Job vacancy: Specialist Occupational Therapist, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 317 Trustwide

Job summary

Main area: 317 Occupational Therapy
Grade: Band 6
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 317-2025-33-008

Employer: The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Trustwide
Town: 317 Trustwide
Salary: £38,682 - £46,580 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 31/08/2025 23:59
Interview date: 29/09/2025

Specialist Occupational Therapist

Band 6

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 15,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.6 billion.

We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.

We’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country, supporting people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.

Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts each day, delivering high standards of healthcare.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide a high standard of occupational therapy care to complex and highly complex patients within a specialist area evidencing high level problem solving, reasoning skills and independence of judgement.
The specialist practitioner is the clinical lead for the Occupational Therapy Service within the area of practice providing highly specialist knowledge within the Trust and externally to therapists and other health care professionals from secondary and primary care.

Person specification

KNOWLEDGE

Essential criteria

In-depth clinical knowledge of medical conditions and their effect on occupational performance
Highly developed understanding of OT process within acute setting
In-depth knowledge of health and social care policy, risk assessment and management
Extensive knowledge of a range of disability equipment
Extensive knowledge of eligibility criteria and procedures/policies relevant to disability equipment, minor housing adaptations
Highly specialist knowledge of moving and handling legislation and knowledge of current moving and handling best practice and associated equipment
Excellent understanding of professional ethics and their application into practice
Good knowledge of clinical governance
Evidence of CPD

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of undertaking research and audit projects
Knowledge of team dynamics and team building

SKILLS

Essential criteria

Good organisation, time management, problem solving and prioritisation skills
Supervisory, team management skills
Ability to work as part of a team
Commitment to personal and service development
Effective written and oral communication skills
Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance

Desirable criteria

IT skills
Presentation skills

EXPERIENCE

Essential criteria

Significant post-registration experience incl experience within physical health
Use of functional assessment and activity analysis

Desirable criteria

Experience of working with patients with physical disability eg reduced mobility
Team management
Experience in supervising staff

QUALIFICATION

Essential criteria

Degree/Diploma in OT
State registered with Health Professions Council
Member of BAOT
Post graduate experience

Important note on completion of reference section of Application Form

All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.

Mindful employer. Being positive about mental health.

Better Health at Work Award - Maintaining Excellence

Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name: Judith Finlay
Job title: Deputy Head Occupational Therapist
Email address: [email protected]
Telephone number: 0191 2137236

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Job summary

Employer heading

Specialist Occupational Therapist

Band 6

Job overview

Main duties of the job

Working for our organisation

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

KNOWLEDGE

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

SKILLS

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

EXPERIENCE

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

QUALIFICATION

Essential criteria

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

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