Rotational Occupational Therapist

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. 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 would be expected to work as part of our 7‑day service where weekend working will be required.

• Provide a professional Occupational Therapy service to patients on your own caseload, under the supervision of senior colleagues.
• Take part in delivering a quality Occupational Therapy Service and work closely with the Multidisciplinary Team including Physiotherapy, Technical Instructors, Nurses, Medics and the Hospital Complex Case Discharge Team.
• Contribute to the discharge planning process by selecting and implementing appropriate assessments and interventions to address the needs of patients, including those with acute illness, injury, surgery or chronic conditions.
• Support the team in the day‑to‑day running of the therapy service.
• Provide professional input into the work of the Trust to support the achievement of our vision and values.

• 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 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, demonstrating the safe use of equipment or other techniques to optimise 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 specific clinical areas and across all service areas.
• 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…