South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Technical Instructor (Occupational Therapy)

The closing date is 16 June 2025

Job summary

We are looking to recruit a Band 3 senior support worker into our Care of the Elderly inpatient OT team at Sunderland Royal Hospital to support the assessment of patients in preparation for discharge from hospital into the community. The Post is part of a busy team of therapists and support workers and is based within a large and friendly Occupational Therapy Department which has purpose-built ADL assessment facilities.

The acute therapy teams work closely with our community partners as part of the Hospital discharge planning process, and this is a great opportunity to help shape future services as part of the Therapy teams. This is a challenging and demanding, but very rewarding Post with scope for ongoing personal and professional development.

All training will be provided, and support and supervision will be provided by your senior team.

Pre-application/interview enquiries and visits are welcome.

Please note the Trust are not able to offer Skilled Worker Sponsorship for this role as it does not meet the UKVI threshold requirements. Applicants are requested to consider this when making their application. Please visitGov.UKfor further information

Main duties of the job

The Occupational Therapy inpatient teams based at Sunderland Royal Hospital and South Tyneside Hospital sit within the Directorate of Therapy Services and provide intervention and assessment for discharge from hospital. As an Occupational Therapy senior support worker, you will support the Therapy team with patient assessments and interventions to plan and deliver safe and effective discharges from hospital while working as part of the wider multidisciplinary team.

You will need to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be able to document patient notes efficiently and effectively and take part in some aspects of multi-disciplinary team meetings. Also, due to the need to sometimes visit patients' homes as part of the discharge planning assessment, you must be able to drive the Department vehicles. The Post is full-time, Monday to Friday, and there will be a requirement to work some bank holidays as part of a rota.

About us

Please help us by adding your telephone number to your application form this will allow us to contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for STSFT. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via the Trust's Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,600 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area, in some cases to a population as great as 860,000. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Childcare Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated.

Date posted

02 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,071 to £25,674 a year currently (25/26 pay award pending)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9155-CSAHP-0625-05

Job locations

Trust Headquarters

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Sunderland

SR4 7TP

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as an Occupational Therapy (OT) senior support worker using reasoning skills to provide elements of therapy assessment both in and out of the hospital environment.

PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as an Occupational Therapy (OT) senior support worker using reasoning skills to provide elements of therapy assessment both in and out of the hospital environment.

PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Level 2 qualification.
Functional Skills (Level 2).

Desirable

Additional qualifications relevant to Post applied for.
Care Certificate.

Physical Skills

Essential

Ability to sit at a work station to complete administrative duties related to the role.
Ability to work in small spaces where there may be a requirement to kneel or bend down.
Ability to exert moderate effort throughout the day.
Ability to assist patients with their mobility.
Ability to participate in moving and handling interventions where there is a need to use equipment such as mobile hoists.
Ability to drive the Department vehicles.

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with people with illness or disability.
Experience of working in a patient/public/customer-facing role.

Desirable

Experience of using adaptive aids and equipment.
Experience of using wheelchairs.
Working in a therapy setting.

Other

Desirable

Please provide a contact telephone number.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

Excellent verbal communication skills.
Excellent customer service skills.
Organisational skills.
Knowledge and understanding of Occupational Therapy practice within in acute hospital environment.
Ability to problem-solve.
Ability to deal with competing demands on time and attention.
Able to demonstrate appropriate analytical & judgmental skills.

Desirable

Knowledge of community and local authority services relevant to Sunderland and surrounding areas.
Knowledge of adaptive aids and equipment and their indications for use.
Evidence of attendance at courses relevant to the role.
Intermediate IT skills.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Level 2 qualification.
Functional Skills (Level 2).

Desirable

Additional qualifications relevant to Post applied for.
Care Certificate.

Physical Skills

Essential

Ability to sit at a work station to complete administrative duties related to the role.
Ability to work in small spaces where there may be a requirement to kneel or bend down.
Ability to exert moderate effort throughout the day.
Ability to assist patients with their mobility.
Ability to participate in moving and handling interventions where there is a need to use equipment such as mobile hoists.
Ability to drive the Department vehicles.

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with people with illness or disability.
Experience of working in a patient/public/customer-facing role.

Desirable

Experience of using adaptive aids and equipment.
Experience of using wheelchairs.
Working in a therapy setting.

Other

Desirable

Please provide a contact telephone number.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

Excellent verbal communication skills.
Excellent customer service skills.
Organisational skills.
Knowledge and understanding of Occupational Therapy practice within in acute hospital environment.
Ability to problem-solve.
Ability to deal with competing demands on time and attention.
Able to demonstrate appropriate analytical & judgmental skills.

Desirable

Knowledge of community and local authority services relevant to Sunderland and surrounding areas.
Knowledge of adaptive aids and equipment and their indications for use.
Evidence of attendance at courses relevant to the role.
Intermediate IT skills.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.