Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist

NHS; Crawley; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

An NHS Community Services provider in Crawley is seeking an experienced Occupational Therapist (Band 7) to lead the therapy team in Intermediate Care Units. This role includes providing clinical expertise, promoting rehabilitation, and supporting staff development. Ideal candidates possess leadership skills, relevant qualifications, and a strong commitment to high-quality patient care. The position offers flexible working options and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Excellent training and development opportunities

Cost-effective workplace nurseries

Qualifications

• Current HCPC Registration is essential.
• Evidence of leadership education or willingness to undertake such training required.
• Significant experience in delivering clinical leadership to a team.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership to the therapy team within the ICU.
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to promote rehabilitation.
• Lead service development initiatives including discharge planning.

Skills

Clinical reasoning

Leadership

Communication

Collaboration in MDT

Change management

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy

HCPC Registration

Post-registration qualification in relevant field

Job description

Job summary

Occupational Therapist - Clinical Lead (Band 7) | Intermediate Care Units

Are you an experienced Occupational Therapist ready to take the next step in your career? Do you thrive in a dynamic, supportive environment where patient-centred rehabilitation is the focus? Would you like to develop your leadership skills while continuing to work clinically? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

We are seeking an innovative, enthusiastic, and organised Occupational Therapist to join our Intermediate Care Units (ICUs) at Crawley and Horsham Hospitals as a Clinical Lead. This is an exciting leadership position where you will shape and develop the therapy service while continuing to deliver hands-on, high-quality clinical care.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical and professional leadership to the therapy team within the ICU
• Work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team, promoting a culture of rehabilitation and patient independence
• Deliver expert, complex occupational therapy assessments and interventions for a varied caseload
• Support and supervise staff through mentoring, coaching, and in-service training
• Lead on service development initiatives, including group activity plans and discharge planning
• Champion best practices in rehabilitation and contribute to achieving Trust-wide service delivery targets

About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Accredited Living Wage Employer
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust

Our values — Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence — guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Details

Date posted: 03 October 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 per year (pro rata)

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Part-time

Reference number: 150-GM2143-UPC

Job location: Crawley Hospital, West Green Drive, Crawley, RH11 7DH

Job responsibilities

We’re looking for a passionate Occupational Therapist who:

• Has extensive experience working with complex rehabilitation and frailty
• Demonstrates excellent clinical reasoning, leadership, and communication skills
• Is motivated to lead, inspire, and support a diverse therapy team
• Embraces change and has a positive, proactive approach to service improvement
• Enjoys working as part of a collaborative MDT and is committed to delivering high-quality patient care

We will provide:

• A friendly, welcoming team environment with strong peer support
• Opportunities for ongoing professional development through internal and external CPD
• Protected leadership time to support service development and staff supervision
• A chance to contribute to the evolution of a forward-thinking Intermediate Care service
• Access to mentoring, supervision, and leadership development programmes

Person specification

Education (Essential)

• Degree/ postgraduate diploma/ or equivalent in Occupational Therapy
• Current HCPC Registration
• Evidence of a range of clinical competencies appropriate for the role
• Post-registration qualification/training to master’s level in a relevant field or equivalent postgraduate training or experience
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Evidence of leadership education/development or willingness to undertake this

Experience (Essential)

• Significant experience providing clinical leadership to a team
• Significant experience in the specialist clinical setting
• Significant experience in supervision provision
• Experience of leading within a multi-professional team/collaborative working
• Experience of delivering quality improvement, innovation, and productivity
• Evidence of active participation in audit and clinically relevant research

Desirable

• Minimum of 4 years post-graduate experience
• Driver/owner of a vehicle

Disclosures and sponsorship

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975; a disclosure check will be required.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK will be considered alongside all other applications. For details visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. See NHS Careers website for more information.

Employer details

Employer: Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Crawley Hospital, West Green Drive, Crawley, RH11 7DH

Employer's website: https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/