Occupational Therapist - Trauma & Orthopaedics

Overview

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting for an Occupational Therapist to join the Trauma and Orthopaedics Integrated Therapy Team based at Ipswich Hospital. The team covers one elective ward and two trauma wards: a general trauma ward and a fragility fracture ward. The closing date is 23 July 2026.

• Deliver a high standard OT service in elective and trauma orthopaedics.
• Manage a defined complex caseload under the supervision of the Team Leader, using evidence-based, client-centred principles to assess, plan and evaluate OT interventions, ensuring compliance with HCPC, CQC and Trust clinical and quality standards.
• Ensure the safety of patients in your care as far as reasonably practicable.
• Supervise and assist in the development of junior OTs, non-qualified staff and students on placement.
• Undertake audits of clinical practice and processes to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

We are ESNEFT and provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, clinics and in patients? own homes.

We are the largest NHS organisation in East Anglia, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff and offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, flexible working options and a generous pension scheme. We also provide unsocial hours payments (where applicable) and 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata), plus access to NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offers a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we focus on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients. We are investing in our commitment with a partnership with the Epic electronic patient record (EPR) system to transform life in hospital for staff and patients.

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

• BSc/MSc in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Postgraduate training relevant to Trauma and Orthopaedics, involving acquisition of specialist skills and knowledge
• Completion of the preceptorship programme or equivalent
• Membership of a professional body
• Membership of any special interest groups
• Postgraduate modules (e.g. Masters level or equivalent) relevant to T&O/MSK, leadership, service improvement
• Information technology and computer literacy
• Student educator course

• Post-registration experience in a Trauma and Orthopaedic setting or equivalent transferable skills
• Experience of complex caseload management with patients with multiple pathologies
• Experience of complex discharge planning, including access visits and issuing of complex equipment
• Evidence of continuing professional development involving specialist knowledge and experience
• Experience of supervision and professional/clinical development of staff
• Experience of safe moving/handling skills, including hoisting
• Facilitating training, education and project leadership
• Participation in service development, change management and audit
• Experience of major trauma pathway and spinal cord injury patients
• Experience of working within an integrated therapy team
• Experience of working across 7-day shift patterns

• Knowledge and application of OT assessments and interventions relevant to acute care and complex discharges
• Knowledge of OT models of practice
• Adherence to Infection Control principles and guidelines
• Knowledge of care pathways and whole-system approaches to discharge planning/integrated therapy intervention
• Knowledge of current legislation and best practice within acute care / NICE / NSFs
• Knowledge and application of clinical governance processes
• Health & Safety and risk awareness
• Knowledge of care pathways relevant to Trauma and Orthopaedics
• Knowledge and application of quality and clinical governance principles
• Knowledge and application of PDR practice and principles
• Knowledge of local community services, agencies and resources and the value of inter-agency working

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and it will be necessary to submit disclosures to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust