Senior Occupational Therapist

Main area Occupational Therapy Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract 6 months (six-month fixed-term contract) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (to include weekend working) Job ref 842-CCS-7894-26

Site Clay Cross Hospital Town Clay Cross Salary £39,959 - £48,117 pa, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 23/10/2026 23:59

The Trust is currently under-represented in terms of individuals from BME backgrounds and welcomes applicants from these communities. DCHS is also an LGBT inclusive employer. Selection will be on a basis of merit. The Trust has achieved the status of a Disability Confident Leader and guarantees to invite to assessment applicants who meet the criteria for the job vacancy. To ensure the diversity of the workforce and understand the differing needs of our communities, the Trust is committed to the principles of Positive Action.

Be outstanding – join an outstanding team!

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced occupational therapist to work on Alton Ward at Clay Cross Hospital, with the expectation of also supporting the locality’s Rapid Response Service.

Alton Ward is part of the pathway two service providing complex discharge planning and rehabilitation to patients within a community hospital setting.

Our wider Rapid Response Services are a multi-disciplinary team, providing person-centred holistic care to patients with a wide variety of health conditions.

As a clinician you are required to hold a clinical caseload, along with line management and support for junior staff.

Due to the nature of the role, applicants must be able to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes.

Main duties of the job

Provide specialist occupational therapy assessment and intervention for patients in a community hospital ward, supporting rehabilitation, functional recovery, discharge planning and safe transitions of care.

Complete complex assessments, formulate person-centred treatment plans, assess equipment and care needs, and manage clinical risk.

Work closely with multidisciplinary colleagues, including nursing, physiotherapy, medical teams and Adult Social Care colleagues, to coordinate timely and safe discharges. Liaise with patients, families, carers and external agencies, contribute to multidisciplinary meetings, and advocate for patient-centred outcomes.

Provide clinical leadership, supervision and support to junior staff and students, while contributing to service development, audit, quality improvement, safeguarding, risk management, accurate documentation and evidence-based practice.

An additional duty would be to support the wider Rapid Response Service, providing urgent care, falls recovery, as well as triage and timely assessment to support patients in the community and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.

If you are passionate about providing high quality, therapeutic care to your patients, can lead by example, are able to prioritise, deliver great quality patient care and are a great communicator then we want to hear from you.

Working for our organisation

Our purpose is to provide community health services to a patient population of over one million people in Derbyshire and Derby, as part of Joined Up Care Derbyshire.

We employ around 4,200 substantive staff, caring for patients in 11 community hospitals and more than 30 health centres, as well as in clinics, GP practices, schools, care homes and, increasingly, in people’s own homes and via virtual consultations.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust (DCHS) is one of the largest providers of specialist community healthcare in England and we currently employ around 4,500 staff. We deliver a variety of services across Derbyshire, caring for nearly 1.8 million patients each year.
We deliver patient care through 11 community hospitals, 4 minor injury units, 29 health centres and a learning disability centre. Another key part of our service is out in the community where we care for people in their own homes via therapists, health visitors and district nurses, and promoting public health in the wider community. As a Trust we care for patients of all ages with a special focus on the needs of elderly people and the very young.

DCHS has been recognised as a top 10 NHS organisation to work for in the UK by the Health Service Journal and NHS Employers in their Best Places to Work 2015 campaign. The Trust is also the runner-up in the category for the best NHS community trust employer.

The majority of our locations offer free parking facilities for staff.

Our vision is to see the health of local communities improve through partnership working, putting people at the centre and looking to the future.
Our values:
1) To get the basics right - For each other, local people and communities
2) To act with compassion and respect - For each other, local people and communities

3) To make a positive difference - For each other, local people and communities

4) To value and develop teamwork - With our partners and within DCHS

5) To value diversity and inclusivity - Of each other, local people and communities.

Person specification

Education

• Diploma / degree in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC registered
• Previous relevant clinical experience at Band 5 level or above
• APPLE accreditation
• Evidence of CPD
• Leadership / management course

Experience

• Proven clinical expertise, knowledge and experience of implementing service improvement
• Good understanding of the National Health Agenda / Relevant national standards
• Community experience working with older adults
• Clinical supervision training
• Recruitment and selection training

Other

• Access to transport is essential for this post, as you will be expected to travel around various areas of Derbyshire in order to carry out required duties
• Able to work weekends and bank holidays

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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

Please be aware this vacancy will close when it has hit a certain number of applications, even if this is before the listed closing date. We recommend you complete and submit your application as soon as you are able.

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