Job summary
Band 6 Specialist Occupational Therapist
Specialist Medicine Inpatients
We are looking for a proactive and committed Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our Specialist Medicine Inpatient Team (Osler Respiratory Unit and John Warin Ward). This role offers the opportunity to work with patients presenting with complex medical conditions within a dynamic acute hospital environment.
You will provide specialist assessment and intervention, contributing to goal-focused rehabilitation and effective discharge planning. Working closely with the multidisciplinary team, you will support patient flow while ensuring safe, high-quality care. The role requires confident clinical reasoning, flexibility, and the ability to manage competing priorities.
The successful candidate will contribute to the supervision of junior staff and students, participate in service development and audit, and support the ongoing improvement of therapy services within Specialist Medicine. Strong communication skills and a collaborative approach are essential.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and forward-thinking team, offering regular supervision, peer support, and access to continuing professional development. This post is ideal for an experienced Band 6 therapist or a Band 5 therapist seeking progression within acute Specialist Medicine inpatient services.
Main duties of the job
To act as an autonomous practitioner, providing therapeutic interventions of the highest standard, in alignment with national and professional guidelines, working across a range of disciplines and settings, including (but not limited to):
1. To provide specialist Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment, treatment and discharge planningto patients within Specialist medicine inpatient wards as an autonomous practitioner.2. To clinically supervise and train junior staff and students in their assessment of rehabilitation needs and therapy goals for the patients.
3. To provide specialist clinical skills in the provision, monitoring and on-going development of the service to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the service users and responds to government and Trust initiatives.
4. To actively participate in quality improvement, clinical audit and research projects.
About us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.
We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.
These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.
In 2023NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles
Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.
If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical1. To undertake specialist assessment and treatment of adults in Respiratory and Infectious Disease Wards.2. To enact the professional and legal responsibilities for all aspects of the post-holders own clinicalpractice.3. To carry out comprehensive assessments of patients including those with complex presentations, and form treatment and rehabilitation plans in partnership with the patient and theircarers/family.4. To formulate and deliver comprehensive treatment, rehabilitation and discharge plans, based onclinical skills, evidence-based practice, and patient preferences.5. To evaluate patient progress against agreed treatment goals and be able to modify plans accordingly.6. To determine a patients mental capacity to understand and to gain informed consent for treatment.To work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent and are deprived oftheir liberty.7. To co-ordinate intervention where there is a need to collaborate across multiple disciplines.8. To maintain accurate written records using an electronic patient record system and maintain fidelity to professional standards9. To determine and mitigate for risk of patient and staff harm using the agreed risk assessmentframeworks and the Trusts manual handling policy.10. To demonstrate physical ability to carry out Occupational Therapy assessment and interventions.11. To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory skills for assessment andtreatment of patients12. To represent Occupational Therapy and/or individual patients at multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensure delivery of co-ordinated care.13. To be an integral part of the teams extended hours and seven-day service provision.Communication1. To liaise with all members of the MDT, patients, carers, Health and Community Services, relevant external agencies and OUH staff to ensure a co-ordinated, consistent approach to service delivery.2. To communicate with individual patients and those involved in the patients care to gain consent and understanding of treatment programmes to ensure OT intervention is effective. This will frequently be with patients who have complex emotional, physical and psychological conditions e.g. aphasia and cognitive problems and will need expert use of verbal and non-verbal communication tool, or with patients from different cultural/ethnic backgrounds where English is not their primary language.3. To be able to provide and receive complex, sensitive, and contentious information such as discussinglimitations associated with diagnosis/procedures/prognosis, managing complex discharges andproviding appropriate emotional support where persuasion motivation and reassurance skills arerequired.4. To be able to assess a patients understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consentand have capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent totreatment.5. To keep accurate written records of assessment and treatment in accordance with the trust, NHS and professional OT standards including comprehensive discharge/home and progress reports to medical and therapy referrers.6. To attend and contribute to relevant service-related meetings.7. To promote understanding of the aims of OT intervention within the MDT team and with external agencies involved in the patients care.Leadership and Management
- To be responsible for the competent use and maintenance of rehabilitation equipment and supportothers in the effective and safe use of this equipment.2. To assist in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of junior staff and assistants.3. To undertake delegated tasks and roles from the team lead and be able to deputise for them onoccasions.4. To effectively plan and organise own time, patient caseload, meetings, training and be able toadjust plans as required according to staffing levels and unpredictable factors.5. To assist in the planning of junior staff, students and assistant timetables and deputise for seniorstaff in organisational duties.Education, Training and Research1. To organise and contribute to the teams training and post-registration education programme.2. To contribute to the education of multidisciplinary groups, patients, families and carers asappropriate.3. To be responsible for individual undergraduate student Occupational Therapists supervision and practice-based learning.4. To adopt a proactive approach in learning from others within, and outside of the Occupational Therapy profession.
- Research and development
- 1. To actively participate in the departments quality improvement and clinical audit programme through the completion of authorised projects2. To implement and maintain evidenced-based Occupational Therapy practice through continuingprofessional development.3. To ensure good working knowledge and application of national and local clinical standardsEffort1. To be able to undertake episodes of moderate physical effort for several short periods during ashift.2. To be able to effectively maintain concentration at work despite frequent interruptions and, attimes, an unpredictable working pattern.3. To tolerate and manage frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances and maintaina high level of professionalism.4. To tolerate and professionally manage frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions, suchas exposure to bodily fluids and offensive odours.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical1. To undertake specialist assessment and treatment of adults in Respiratory and Infectious Disease Wards.2. To enact the professional and legal responsibilities for all aspects of the post-holders own clinicalpractice.3. To carry out comprehensive assessments of patients including those with complex presentations, and form treatment and rehabilitation plans in partnership with the patient and theircarers/family.4. To formulate and deliver comprehensive treatment, rehabilitation and discharge plans, based onclinical skills, evidence-based practice, and patient preferences.5. To evaluate patient progress against agreed treatment goals and be able to modify plans accordingly.6. To determine a patients mental capacity to understand and to gain informed consent for treatment.To work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent and are deprived oftheir liberty.7. To co-ordinate intervention where there is a need to collaborate across multiple disciplines.8. To maintain accurate written records using an electronic patient record system and maintain fidelity to professional standards9. To determine and mitigate for risk of patient and staff harm using the agreed risk assessmentframeworks and the Trusts manual handling policy.10. To demonstrate physical ability to carry out Occupational Therapy assessment and interventions.11. To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory skills for assessment andtreatment of patients12. To represent Occupational Therapy and/or individual patients at multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensure delivery of co-ordinated care.13. To be an integral part of the teams extended hours and seven-day service provision.Communication1. To liaise with all members of the MDT, patients, carers, Health and Community Services, relevant external agencies and OUH staff to ensure a co-ordinated, consistent approach to service delivery.2. To communicate with individual patients and those involved in the patients care to gain consent and understanding of treatment programmes to ensure OT intervention is effective. This will frequently be with patients who have complex emotional, physical and psychological conditions e.g. aphasia and cognitive problems and will need expert use of verbal and non-verbal communication tool, or with patients from different cultural/ethnic backgrounds where English is not their primary language.3. To be able to provide and receive complex, sensitive, and contentious information such as discussinglimitations associated with diagnosis/procedures/prognosis, managing complex discharges andproviding appropriate emotional support where persuasion motivation and reassurance skills arerequired.4. To be able to assess a patients understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consentand have capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent totreatment.5. To keep accurate written records of assessment and treatment in accordance with the trust, NHS and professional OT standards including comprehensive discharge/home and progress reports to medical and therapy referrers.6. To attend and contribute to relevant service-related meetings.7. To promote understanding of the aims of OT intervention within the MDT team and with external agencies involved in the patients care.Leadership and Management
- To be responsible for the competent use and maintenance of rehabilitation equipment and supportothers in the effective and safe use of this equipment.2. To assist in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of junior staff and assistants.3. To undertake delegated tasks and roles from the team lead and be able to deputise for them onoccasions.4. To effectively plan and organise own time, patient caseload, meetings, training and be able toadjust plans as required according to staffing levels and unpredictable factors.5. To assist in the planning of junior staff, students and assistant timetables and deputise for seniorstaff in organisational duties.Education, Training and Research1. To organise and contribute to the teams training and post-registration education programme.2. To contribute to the education of multidisciplinary groups, patients, families and carers asappropriate.3. To be responsible for individual undergraduate student Occupational Therapists supervision and practice-based learning.4. To adopt a proactive approach in learning from others within, and outside of the Occupational Therapy profession.
- Research and development
- 1. To actively participate in the departments quality improvement and clinical audit programme through the completion of authorised projects2. To implement and maintain evidenced-based Occupational Therapy practice through continuingprofessional development.3. To ensure good working knowledge and application of national and local clinical standardsEffort1. To be able to undertake episodes of moderate physical effort for several short periods during ashift.2. To be able to effectively maintain concentration at work despite frequent interruptions and, attimes, an unpredictable working pattern.3. To tolerate and manage frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances and maintaina high level of professionalism.4. To tolerate and professionally manage frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions, suchas exposure to bodily fluids and offensive odours.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Occupational Therapy
- Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council
- Evidence of Continuing Professional development- post graduate level
Desirable
- Membership of clinical Interest Group
Experience
Essential
- Broad range of experience at a junior level including core areas such as Respiratory, infectious diseases, othopaedics, neurology adult
- Experience working with frailty
- Experience working as pat of the MDT
Desirable
- Participation in weekend rotas
- Community experience
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Up-to-date practice in adult rehabilitation
- Understands the legal responsibilities of professional practice
- Able to present information, written and verbal, in a clear and logical manner
- Able to communicate complex and sensitive information
- Able to organise, prioritise and delegate to others
- Board understanding and application of clinical governance in Occupational Therapy practice
- Ability to comprehend and work within the Trust's policies of data protection, equal opportunities and Health and Safety to meet the differing needs of patients and staff.
- Able to effectively deliver and participate in staff training
- Competent in Microsoft office and presentation skills
- Physical ability to carry out OccupationPhysical ability to carry out Occupational Therapy assessments, interventions and therapeutic handling throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities.
- Ability to cope with working in a stressful environment
Desirable
- Capable of using Microsoft Teams as a collaborative platform
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Enthusiastic
- Team Player
- Flexible and organised
- Reliable and Empathetic
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Occupational Therapy
- Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council
- Evidence of Continuing Professional development- post graduate level
Desirable
- Membership of clinical Interest Group
Experience
Essential
- Broad range of experience at a junior level including core areas such as Respiratory, infectious diseases, othopaedics, neurology adult
- Experience working with frailty
- Experience working as pat of the MDT
Desirable
- Participation in weekend rotas
- Community experience
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Up-to-date practice in adult rehabilitation
- Understands the legal responsibilities of professional practice
- Able to present information, written and verbal, in a clear and logical manner
- Able to communicate complex and sensitive information
- Able to organise, prioritise and delegate to others
- Board understanding and application of clinical governance in Occupational Therapy practice
- Ability to comprehend and work within the Trust's policies of data protection, equal opportunities and Health and Safety to meet the differing needs of patients and staff.
- Able to effectively deliver and participate in staff training
- Competent in Microsoft office and presentation skills
- Physical ability to carry out OccupationPhysical ability to carry out Occupational Therapy assessments, interventions and therapeutic handling throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities.
- Ability to cope with working in a stressful environment
Desirable
- Capable of using Microsoft Teams as a collaborative platform
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Enthusiastic
- Team Player
- Flexible and organised
- Reliable and Empathetic
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
