Occupational Therapist inNewton Abbot inNewton Abbot PUBLISHED 24 OCT 2024

Band 5: £29,970 to £36,483 a year  PERMANENT  GOOD SALARY 

Are you looking for something completely new, different, exhilarating and challenging?

We are looking for an Occupational Therapist to join the Outside the Box (OTB) team, part of the offender personality disorder (OPD) pathway in Devon, based at HMP Channings Wood.

The OPD pathway is based in prisons and probation, with NHS and HMPPS staff working together to increase the wellbeing and reduce the risk of those screened into the pathway, whilst also improving the knowledge and attitudes of wider staff working with them.

OTB is an intervention service for those screened into the pathway who are stuck in the system (e.g. not able to engage, multiple releases and recalls) or displaying behaviours that mean they arent able to access other services they would benefit them (e.g. self-harm, substance use). The service provides individual and group interventions with a focus on the relational. This includes developing a shared formulation and goals with each personon caseload, as well as pro-social groups (e.g. gardening, bee-keeping), psycho-educational groups (e.g. healthy self-esteem), skills groups (DBT skills) and more therapeutic groups (MBT).

The role is dynamic and works within a cohesive, motivated and enthusiastic team including Prison Officers, Psychologists, Assistant Psychologists and an Arts Therapist. There is lots of space given to supervision, reflective practice and opportunities for training, in acknowledgement of how challenging this work can be.

The role will include working alongside the Senior OT to provide Occupational Therapy input to the service, developing and implementing occupational groups and meaningful activity, supporting other members of the team regarding the OT needs of those on caseload, holding a caseload and working in a psychologically-informed way to develop formulations/goals & work towards these.

The OT role within the service is still developing, and you will have the opportunity to be part of this, using your own skills & experience to contribute to what this will look like.

You will be working in an enthusiastic team made up of Prison Officers, Governors and clinical staff alike. It is important to the service to ensure the team are working cohesively & effectively together. The service dedicates time to team development and you will participate in this through reflective practice, team activities & mindfulness sessions. You will need excellentcommunication, reflection & critical appraisal skills when working alongside colleagues in this setting.

This is an autonomous role so we are looking for someone confident & capable. Working within a prison setting can often be intense therefore it is important that you utilise supervision & reflective practice to support your own wellbeing.


If you are interested in applying, please contact us for an informal chat or arrange a visit to meet the team. Please contact Janet Swift ) or Emma Boswell ).

About us

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information regarding this role.

Are you looking for something completely new, different, exhilarating and challenging?

We are looking for an Occupational Therapist to join the Outside the Box (OTB) team, part of the offender personality disorder (OPD) pathway in Devon, based at HMP Channings Wood.

The OPD pathway is based in prisons and probation, with NHS and HMPPS staff working together to increase the wellbeing and reduce the risk of those screened into the pathway, whilst also improving the knowledge and attitudes of wider staff working with them.

OTB is an intervention service for those screened into the pathway who are stuck in the system (e.g. not able to engage, multiple releases and recalls) or displaying behaviours that mean they arent able to access other services they would benefit them (e.g. self-harm, substance use). The service provides individual and group interventions with a focus on the relational. This includes developing a shared formulation and goals with each personon caseload, as well as pro-social groups (e.g. gardening, bee-keeping), psycho-educational groups (e.g. healthy self-esteem), skills groups (DBT skills) and more therapeutic groups (MBT).

The role is dynamic and works within a cohesive, motivated and enthusiastic team including Prison Officers, Psychologists, Assistant Psychologists and an Arts Therapist. There is lots of space given to supervision, reflective practice and opportunities for training, in acknowledgement of how challenging this work can be.

The role will include working alongside the Senior OT to provide Occupational Therapy input to the service, developing and implementing occupational groups and meaningful activity, supporting other members of the team regarding the OT needs of those on caseload, holding a caseload and working in a psychologically-informed way to develop formulations/goals & work towards these.

The OT role within the service is still developing, and you will have the opportunity to be part of this, using your own skills & experience to contribute to what this will look like.

You will be working in an enthusiastic team made up of Prison Officers, Governors and clinical staff alike. It is important to the service to ensure the team are working cohesively & effectively together. The service dedicates time to team development and you will participate in this through reflective practice, team activities & mindfulness sessions. You will need excellentcommunication, reflection & critical appraisal skills when working alongside colleagues in this setting.

This is an autonomous role so we are looking for someone confident & capable. Working within a prison setting can often be intense therefore it is important that you utilise supervision & reflective practice to support your own wellbeing.


If you are interested in applying, please contact us for an informal chat or arrange a visit to meet the team. Please contact Janet Swift ) or Emma Boswell ).

About us

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information regarding this role.



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