Senior Occupational Therapist- Older Person's​/Medical Therapy Team

Job Summary

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Gateshead Occupational Therapy Department; working as part of the Older Person's Team. This role is suited to an existing or emerging Band 6 who has a passion for supporting older people to manage functional decline, to support skill maintenance and proactively plan hospital discharges.

The aim of the role is to support patients to return home from hospital through the delivery of timely assessment and intervention. We are seeking an enthusiastic and flexible therapist who has sound clinical reasoning and risk management skills.

You will have excellent development opportunities including service improvement. You will be supported by the clinical MDTs as well as the Occupational Therapy Department; including regular clinical and professional supervision, peer support and access to CPD opportunities.

You will be required to work a shift pattern between the hours of 08:00 – 17:00 and will be required to support delivery of the weekend working rota. The post holder is required to hold a UK driving licence with access to a vehicle for work purposes; you will be based at one of the Gateshead Health Locations or as directed by your line manager.

We welcome enquiries so please don't hesitate to get in touch if you would like to know more about this exciting role.

• To act as an experienced autonomous practitioner, providing specialised occupational therapy assessment and treatment plans for patients with complex acute and/or chronic medical conditions which require intervention to prevent hospital admission / support discharge.
• To independently manage a caseload, using evidence based and holistic principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
• To work as a key member of the MDT.
• To deliver care within a variety of clinical settings and within the patient's own home.
• To support and supervise qualified and non‑qualified staff within the department.
• To contribute to service development and the learning culture within the department.

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values, encapsulated by the acronym ICORE – Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement – run through everything we do.

We have a number of staff networks including the BAME network, D‑Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our armed forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme () to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

• Date posted: 19 December 2025
• Pay scheme:
  Agenda for change
• Band:
  Band 6
• Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum
• Contract:
  
  Permanent
• Working pattern:
  Full-time
• Reference number:
  
  -A
• Job locations:
  Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Gateshead, NE9 6SX

• To work within a variety of clinical settings; this will involve loan working.
• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients in your care.
• Reporting to a Band 7 Occupational Therapy Team Lead.
• To work as part of a multi‑disciplinary team to deliver a holistic patient‑centred approach to care. To regularly liaise with MDT members including those from health, social services and voluntary agencies to ensure an integrated and comprehensive service is provided.
• To ensure that patients are identified for prompt discharge from the service and handover to community services as required.
• To provide…