Specialty Occupational Therapist – Oncology & Haematology in Oxford

Specialty Occupational Therapist – Oncology & Haematology

Band 6

Main area Specialty Occupational Therapist – Oncology & Haematology Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Please enquire if you have further questions about hours/pattern) Job ref 321-MRC-8217981-B6

Site Churchill Hospital Town Headington, Oxford Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum/pro-rata Salary period Yearly Closing 27/10/2026 23:59

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call thisDelivering Compassionate Excellenceand its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

Many of our recruitment programmes useValue Based Interviewingto identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values

Job overview

We are excited to be able to advertise a role which will be ideal for an Occupational Therapist who is looking to gain further experience within a specialty clinical area, consolidating and developing on previous experience. You will deliver occupational therapy care to our inpatients and will work closely with Occupational Therapy and Macmillan Therapy colleagues to assess, rehabilitate, and discharge patients across the oncology and haematology wards. Patients are admitted for elective chemotherapy, emergency admissions with new diagnosis or complications from treatment or disease and those requiring palliative management and end of life care.

The Churchill Hospital is a centre of excellence for cancer and haematology services and other specialties, including renal services and transplant, clinical and medical oncology, dermatology, haemophilia and palliative care. It is part of Oxford University Hospitals which is one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in the UK and is one of the busiest tertiary cancer centres, treating patients within the Thames Valley Cancer Network. There is a purpose-built development including a Surgery and Diagnostics Centre and an integrated Cancer and Haematology Centre. The OUH has a national and international reputation for the excellence of our services and our role in teaching and research.

Main duties of the job

• To deliver high-quality, safe and effective occupational therapy services primarily to oncology and haematology patients as part of a cohesive multidisciplinary team, with flexibility to support other clinical areas in response to service need.
• To provide occupational therapy services across inpatient wards and contribute to targeted community follow-up for patients who meet defined clinical criteria, supporting safe discharge, continuity of care, ongoing rehabilitation and the reduction of avoidable readmissions.
• To work collaboratively with patients and their carers to undertake comprehensive assessment, goal setting, intervention planning and rehabilitation, with the aim of maximising independence, function and quality of life.
• To provide clinical supervision, teaching and support to junior occupational therapists, therapy support workers and students, contributing to workforce development and learning.
• To actively contribute to service development through participation in quality improvement initiatives, clinical audit, research activities and the ongoing development of rehabilitation pathways across inpatient, outpatient and community settings.

Working for our organisation

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.

We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communication

• To consistently deploy effective communication and engagement skills enabling effective working relationships with all members of the multi-professional team.
• To effectively communicate with patients and their carers/family members, including the sensitive management of complex or contentious issues.
• To communicate effectively with patients suffering from conditions that may lead to psychological distress including anxiety, depression, and aggressive behaviour
• To overcome barriers to effective communication, such as those caused by pathological impairment or language differences, by deploying effective mitigating strategies.
• To engage and build relationships with external agencies and providers to enhance patient care continuity and outcomes.
• Be able to write complex reports accurately describing patients’ clinical status and ensuring that the information provided aids effective continuing care and clinical management.

Clinical

• To enact the professional and legal responsibilities for all aspects of the post-holders own clinical practice.
• To carry out comprehensive assessments of patients following hospital admission and surgery, including those with complex presentations, and form treatment and rehabilitation plans in partnership with the patient and their carers/family.
• To interpret and analyse multiple sources of clinical information to form accurate occupational therapy assessments and clinical reasoning, seeking guidance from senior occupational therapists when appropriate.
• To formulate and deliver comprehensive treatment, rehabilitation and discharge plans, based on clinical skills, evidence-based practice, and patient preferences.
• To evaluate patient progress against agreed treatment goals and be able to modify plans accordingly.
• To determine a patient’s mental capacity to understand and to gain informed consent for treatment. To work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent and are deprived of their liberty.
• To maintain accurate written records using an electronic patient record system and maintain fidelity to professional standards.
• To determine and mitigate for risk of patient and staff harm using the agreed risk assessment frameworks and the Trust’s manual handling policy.
• To demonstrate physical ability to carry out occupational therapy assessments and interventions, including functional assessments, therapeutic handling and equipment provision.

Leadership and management

• To be responsible for the competent use and maintenance of rehabilitation equipment and support others in the effective and safe use of this equipment.
• To assist in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of junior staff and assistants.
• To undertake delegated tasks and roles from the team lead and be able to deputise for them on occasions.
• To effectively plan and organise own time, patient caseload, meetings, training and be able to adjust plans as required according to staffing levels and unpredictable factors.
• To assist in the planning of junior staff, students and assistant timetables and deputise for senior staff in organisational duties.

Education and training

• To organise and contribute to the team’s training and post-registration education programme.
• To contribute to the education of multidisciplinary groups, patients, families and carers as appropriate.
• To be responsible for individual undergraduate student occupational therapists’ supervision and practice-based learning.
• To adopt a proactive approach in learning from others within, and outside of the occupational therapy profession.
• To be responsible for continuing professional development and maintain a portfolio record to evidence this.

Research and development

• To actively participate in the department’s quality improvement and clinical audit programme through the completion of authorised projects
• To implement and maintain evidence-based occupational therapy practice through continuing professional development.
• To ensure good working knowledge and application of national and local clinical standards
• To participate in local and national clinical interest groups appropriate to the clinical field, and to demonstrate the ability to share and disseminate knowledge with colleagues working in the team.

Effort

• To be able to undertake episodes of moderate physical effort for several short periods during a shift.
• To be able to effectively maintain concentration at work despite frequent interruptions and, at times, an unpredictable working pattern.
• To tolerate and manage frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances and maintain a high level of professionalism.

Please refer to the job description document for further details on person specification

Person specification

Qualifications

• Degree in Occupational Therapy.
• Registered with the Health & Care Professions Council.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Experience

• Broad range of experience at Band 5 level including core areas, such as general medicine, orthopaedics, neurology, older adults.
• Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience of working with students and support workers.
• Competence in OT assessment, rehabilitation and the models and theory underpinning practice.
• Experience of community working
• Experience working with oncology patients

Sexual Safety Charter : In 2023NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit tothe ten core principles

Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.

If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.

Vacancy Closures: Please note, this vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications are received.

Visa and Immigration: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is able to offer Certificates of Sponsorship for all eligible roles for a Skilled Worker Visa without exception, provided the role meets the minimum salary and skill level criteria set by the Home Office (UKVI). All eligible candidates will be considered with equal consideration at all stages of the application and recruitment process. Skilled worker: Health and Care Visa | NHS Employers / Work in the UK - GOV.UK

COVID-19: The COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information at Oxfordshire County Council Website where you can also find out more about how to access vaccination.

Probation Period: This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period. If you currently hold a contract of employment with the Oxford University Hospitals, this will not apply. This statement does not apply to Medical staff or Executive Appointments.

Referencing: When providing employment reference details please provide correct work related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your first referee will need to be your line manager, supervisor or clinical lead from your current or most recent post or place of study. Please note that if you have previously worked for the Trust we will require a reference from your last Manager, this information is essential if your offer of employment is to be confirmed.

To note: Applicants must write their own applications. If AI tools are used, the application may be rejected as this document is crucial for assessment. This does not prevent you from seeking support via AI with applications for the purposes of any disability and/or long-term health conditions.

When using AI to help write your application, it is important to personalise it, especially your supporting statement. While AI can simplify the process, it will not fully understand the job's requirements and/or be able to showcase your skills, knowledge, and experience. Write your statement to show why you are interested in the role and how you would be a valued member of the team/OUH employee.

No unsolicited recruitment agency telephone calls or emails.

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 note that this job advertisement will close automatically once the application limit is reached, regardless of whether this occurs before the advertised closing date.

Band 5 NurseandBand 2 Healthcare Support Workerrecruitment iscentralised, meaning when you apply you will be considered fora number of rolesacross the Trust. If you have any questions please email: nursing.careers@ouh.nhs.uk .

Vacancies with our PFI partners

Domestic / catering / porteringservices at theJohn Radcliffe Hospitalare provided byMitie.

Domestic / catering / portering / maintenance engineerservices at theChurchill HospitalandNuffield Orthopaedic Centreare provided byG4S.

Maintenance engineer services at the John Radcliffe Hospital are provided by Equans.

All meetings and interviews will be scheduled on Microsoft Teams from a verified OUH email account.

If you have any doubts about any correspondence around recruitment, please contact us.

Departments and services

You can view our departments and services alphabetically. Some areas also have dedicated microsites, which are featured in the linked images below.

"Oxford University" is a registered trade mark of the University of Oxford, and is used with the University's permission.

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