the person specification.

If you want to find out more about the role, please contact Taryn Loutit, Service Manager on 01294 322046.

Right to Work / Certificates of Sponsorship

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found within the attached Candidate Information Pack.

It is essential that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored before submitting your application form.

NHS Ayrshire & Arran may be able to offer visa sponsorship for certain roles, provided the post meets the minimum salary threshold and any other required criteria. When considering if a post meets the salary threshold for sponsorship, please note the salary advertised is based on a full-time contract and must be pro-rated for part-time positions. Sponsorship is not guaranteed and is assessed on a case-by-case basis following interview and at the commencement of pre-employment checks.

Please visit here for further information.

We are unable to provide sponsorship for Band 2 posts or bank contracts.

Additional Information for Candidates

• You should apply for this post by completing the application process on NHS Jobs Scotland.
• DO NOT upload a CV as this will not be used for shortlisting purposes.
• Posts close at midnight on the indicated date. Late applications will not be accepted.
• For help to complete an application on NHS Jobs Scotland, please follow this link: https://www.careers.nhs.scot/how-to-apply/application-process/
• To view our accessibility statement, please follow this link: https://www.eess.nhs.scot/jobtrain-accessibility-statement/
• Please note that our correspondence method is by email, therefore please ensure you enter your email address accurately.
• Please check your email regularly (including junk folders) and your NHS Jobs Scotland account for updates.
• Please contact JobTrain Candidate Support Hub: https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home - for advice and support with any system issues.
• We recommend using the Internet Browser “Google Chrome” or “Microsoft Edge” when using JobTrain.
• Once you have submitted your application form you will be unable to make any amendments.
• Some of our vacancies are for internal candidates only. If you are a staff member, please ensure you update your NHS Jobs Scotland account profile to reflect that you are employed by NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
• Please note, for all vacancies where a driving licence is required this must be a full UK/EU/EEA licence.