Occupational Therapist

NHS Scotland NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran are one of 14 territorial NHS Boards within NHS Scotland. In support of our core purpose of Working together to achieve the healthiest life possible for everyone in Ayrshire and Arran, we are committed to a culture that is Caring, Safe, and Respectful
. You will be required to work collaboratively in a safe, caring and respectful way. To find out more about NHS Ayrshire and Arran please visit our website - AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application but your answers must be your own. Show us the real you:
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Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

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Occupational Therapist for Care Homes (Band
6)

Are you an Occupational Therapist with an interest in working with residents and staff in Care Homes? An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Occupational Therapist (OT) to work within our multi professional Care Home Professional Support Team based at Ailsa Hospital NHS Ayrshire & Arran. Here is more information from some of the team. It is essential that you are a registered OT with HCPC and have a minimum of 2 years practice post registration.

36 Hours per week (full time) Monday to Friday. This post is offered on a Fixed term/secondment basis until 03 October 2027. From 1 April 2026, the working week for NHS Agenda for Change staff in Scotland will be reduced. Full-time hours will reduce from 37 to 36 hours (pro rata for part-time staff) without loss of earnings.

A UK driving licence is essential for this role.

The post holder will be a key member of the Care Home Professional Support Team (CHPST), delivering professional support, advice, education and clinical supervision to staff working across Older People and Adult Care Homes within Ayrshire and Arran. This role requires a high degree of autonomy, with ability and responsibility to prioritise and coordinate daily activities using sound professional judgement. The post holder will effectively manage their own caseload and diary to meet service demands.

A full, valid driving licence is essential, along with the ability to travel independently across community locations and care homes throughout Ayrshire and Arran using a personal vehicle. The successful candidate will work closely with CHPST colleagues, care home staff and management teams, activity coordinators, and wider Health and Social Care Partnership teams. The role will focus on enhancing knowledge, skills and practice, supporting staff to meet the needs of residents with both newly identified and ongoing clinical conditions.

The post requires highly developed communication and written skills, alongside experience in quality improvement methodologies and data collection. You will provide professional leadership, specialist expertise and deliver education programmes that support and sustain high standards of person-centred care. The role also contributes to wider partnership working including the identification and use of digital therapy systems and smart technology within care home settings.

Working collaboratively with other disciplines, you will help identify unmet needs within care homes and contribute to reducing waiting times for community OT services. There is also the opportunity to contribute to influencing policy and practice through engagement in local and national forums, such as the National AHP Care Home…