St Nicholas Hospice Care

Palliative Care Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 13 March 2026

Job summary

We are looking for an exceptional Occupational Therapist who will deliver holistic and person-centred support our patients with complex physical, psychological, cognitive, environmental, social and spiritual needs, which are related to their life-limiting diagnosis

Working as part of a specialist multi-disciplinary team you will support our patients and those important to them, to live well and as independently as possible, as they navigate palliative and end of life care

This is a highly autonomous role offering an experienced OT the opportunity to support patients and families by managing their own caseload and shaping the Independent Living Team service to reach as many people as possible

Main duties of the job

To complete specialist, holistic Occupational Therapy assessments of patients with individual and sometimes complex presentations/multiple pathologies using investigative and analytical clinical reasoning skills to diagnose therapeutic need

To manage a clinical caseload of palliative patients with varying levels of complexity, prioritising, reviewing and discharging as necessary

To be a resource of specialist Occupational Therapy knowledge, advice and support to the hospice staff, volunteers and wider community

To develop and lead empowering patient focused self-management therapeutic groups, undertaking and collating outcome measures and feedback as appropriate

Reviewing and re-evaluating group aims and objectives as necessary.

Influence palliative rehabilitation practice in a variety of care settings as part of the wider patient/carer support team (or) promote and influence the use of the model of Rehabilitative Palliative care within the hospice and in the wider community

Establishing a model that seeks to enhance personal independence and choice

Contribute to the service model to equip patients & carers rehabilitation needs as they experience dying death and grief

Actively support and model the SNHC Values: Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Equity

About us

St Nicholas Hospice Care is an independent charity, providing palliative and end of life care across West Suffolk and Thetford, both in the community and at our Hardwick Lane, Bury St Edmunds site

Our vision is: Everyone in our communities has choice, dignity and support when facing dying, death and bereavement

As an employee you will receive the following benefits:

Working in our beautiful hospice surroundings, including our therapeutic garden
Social events (such as photography group, quiz nights, picnics, book club, St Nics Sings, and more)
Access to our annual Norburn Awards ceremony, in support of our organisational value
Occasional opportunity for some home working, on negotiation
Health Cash Plan & Wellbeing programme (dentistry, optical, emotional wellbeing support)
25 days annual leave increasing to 29 with service (pro rata for part time employees)
Enhanced Occupational sick pay scheme
Home-made meals available in our onsite bistro
Access to a group pension plan or continuation of NHS Pension (subject to criteria)
Life assurance
Free onsite parking
Access to Blue Light Card scheme discounts

Date posted

26 February 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£37,757 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

B0142-26-0005

Job locations

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

Suffolk

IP33 2QY

Job description

Job responsibilities

Prioritise and manage own clinical caseload, admit and discharge patients, make referrals, reports and recommendations verbally and in writing to the MDT, external agencies and services as required

Use evidence based knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning to undertake highly complex clinical assessment, in a relevant location, e.g. nursing/residential home, hospice or in a patients own home, identifying needs, treatment aims and goals in collaboration with the individual patient and the MDT in a range of highly complex conditions

Use effective communication skills negotiate, review and re-evaluate treatment programmes, goal setting with a diverse range of patients often in a sensitive manner including empathy, persuasion, motivation and reassurance

Use evidence based knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning to undertake highly complex clinical assessment, in a relevant location eg. nursing/residential home, hospice or in patients own home, identifying needs, treatment aims and goals in collaboration with the individual patient and MDT in a range of highly complex conditions

Oversee and evaluate OT treatment programmes, monitoring/supervising junior staff/volunteer input, adapting as necessary

Influence and promote a rehabilitative approach to palliative occupational therapy to equip generalist therapists in the hospital and community settings

Be a source of specialist knowledge to other local therapists and professional services and agencies regarding specialist palliative care occupational therapy, working in a collaborative way

Act as a mentor or preceptor demonstrating clinical expertise in rehabilitative palliative care coaching staff and students

Provide line management support for the Hospice Therapy Assistant

Promote a culture which supports self-management, independence and embeds patient and community involvement within the sphere of practice

Proactively support discharge home from Sylvan ward, completing Access Visits and Environmental Risk Assessments where necessary, attending case conferences and negotiating with family or carers

Utilise effective problem solving skills to support environmental issues and the use of equipment/assistive technology/equipment, where necessary

Utilise specialist knowledge to assist in promoting and maintaining independence for as long as possible, educating staff and families where necessary, reviewing and re-evaluating and in supporting End of Life care at home in a timely manner

Contribute to and deliver specialist education and training to other professionals, internal or external, involved in patient care and patient and community focused education, including coaching patients and their families and carers. Support of Induction programmes and student placements

Collate and evaluate data to provide evidence of productivity, outcomes and quality, including contributing to the implementation and monitoring of adherence to relevant clinical guidelines

Oversee the equipment Peripheral Store within the hospice and its efficient management

Overseeing the issue of Medequip equipment by hospice staff and responsibility for new starters application and support

Overseeing of wheelchair loans from the hospice utilising a safe, effective method

Be involved with recruitment and interviewing of staff as appropriate

Maintain accurate and timely patient records using SystmOne

Demonstrate expertise in multi-professional meetings, such as the Gold Standard Framework, acting as patient advocate and equipping others in palliative rehabilitation

Participate in the continual evaluation and development of practice through research projects and/or audits occurring in the Therapy division within the field of occupational therapy

Participate in service review as required, in order to drive service improvement, including promoting patient and public experience feedback to influence innovation and change

To participate in Continuing Professional Development via membership of special interest groups, clinical supervision, self-directed learning etc