Lead Occupational Therapist

Job description

Job DescriptionJoin Our Team as a Lead Occupational Therapist!

Location: Priory Hospital Middleton St George, Darlington, County Durham

Salary: Up to £48,118 depending on experience

Hours: Full Time - 37.5 Hours

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals facing mental health challenges? Priory Hospital Middleton St George is seeking a passionate and dedicated HCPC registered Lead Occupational Therapist to join our dynamic team!

Your Role and Responsibilities

As the Lead Occupational Therapist, you will:

• Provide clinical, professional, and operational leadership to the Occupational Therapy (OT) service.
• Collaborate with the Therapy Services Manager to ensure OT services align with Priory's objectives.
• Play a vital role in patient recovery by assessing and delivering tailored treatment plans that uphold dignity and respect.
• Work closely with multi-disciplinary colleagues to enhance patient care integration.
• Deliver a highly specialized standard of OT assessment, treatment, and management.
• Ensure compliance with local and national standards, including COT Standards for Practice.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and clinical audits.
• Oversee student placements within the OT team.
• Represent the OT department in site meetings, including Clinical Governance and Patient Safety.
• Manage budget responsibilities related to therapy activities.

What You Bring to the Role

To thrive in this role, you will need:

• HCPC registration and a postgraduate certificate, diploma, or Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy.
• Experience in team leadership and driving change.
• Supervisory experience with Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, and students.
• A solid understanding of current national and local healthcare issues.
• Training in relevant models of practice such as MoHO, VdTMoCA, and Sensory Integration.

What We Offer You

At Priory, we want you to succeed and thrive in your role. Here’s what you can expect:

• Regular career conversations and support for your professional growth.
• Full training and numerous pathways into leadership and clinical positions.
• Healthcare benefits and free on-site parking.
• Enhanced maternity pay and a special Birthday Holiday (an extra day off for your birthday).
• Contributory pension scheme and flexible benefits, including gym memberships and private healthcare.
• Access to development opportunities and sponsorship for professional qualifications.
• Leadership and management development programs.
• Long service awards and refer-a-friend bonuses.

About Priory

Priory is the UK’s leading independent provider of mental health and adult social care. With over 12,000 colleagues and a network of 270 services, we support more than 24,000 people each year to live their lives as fully and independently as possible. We treat over 70 conditions, including depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, and provide care for autistic adults and those with learning disabilities.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Join us in making a difference!

Note: All roles are subject to a successful disclosure at an appropriate level from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Access NI, or Disclosure Scotland. Priory will cover the cost of a DBS check.

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

darlington

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Published at

01-11-2026

Profession type

Health / Medical

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English