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Job summary

Main area
REACT
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
432-HR1126-25
Employer
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Constantine House
Town
Ipswich
Salary
£31,049 - £37,796 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
25/01/2026 23:59
Interview date
11/02/2026

Employer heading

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust logo

Occupational Therapist

NHS AfC: Band 5

We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.

Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits

Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of the ESNEFT’s core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole.  The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.

 

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for enthusiastic and motivated individuals to join our Reactive Emergency Assessment Community Team (REACT) as a Band 5 Occupational Therapist (OT). REACT is a multidisciplinary, integrated community service within ESNEFT. This role will support the development of care pathways focusing on Urgent Community Response (UCR) and the acute Frailty Virtual Ward—two fast paced and exciting government initiatives.

Our team is committed to delivering excellent, patient-focused care to individuals across Ipswich and the wider East Suffolk community. Could you be a valued and key member of our team?

This is a full-time post of 37.5 hours per week, including weekdays and weekends, covering an 8am-8pm service.

 

Main duties of the job

Support with the management of a defined caseload under the guidance of the REACT senior team, using evidence based patient centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions in designated clinical areas.

 You will:

·         Have an awareness of admission avoidance, frailty and caring for the older person in the community.

·         Manage and escalate patients on the REACT virtual ward (VW) and community caseload (UCR), utilising guidance and support from senior colleagues.

·         Attend and support senior colleagues with 999 Ambulance calls.

·         As a static Band 5 OT will need to demonstrate competent skills in triaging incoming patient referrals, responding appropriately in the patients and service best interest. Escalating any issues or capacity concerns, to the leadership team.

·         To actively be involved in supervision and provide supervision, complete appraisals and support the development of other team members including students.

·         To be responsible and accountable for ensuring the REACT team complies with clinical governance and quality.

·         To be flexible in working in a 7 day service with extended hours to 8pm.

Working for our organisation

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes. 

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff. 

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options. 

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services. 

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.   

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients. 

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.   

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • • Wide range of fieldwork placements
  • • Experience of functional assessment techniques and activity analysis
  • • Experience of practice evaluation
  • • Application of OT process
  • • Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development
  • • Experience of working and communicating effectively as part of a Multi-Disciplinary team.
Desirable criteria
  • • Prior work/voluntary experience (in associated field)
  • • Specialist fieldwork placements
  • • OT community experience
  • • UCR / virtual ward experience
  • • Experience supporting or leading on students
  • • Commenced or completed preceptorship year

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • • Dip COT/BSc/MSc in Occupational therapy
  • • Registration with HCPC
  • • Valid Driving licence with the ability to travel across ESNEFT where needed. Hold a clean and valid UK driving licence and have access to a car with business insurance
Desirable criteria
  • • Associated prior learning qualification
  • • Membership of professional body / specialist Interest Group

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • • Awareness of relevant legislation e.g. NHS reforms etc
  • • Knowledge and application of current best practice in OT
Desirable criteria
  • • Knowledge of Frailty and admission avoidance and the role OT’s play in facilitating this.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

No smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.NHS Pastoral CareDisability confident committedStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

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
Clare Cunnell
Job title
REACT Service Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01473 935359
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