Occupational Therapist - Acute Medicine Cardiorespiratory

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 03 March 2026

Occupational Therapist (Acute Medicine Cardiorespiratory)

While this is a Band 7 role, we are also able to open this up as a development opportunity. We would be able to support starting as a Band 6, with a plan to develop to a Band 7

West Middlesex Hospital Site

Our Respiratory medicine team are seeking experienced Clinicians to lead our Occupational Therapy services, and to develop a more integrated approach to hospital discharge in line with latest national initiatives. The knowledge and skills of Occupational Therapists are key in supporting patients living with frailty and complex needs, and in assisting them in recovering from acute illness and enabling them to return 'home first'.

As the Band 7 Occupational Therapist, you will provide advanced clinical skills in the assessment and management of patients with complex health and social needs, relating these to the persons occupational therapy needs on the ward and s will include managing your own caseload as well as supporting other team members, and providing specialist advice to the MDT for patients not directly under your care.

• To be a specialist practitioner in the assessment and management of older adult patients (admitted to West Middlesex Hospital)
• To use expert knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning skills to provide specialist support and advice to patients and staff within the Respiratory, Cardiology, Surgical, Enhanced care, and ICU pending on experience, and to manage a caseload of patients with highly complex discharge planning throughout their hospital stay.
• To be responsible for the operational management and clinical leadership of the Respiratory Medicine Occupational Therapy team and service development of OT in Critical Care.
• To lead on the development of the Occupational therapy service in the Intensive care unit and attend relevant training/meetings to build the service pathway.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.

We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.

The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven't heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.

Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.

Clinical:

Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of professional practice.

To take overall responsibility for the Occupational Therapy caseload, being able to independently manage service capacity and demand, ensuring service delivery is based on priorities

The patient group may include the following conditions:
Post ICU syndrome, Orthopaedic conditions, Dementia and cognitive concerns, Frailty and related conditions.

To determine the patients and families/carers understanding of the occupational therapy intervention in order to gain valid informed consent and to be able to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment

To use in depth clinical reasoning, comprehensive knowledge and understanding of conditions, and wide-ranging knowledge of treatment options to plan and implement individual occupational therapy programs, and treatment protocols, using highly developed occupational therapy treatment techniques and therapeutic handling skills.

To monitor and evaluate occupational therapy treatment to ensure effectiveness of the intervention and to identify quickly when treatment requires modifying

Provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals, promoting understanding of the aims of occupational treatment plans ensuring a consistent approach to patient care.

Demonstrate safe and efficient moving and handling skills and therapeutic handling on the basis of a sound risk…