Band 7 - Occupational Therapist, Orthopaedics and Surgery

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Watford; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 59,000; Part time

Job summary

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking a Band 7 Occupational Therapist to join the inpatient Orthopaedic and Surgical therapy team at Watford General Hospital. The post is for 23.5 hours per week, with flexibility to spread over 3 or 4 days and a required Monday shift.

The role emphasises leadership, clinical expertise in trauma, orthopaedics and postoperative care, discharge planning, and service development.

Qualifications

• HCPC registration as Occupational Therapist.
• Occupational Therapy degree qualification and NHS experience.
• Evidence of CPD and expanded/specialised knowledge in surgical & orthopaedics OT.
• Attendance at a Clinical Educators Course.
• Postgraduate degree/qualification in related field.
• Leadership training participation evidence.
• Membership of a professional network such as BACPAR.

Responsibilities

• Lead OT clinical team alongside another Band 7 with orthopaedics/surgical expertise.
• Deliver OT assessment and intervention for trauma, orthopaedics and post-operative patients.
• Lead discharge planning and timely transfers to community services.
• Oversee appraisals and professional development of junior staff.
• Drive service development projects and audits within the department.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Teaching

Professional development

Clinical governance understanding

Education

HCPC registration as OT

Occupational Therapy degree

Clinical Educators Course

Postgraduate degree/qualification

CPD evidence in surgical/orthopaedics OT

Leadership courses/training

BACPAR membership

Job description

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Band 7 - Occupational Therapist, Orthopaedics and Surgery

The closing date is 17 November 2026

Are you enthusiastic and passionate about working with people in a fast-paced, acute care setting? Are you looking to develop your leadership and clinical skills in Orthopaedics and Surgery?

Then we might have the job for you! We are looking for an enthusiastic, experienced Occupational Therapist to join our inpatient Orthopaedic and Surgical therapy team at Watford General Hospital.

This post is offered part-time for 23.5hrs a week and we welcome discussion of these hours being over 3 or 4 days but do require the post holder to work on a Monday.

The Occupational Therapy team have core working hours of 8:00 am-16:00 pm and is part of a 7-day working rota (frequency of 1:6 weekends) with rest days in the following week.

This post is based on acute hospital wards and NHS experience in Orthopaedics and Surgery is essential.

Main duties of the job

You will be leading the team alongside another Band 7, providing OT clinical expertise in Orthopaedics and Surgery.

The clinical areas this post includes:

Trauma & Orthopaedics - working with the MDT to facilitate an 'enablement approach' to rehabilitation and supported discharge of trauma orthopaedic patients. This can include # NOF patients, head injuries and spinal cord injuries.

Surgical - working across surgical wards in the acute hospital to provide assessment and intervention to patients following acute surgery, including new amputees.

Discharge planning skills are key to this post, and you will need to be able to make timely decisions regarding transfer to community services and managing referrals to specialist units.

You should have a caring, committed and quality focused approach to the provision of patient care.

You will need to be a dynamic team leader with excellent communication skills.

You will lead on appraisals and development of more junior staff and will lead on service development projects /audits within the department.

You will be supported with your personal development by the Therapy Team Leads with opportunities for additional training based on your personal development plan.

About us

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance.www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support or guidance please [e-mail]

We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for a full list of duties and details about the role.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications:

• Member of Professional Body or equivalent recognised by Health Care Professionals Council.
• Occupational Therapy degree qualification or equivalent and NHS experience.
• Documented evidence of Continued Professional Development of expanded and highly specialised knowledge and skills.
• Attendance at a Clinical Educators Course.
• Attained or working towards a Post Graduate Degree/qualification.
• Evidence of leadership courses / training.
• Membership of a professional Special Interest Group or National or Regional Network - ie. BACPAR.

Knowledge:

• Understanding of organisational structure of the NHS and Social Care.
• Demonstrate an ability to provide professional/clinical leadership.
• Understanding of Standards - Health Care Professions Council/COT/BAOT/Local/National.
• Understanding policies and procedures (local e.g. Health and Safety).
• Specialist knowledge of acute post-surgical Occupational Therapy management and pathways, including amputees, trauma and acute Orthopaedics.
• Demonstrate evidence of service development / QI projects/ audits
• Demonstrate understanding of clinical governance and the implications of the service.

Experience:

• Ability to teach and present to qualified/non-qualified staff and other disciplines, in groups or individually, using a variety of media.
• Ability to lead clinical education of less experienced staff, students, or assistants.
• Documented evidence of Continued Professional Development of expanded and highly specialised knowledge and skills in surgical & Orthopaedics OT.
• Senior level experience working with patient following major surgery, amputees and trauma patients.
• Broad range of rotational experience including neuro and elderly care.
• Attendance at post graduate courses in relevant fields (specific to the post).
• Experience of leading competency training / IST.

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.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

£51,657 to £58,785 a yearpa inc HCA pro rata