Rotational Occupational Therapist in Northampton

Are you a newly qualified Band 5 Occupational Therapist or about to graduate? Or are you wanting Band 5 experience in a busy acute hospital in a joint therapy team? We have the job for you. We are looking for an enthusiastic, well‑motivated Occupational Therapist to join us in the Therapy department at Northampton General Hospital, part of the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire group for a 12 month fixed term contract until end of March 2027.

The post will involve working as part of the joint therapy team (OTs, physios and support staff) with rotations including Acute Medicine, Elderly Care, Urgent Care and Frailty, Surgery, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Stroke, Respiratory and Hand Therapy. The successful candidate will be expected to work as part of our 7‑day service where weekend working will be required.

As a Band 5 clinician within the team you will be required to take part in delivering a quality Occupational Therapy Service working closely with other members of the Multidisciplinary Team including Physiotherapy, Technical Instructors, Nurses, Medics and the Hospital Complex case discharge Team.

• To provide a professional Occupational Therapy service to patients on own caseload, under the supervision of senior colleagues.
• To actively contribute to the discharge planning process by selecting and implementing appropriate assessments and interventions to address the needs of patients including those with an acute illness, following injury or surgery and those with chronic disease, palliative illness or undergoing a period of acute re‑enablement.
• Work closely with physiotherapy colleagues and the wider MDT.
• Support the team in the day to day running of the therapy service.
• Provide effective input into the work of the Trust to support the achievement of our vision and values.

• Supporting Clinical and Patient excellence.
• Under the regular supervision of senior Therapy colleagues, select, plan and implement assessments and treatment interventions for patients either in the hospital or in their own home or community setting.
• Use clinical reasoning to balance risk, safety, patient choice and eligibility for services.
• Manage a caseload on designated ward/s, seeking guidance from Therapy colleagues as required.
• Assess patients function for safe discharge, referring on to appropriate community services.
• Assess and prescribe equipment, adaptations, ongoing rehabilitation and care provision as appropriate and necessary for a safe discharge from the service.
• Carry out assessments within patients homes as appropriate within departmental guidelines.
• Communicate effectively with patients, family members, carers, members of the multi‑disciplinary team, Therapy colleagues and other agencies.
• Provide support to patients and carers, sharing information to enable them to make informed decisions regarding Occupational Therapy recommendations and discharge arrangements.
• Advise patients and carers, through demonstrating the safe use of equipment or other techniques to optimise the patients functional ability, safety and independence.
• Liaise with health and social care professionals and other related statutory, private and voluntary organisations, providing verbal and written reports and referrals where appropriate, in accordance with data protection principles.
• Respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
• Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.
• Submit accurate timesheets within set department timescales for additional hours worked.
• In the absence of Therapy colleagues through planned or unplanned leave, work flexibly to meet the prioritised needs of the Therapy service both within the specific clinical areas and across all service areas.
• Work to identified guidelines and eligibility criteria relating to the provision of home adaptations, equipment and wheelchairs to ensure equity of service to all patients.
• Give guidance and training to Therapy Support Workers and Administrative Support staff where required.
• Assist Therapy colleagues in the induction, training and education of other staff and students within the Therapy services.
• Maintain accurate and up to date records of clinical interventions, consistent with legal and organisational requirements.
• Provide formal clinical reports for the multi‑disciplinary team as required.
• Collect, record and submit accurate clinical and personal statistical data in line with departmental requirements and guidelines.
• Participate in the Therapy in‑service training programme, taking the lead in designated sessions as appropriate.
• Regularly attend and participate in Therapy service staff meetings.
• Identify own learning and development needs with support from senior Therapy colleagues, contributing to the production of a Personal Development Plan.
• Build an ongoing Continuing Professional Development portfolio, reflecting on and recording learning outcomes of development opportunities.
• Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current Occupational Therapy research and apply this to practice in conjunction with the Therapy team.
• Contribute to audit and research activity within the Therapy Service as appropriate.
• Review and reflect on own practice and actively participates in regular supervision and annual appraisal.

• Build safe working knowledge of all equipment used to provide safe patient care and participate in maintenance and training.
• Contribute to the Therapy Service governance arrangements and to the work of selected departmental groups (eg Risk Management, Health & Safety).
• Delegate work tasks appropriately to Therapy Support Workers and Administrative Support staff.
• To make the best use of the NHS resources.

• Contribute towards service development activities through participation in team meetings and service development sessions.
• Propose changes to processes and procedures carried out within the Therapy Service to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
• Comply with departmental guidelines for the safe use, care and maintenance of equipment and stock.
• Contribute to audit and research activity within the Therapy Service as appropriate.
• Maintain and develop professional knowledge and skills to ensure fitness to practice as an Occupational Therapist, in line with competencies detailed in the Knowledge & Skills Framework Outline for this post.
• Comply with the College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and the Health Professional Council Standards of Conduct, Performance & Ethics, national and Trust policy, protocols and guidelines.

• Occupational Therapy qualification at degree level (or equivalent).
• Health Care Professions Council Registration (or registration pending).

• Experience of assessment, goal setting, planning, implementation and review of Occupational Therapy interventions with patients in a physical setting.
• Experience of managing a clinical caseload and prioritising work.
• Awareness of the role of an Occupational Therapist within an acute inpatient NHS hospital.
• Evidence of recent continuing professional development activity.
• Experience of conducting cognitive assessments and developing treatment/discharge plans that reflect the cognitive needs of the patient.
• Knowledge of the discharge planning process.
• Experience of multi‑disciplinary team working.
• Experience of assessment and provision of equipment, wheelchairs and minor adaptations.

• Skills to communicate effectively with patients, carers, team members, Occupational Therapy colleagues and other agencies.
• Skills to produce clear and concise verbal and written clinical reports.
• Effective team working skills.
• Ability to review and reflect on own practice.
• Interest in contributing towards staff and service development.
• Ability to drive Trust vehicles for assessments in patient's homes.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.