Job reference: 253485
Salary: Band 6 (£43,231 - £52,679)
Job closing date: 23/07/2026
Job Type: Allied Health Professions
Location: Number 11
Employment type: Permanent
Hours Per Week: 36
Job posted date: 10/07/2026
Employer (NHS Board): NHS Lothian
Department: Mental Health

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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.

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application—but your answers must be your own.

  • Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
  • Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
  • Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you—not an AI tool.

Specialist Occupational Therapist – Community Mental Health Team

A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Specialist Occupational Therapist to join our supportive and innovative Community Mental Health Team based in Dalkeith, Midlothian, within walking distance from Dalkeith Country Park.

The post is based within the only integrated Recovery Hub in Lothian, promoting a “no wrong door” ethos and offering truly collaborative working alongside health, social care, and third-sector partners to support recovery-focused Community Mental Health, Justice and Substance Use Services.

This is a unique chance to develop your career within a specialist service supporting individuals whose mental health is impacted rebuild meaningful, fulfilling lives.

About the Role

As a Specialist Occupational Therapist within the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT), you will play a key role in supporting individuals experiencing complex and enduring mental health needs that impact on daily functioning, independence, and engagement in meaningful occupation. This is a rewarding and varied role where your Specialist Occupational Therapy skills will directly contribute to recovery-focused and person-centred care.

Why Join Us?

  • Be part of a passionate and supportive Occupational Therapy and multidisciplinary team dedicated to recovery-focused mental health care, an environment where Occupational Therapy’s unique contribution is valued.
  • Gain valuable experience in a specialist area that is dynamic, complex, and highly impactful
  • Have opportunities to shape and influence service development as the role and service evolves
  • Receive support, supervision, and a structured induction within a team of Occupational Therapists.
  • Access excellent opportunities for professional and leadership development

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who is:

  • A qualified Occupational Therapist registered with the HCPC
  • Passionate about working in mental health services
  • Committed to recovery-focused, person-centred care
  • Motivated to learn, develop, and contribute to a growing service

If you are enthusiastic about making a real difference and want to build your skills in a supportive and progressive environment, we would love to hear from you.

Informal enquiries welcomed contact Nichola Duffy: Occupational Therapy Clinical Lead: Nichola.Duffy@nhs.scot

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 in the further information for this vacancy.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post

Take a look around the company https://jobs.scot.nhs.uk/