Band 5 Rotational Occupational Therapist

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust; Torquay; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Band 5 Rotational Occupational Therapist to join a structured development pathway across multiple sites in Torbay.

This programme offers a supported preceptorship, broad clinical exposure across acute hospital, community and intermediate care, and dedicated supervision to help you grow as an OT.

The role is full-time with 37.5 hours per week and flexible working; weekend and shift duties may be required.

Qualifications

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy
• Current HCPC registration
• Experience in an OT or Multidisciplinary team
• Knowledge of National service frameworks and clinical guidelines
• Commitment to monthly supervision and to service development groups
• Ability to work in varied and challenging settings

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality, safe OT services across rotation areas.
• Assess needs and develop plans with MDT input; rotate every 6 months.
• Work under supervision of a Band 6 OT to maximise independence for patients.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Clinical reasoning

Problem solving

Education

Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy

Job description

Band 5 Rotational Occupational Therapist

NHS AfC: Band 5

Main area Occupational Therapy Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (weekend working and shift working may be required) Job ref 388-8293145-FC&I

Site Various sites due to rotation Town Torquay Salary £32,073 - £39,043 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 23/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

Are you a newly qualified or early-career Occupational Therapist looking for a role where you can grow, explore and truly make a difference?

This is more than just your first job , it’s a supported development journey.

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity to join our Band 5 Rotational Occupational Therapy Programme at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. This structured rotation provides the ideal environment to build confidence, develop a broad range of clinical skills, and discover the career path that’s right for you.

We offer a comprehensivePreceptorship Programme, giving you the time, support and guidance to grow into a confident, capable Occupational Therapist within a supportive team environment.

Based in the beautiful Torbay and South Devon area, you’ll be working across a diverse patch that includes stunning coastline, rural communities and vibrant towns. Our services span hospital and community settings, giving you the opportunity to work with a wide range of populations and truly understand whole-system care across urban and rural environments.

You will gain experience across a wide range of services including acute hospital care, community teams, intermediate care and specialist areas, working with people at every stage of their recovery journey to support independence, wellbeing and meaningful participation in daily life.

Informal conversations are actively encouraged, please contact get in touch to discuss the role.

Main duties of the job

• To provide high quality, safe Occupational Therapy services in the right place, at the right time to support the people of Torbay and South Devon to live their lives , with meaningful occupation and purpose.
• This will involve working with individuals to assess their needs and develop plans to support them to achieve their aims, whilst working as part of a multidisciplinary team. As a member of the rotation you will change your work area every 6 months.
• Under the supervision of a Band 6 Occupational Therapist to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team in the specified area providing specialist occupational therapy input aimed at achieving maximum independence for all patients in order to meet their occupational needs in a meaningful and purposeful manner. To work in accordance with the professional code of conduct and standards of practice and operational policy for this service.

Working for our organisation

Torbay Hospital provides acute care for the local community and has several community hospitals, and is a hot-spot for those who are considering living by the sea or within half an hour of Dartmoor National Park and an hour to Exmoor National Park. Meanwhile, Plymouth and Exeter are also both within a short drive to enjoy the culture, maritime history and shopping experiences.

We provide an excellent opportunity for you to develop your skills and gain the foundations for your future career! Our rotation of 13 different placements, offers the opportunity to work in a variety of locations in the stunning South Devon area covering coast, countryside and urban working in a variety of practice areas such as acute and community hospitals, social care, paediatrics and intermediate care teams.

Our staff workforce is caring, committed, inclusive and focused on quality. We focus on solutions and people’s strengths, and encourage outside the box thinking and embrace innovation and change wherever it can drive improvement.

If you share our values and vision and are passionate about working with people on what matters to them, you could be a real asset to Team Torbay and South Devon.

Please note: Priority will be given to applicants with recognised 'Priority' or 'At Risk' status, including NHS staff identified across Devon.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy

Current HPC registration

Experience of working as part of an Occupational Therapy or Multidisciplinary team

Knowledge of relevant National service frameworks and clinical guidelines

Evidence of ability to work well within a multi-disciplinary team

Commitment to monthly supervision and to service wide development working groups as appropriate

Writing/typing reports

Ability to impart information concerning diagnosis and poor prognosis of physical recovery to patients and their carers

Ability to work with patients in settings that could be cramped, cluttered, unsafe, unhygienic and remote

Full UK driving licence and access to a car

Full Vacancy details can be found on the attached Job Description/Person Specification. Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supporting information from the role requirements or person specification.

#CaretojoinusTSD

Person specification

Qualifications

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy
• Current HCPC registration

Knowledge and experience

• Experience of working as part of an Occupational Therapy or Multidisciplinary team
• Experience in the core clinical area of OT within an NHS setting to include: Respiratory and cardiac, acute inpatient and care of the elderly, trauma and orthopaedics, community or intermediate care, neurological conditions, social care
• Legal Literacy to include Mental Capacity Act and Care Act 2014
• Knowledge of relevant National service frameworks and clinical guidelines
• Pre or post graduate experience of the following: Home assessment visits, functional assessments, initial interviews with patients/service users
• Evidence of good interpersonal skills with a wide range of people- ability to demonstrate a range of communication skills
• Evidence of clinical reasoning skills
• Evidence of good written and verbal skills
• Ability to evidence good problem-solving skills
• Ability to work flexibility, including weekends and bank holidays
• Evidence of commitment to the rotational scheme including willingness to work in all geographical areas covered by rotation
• Commitment to monthly supervision and to service wide development working groups as appropriate
• The job involves frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions on a regular (daily basis) e.g. bodily fluids including sputum, vomit, urine, faeces, fleas and lice and occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression or unpleasant home environments e.g. aggressive pets.
• Some rotations involve lone working–ability to assess and manage risk to self and patients
• Ability to be mobile in the South Devon area to complete community visits and attend meetings

You will be joining the organisation at an exciting time. As the first fully integrated care organisation in England, we are working to improve the way we deliver safe, high-quality health and social care. We have a positive and vibrant working atmosphere, we are proud of our investment in our staff both in terms of developing potential career skills and valuing people.

If you provide support to a family member or friend with health or care needs, we aim to be a Carer-friendly employer. We have a ‘Staff Carers’ policy which includes flexible working where possible and a Carer’s Passport scheme that links you into support and discounts.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• We reserve the right to close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we encourage you to apply promptly.
• Please read the job description carefully and tailor your application to reflect the requirements of the role.
• Applicants who identify in their application form they are a part of the Armed Forces community will be guaranteed an interview, provided they meet the minimum essential criteria outlined in the job description and person specification for the role. Step into Health guidance can be found on our NHS Employers website.
• Correspondence will be sent via Trac, text, and email. Please ensure you check your email and Trac account regularly.
• Applicants with no previous NHS experience will ordinarily be appointed to the minimum of the band.
• If you have not received an invitation to interview within 28 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
• It is your responsibility to ensure the timely receipt of appropriate references.

The Trust is committed to preventing discrimination, valuing diversity and achieving equality of opportunity. No person (staff, patient or public) will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of the nine protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. If you require support you can obtain this from our Equality Business Forum which has representatives from all protected groups.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.