Band 7 Advanced Occupational Therapist - Community

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust seeks an experienced Occupational Therapist to lead our Community Occupational Therapy Team across Rapid Response and Sister Winifred Laver Centre. The post requires clinical delivery, people management and MDT collaboration, with supervision and CPD encouraged.

A UK Driving Licence is required; you will work across sites within Gateshead to meet service demands. The role offers robust governance, supportive leadership and opportunities to develop service

Qualifications

• Essential: OT Degree and HCPC registration.
• Essential: Masters Level study or equivalent.
• Experience in relevant field to advertised specialism.
• Advanced manual handling/risk assessment skills and policy application.
• EBP/service development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the clinical delivery and leadership of the occupational therapy service.
• Manage a clinical caseload with advanced assessment and complex cases.
• Work as part of the MDT and uphold best practice standards.
• Lead service development based on data and guidance.
• Supervise, support, teach and appraise OT staff and students.

Skills

OT Degree

HCPC Registration

Team Leadership

Clinical Delivery

Education

OT Degree

Masters Level study

Job description

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and skilled Occupational Therapist to lead our Community Occupational Therapy Team. We are seeking a motivated and flexible clinician with a skill set in people management, team leadership and a proven record of clinical delivery to work across Rapid Response and Sister Winifred Laver Centre.

The post is fortunate to operate within a well-established and supportive MDT and benefits from clinical leadership/governance from the Occupational Therapy Department; where robust supervision and appraisal processes are in place and CPD is encouraged.

A UK Driving License and access to a vehicle for work purposes will be required for this post; the post holder will be required to work across sites within Gateshead NHS Trust to meet various service demands.

Enquiries are welcomed.

Main duties of the job

• To take the lead role in the clinical delivery and leadership of the aligned Occupational Therapy service.
• To manage a clinical caseload undertaking advanced assessment and appropriate treatment, dealing with clinically complex cases.
• To work as a key member of the MDT and acting in accordance with best practice standards.
• Take a lead in service development based on data and evolving national and local guidance.
• To lead in supervision, support, teaching and appraisal of Occupational Therapy staff and students, within the specialty.

About us

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

Job responsibilities

• Delivery of the specialty Occupational Therapy Service this will include service review, development and alignment to national best practice standards.
• To be professionally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients in your care.
• To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management and support all staff (registered and unregistered) to do likewise on a daily basis.
• Provide supervision to registered staff, non-registered staff and students as required.
• To provide a key focus for therapeutic clinical expertise, high quality advice and support to the multi-disciplinary team.
• Data collection and provide key communication between key stakeholders.
• Service development and innovation activities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Essential: OT Degree and HCPC registration
• Essential: Masters Level study or equivalent

Experience

• Essential: Extensive post registration experience in relevant field to advertised specialism
• Essential: Expert knowledge in assessment, treatment and management of complex patients, demonstrating clinical reasoning skills
• Essential: Advanced Manual handling/ risk assessment skills, application of policy and procedures
• Essential: EBP/ service development
• Essential: Interpersonal and communication skills
• Essential: Team working and OT advocacy
• Essential: Management of staff and awareness of policies and procedures
• Essential: Change Management/ Service Development/ Data review experience
• Desirable: NHS experience linked to area of expertise

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. 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

• Employer name: Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Address: Gateshead NHS Trust - various sites, Queen Elizabeth Hospital/ Bensham Hospital, Gateshead, NE9 6SX, United Kingdom
• Employer's website: https://www.qegateshead.nhs.uk

Contact

Occupational Therapy Service Lead: Claire McAuley, [e-mail], 01914453125

Job details

• Closing date: 29 October 2026
• Date posted: 15 October 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 7
• Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year pro rata
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 297-8338667
• Job locations: Gateshead NHS Trust - various sites, Queen Elizabeth Hospital/ Bensham Hospital, Gateshead, NE9 6SX, United Kingdom

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