Job summary
- Main area
- Occupational Therapist General Medical and Surgical
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- 12 months (Fixed Term or secondment opportunity)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 216-LT-DA8175659
- Employer
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Level 7 Occupational Therapy Medical and Surgical Speciality Team
- Town
- Plymouth
- Salary
- £39,959 - £48,117 Pro rata and per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 12/10/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Fixed Term Band 6 Occupational Therapist
NHS AfC: Band 6
Job overview
We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Occupational Therapist to join our Medical and Surgical Specialities Team on a 12-month fixed-term basis/secondment opportunity.
Are you an experienced Occupational Therapist looking to develop your leadership skills within a fast-paced acute hospital environment?
The Medical and Surgical Specialities Occupational Therapy Team at University Hospitals Plymouth is seeking a motivated and forward-thinking Occupational Therapist to join our team on a 12-month fixed-term basis.
This role is ideally suited to an Occupational Therapist who can demonstrate the knowledge, skills and experience required to work effectively at Band 6 level within an acute physical health setting. The successful candidate will manage a complex caseload, support junior colleagues and contribute to service development across the service.
Working within a supportive and experienced multidisciplinary team, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality assessment, rehabilitation and discharge planning for patients with a wide range of medical and surgical conditions.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical Practice
- Manage a complex and varied caseload of patients within the Medical and Surgical service, undertaking comprehensive occupational therapy assessments and delivering evidence-based interventions.
- Use advanced clinical reasoning to assess occupational performance, functional ability, cognition, physical health, psychosocial needs, discharge requirements and risk, formulating person-centred treatment plans.
- Work collaboratively with patients, carers and the multidisciplinary team to set realistic rehabilitation goals and facilitate safe, timely and effective discharge planning.
- Undertake assessment and intervention across a range of acute clinical pathways, adapting practice to meet changing service demands and patient needs.
- Assess, recommend and arrange the provision of equipment, adaptations and support services to maximise independence and safety.
- Complete environmental, access and home assessments as required to support discharge planning and ongoing rehabilitation.
- Utilise a range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills to engage effectively with patients who may have cognitive, communication, psychological or sensory impairments.
- Communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, families and carers regarding functional prognosis, rehabilitation potential, discharge planning and ongoing support requirements.
- Participate actively in multidisciplinary meetings, board rounds, family meetings and safeguarding processes, ensuring occupational therapy contributes effectively to patient-centred care.
- Maintain accurate, timely and legally compliant patient records using Trust electronic systems, including EPIC and other digital platforms.
- Actively identify and manage risks relating to patient safety, safeguarding, equipment provision and discharge planning.
- Contribute to the delivery of the seven-day service and provide cross-cover across the Medical and Surgical service as required.
For further information please see attached job description
Person specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC registration
- Demonstrable post-registration Occupational Therapy experience within a physical health setting.
- Demonstrable experience independently managing a complex caseload within an acute hospital environment.
- Demonstrable experience leading complex discharge planning for patients with multifactorial needs.
- Demonstrable experience supervising students, support workers or junior staff.
- Demonstrable experience working autonomously and making complex clinical decisions within an MDT.
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrable experience working within acute General Medicine and/or Surgery.
- Demonstrable experience contributing to service development, quality improvement or audit projects.
- Demonstrable experience acting as shift coordinator, deputy team leader or taking responsibility for service flow.
Aptitudes & Abilities
Essential criteria
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Proven ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, relatives and members of the MDT
- Prove ability to demonstrate effective clinical reasoning and decision-making skills
- Proven ability to prioritise and manage a complex workload independently
- Prove ability to work effectively within an MDT
- Proven ability to adapt to changing clinical demands and service priorities
- Proven ability to assess and manage risk appropriately
- Good organisation and time management skills
- Proven ability to reflect on practice and identify own learning and development needs
- Proven ability to maintain professional boundaries, coidentity and accountability
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrable experience of delivering presentations or training sessions
- Demonstrable experience engaging and supporting team lead in change management projects
Disposition / Attitude / Motivation
Essential criteria
- Demonstrates a patient-centred approach to care
- Motivated to develop specialist clinical knowledge and leadership skills
- Able to work independently whilst recognising own limitations and seeking support appropriately
- Demonstrates initiative and a proactive approach to problem solving
- Demonstrates resilience and proven ability to work effectively in a demanding and fast-paced environment
- Positive and flexible approach to service delivery and changing priorities
- Committed to collaborative working and supporting colleagues within the MDT.
- Committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of acting as a role model for colleagues
- Demonstrable experience of championing quality improvement initiatives.
- Evidence of involvement in professional networks or special interest groups
Other Factors
Essential criteria
- Proven ability to work across the General Medical & Surgical service and provide cross-cover where required.
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate familiarity with UK discharge pathways, patient flow processes and multi-agency working within health and social care systems.
- Proven ability to participate in the 7-day service rota
- Ability to travel across Trust sites and undertake community-based activities such as home visits where required.
- Full UK driving licence
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Hayley Wonnacott
- Job title
- Medical and Surgical Specialities OT Team Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01752432220
- Additional information
Jo Murphy / Julie Smart
01752 432220
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