Occupational Therapist Band 5-6 Development post - Internal

Job summary
Internal applicants only.

This post would suit an experienced B5 with an interest in working within the acute hospital and playing a crucial role in the safe and effective discharge of patients.

We have developed this post to enable an experienced Band 5 to progress to a band 6 position. The development programme will support those without experience in this specialist field to learn and develop their skills over a 12-month period, where you will receive mentoring and training on the job. At the end of the 12 months, you will progress to a Band 6 Occupational Therapist if the competencies have been achieved.

You will play a key role within our In-patient Occupational Therapy Team in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care to adults across a range of acute wards.

Acute Occupational Therapy intervention continues to evolve rapidly, with a strong emphasis on supporting safe and timely discharge. This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop specialist skills while contributing meaningfully to service delivery and improvement.

You will manage a varied and rewarding caseload, gaining experience of frailty, oncology, respiratory, surgery and ED. The post holder will hold a specialist caseload, using a range of knowledge and skills to provide Occupational therapy interventions to patients within our organisation.

Main duties of the job
Your role will include:

• Undertaking specialist OT assessments and interventions for frail and complex patients, with support from clinical leads.
• Contributing to safe discharge planning through timely assessment, equipment provision, and liaison with community services.
• You will have the opportunity to develop your skills with complex manual handling with appropriate training and support from experienced colleagues.
• You will work closely with physiotherapists, nurses, consultants, ACPs, and other MDT members to deliver coordinated care.
• Supporting service evaluation, audits, and quality improvement projects within the frailty pathway.
• Participating in supervision of junior staff and students and contributing to in-service training and education.
• You will require good clinical knowledge of physical rehabilitation; working to facilitate safe and effective care and hospital discharge.

All staff are encouraged to engage in in-service training and CPD is well supported.

This post is eligible for the trusts relocation package, you will need to submit a claim form and eligible receipts upon commencement with the trust and you must remain in post within the trust for minimum 2 years.

About us
We operate from three main hospitals-Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, and Ulverston Community Health Centre.

FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.

WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.

All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies, day case and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.

Job responsibilities
To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading.

You can also read more information about University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay visiting our website

Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential

• Health and Care Professions Council registered Occupational Therapist.
• Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy approved by the Royal College of OT, UK
• Working as Band 5 Occupational Therapist

Desirable

• Experience in risk assessment and risk management
• Practice placement educator accreditation
• Membership of the British Association of Occupational Therapists.

Experience
Essential

• Relevant post registration experience as a Band 5 OT to achieve knowledge and skills applicable to this post.
• Post registration experience in a relevant clinical area.
• Desire to progress and engage in the Band 6 OT development programme

Desirable

• Experience of research or audit
• Experience as a supervisor of OT support staff and/or OT students.

Skills, ability and knowledge
Essential

• Transferable knowledge and skills at basic practitioner level with aptitude to develop to specialist OT practitioner level.
• Assessment, observation, evaluation and reporting skills.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships / team working.
• Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues
• Ability to work under pressure and recognise when support is required
• Effective personal organisational skills to manage own workload and to determine priorities to support delivery of the site OT service

Desirable

• Training and facilitation skills
• Clinical work experience at OT Band 5 grade in a variety of clinical areas in an acute hospital setting and community

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the post
• Ability to participate in manual handling tasks and therapeutic handling
• Ability to travel to provide assessment and treatment to patients in the community and to attend meetings

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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).

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).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).