Band 6 Occupational Therapist (5-6 Development Opportunity)

East London Nhs Foundation Trust; Bedford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

East London NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 5 Occupational Therapist to work in the Community across North Bedfordshire, primarily within the Community Occupational Therapy Team, with support to other services as needed.

The role involves managing a full clinical caseload, empowering clients to live independently at home, and contributing to student placements and apprenticeships, with monthly supervision and preceptorship.

Qualifications

• BSc Occupational Therapy degree and HCPC registration are essential.
• Post-graduate experience in occupational therapy is required.
• Experience working in the community and within the NHS is valued.

Responsibilities

• Manage a full clinical caseload in community settings.
• Support clients to regain independence in their own homes.
• Educate service users about holistic health to improve quality of life.
• Utilise clinical reasoning aligned with Trust policies and legislation.
• Support junior staff with supervision.

Skills

Lead and motivate others

Autonomous caseload management

Clinical reasoning

Home assessments

Equality and diversity

Education

BSc Occupational Therapy Degree

HCPC Registered Occupational Therapist

Post graduate experience

Experience of working in the community

Experience of working within the NHS

Job description

Job summary

Advert

OT - Band 5 to 6 development opportunity

This is an opportunity for a Band 5 Occupational Therapist to work in the Community across North Bedfordshire primarily in the Community Occupational Therapy Team, though supporting the other services when needs require. This is a developmental post

You will hold a full clinical caseload, with a focus on supporting individuals to live independently and safely. You will be part of a dynamic team that supports student placements and apprenticeships. You will receive and provide monthly supervision and complete a preceptorship course.

Main duties of the job

Main duties:

• To manage a full clinical caseload
• To support clients to regain their independence within their own place of residency
• Empower and educate service users about their holistic health and well-being to enhance quality of life and prevent relapse, considering the need for rehabilitation, social inclusion and health promotion.
• To use clinical reasoning and evidence based practices compliant with with Trust policies and National Legislation.
• To support junior staff with supervision

Candidates to be appointed at Band 5 within a structured developmental role, with a clear competency framework and support in place to enable progression to Band 6, typically within 12 months but this can be longer based on individual outcomes, and subject to successful assessment and service needs.

About us

ELFT is committed to equality of opportunity for all employees, job applicants and service users. We are committed to ensuring that no one will be discriminated against on the grounds of race, colour, creed, ethnic or national origin, disability, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation or marital status. The Trust commits itself to promote equal opportunities and value diversity and will keep under review its policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, users and providers of its services are treated according to their needs.

Details

Date posted 01 September 2026 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 5 Salary £32,073 to £48,117 a year per annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 363-CHB7945774-B Job locations Twinwoods NHS Clinical Resource Centre, Milton Road, Clapham, Bedford, MK41 6AT, United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please kindly see the attached Job Description

Please do not apply if you do not hold a full drivers license and have access to a vehicle.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

• BSc Occupational Therapy Degree or Diploma
• HCPC Registered Occupational Therapist
• Clear record of post graduate experience
• Significant and relevant post graduate experience
• Experience of a broad range of physical conditions, treatment techniques and intervention
• Core rehabilitation skills
• Experience of working with adult clients with primarily physical illness or disability
• Experiences of working within the community
• Experience of working within the NHS

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Detailed understanding of a wide range of physical medical conditions
• Knowledge and understanding of mental health conditions that affect physical conditions
• Ability to lead and motivate others
• Provide advice/support on clinical issues to other agencies as required
• Good team player and leader
• Ability to work autonomously and manage a complex and varied caseload.
• Ability to analyse results of assessments and arrange/change OT interventions accordingly
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity
• Work and carry out assessments in clients' homes
• Fit and demonstrate the use of equipment
• Work with clients, families, carers and other professionals of those that are terminally ill
• Supporting clients with severe long term conditions causing distress to themselves and/or their family/carers
• Have an understanding of Sepsis and other sudden, potentially critical onset conditions

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).

Employer details

Employer name East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address Twinwoods NHS Clinical Resource Centre, Milton Road, Clapham, Bedford, MK41 6AT, United Kingdom

Employer's website https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details Therapies Clinical Service Manager Amy Simpson [e-mail] 07435734321

East London NHS Foundation Trust is committed to equality of opportunity for all employees, job applicants and service users. We are committed to ensuring that no one will be discriminated against on the grounds of race, colour, creed, ethnic or national origin, disability, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation or marital status. The Trust commits itself to promote equal opportunities and value diversity and will keep under review its policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, users and providers of its services are treated according to their needs.