Clinical Specialist OT Critical Care, respiratory & surgery. | Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

IMPERIAL COLLEGE HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST; Greater London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare institution in Greater London is seeking a Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist for critical care surgery pathways. This pivotal role involves overseeing specialist assessments and ensuring patient-centred care during recovery. The ideal candidate will possess advanced clinical skills and strong leadership qualities, leading a team while fostering a culture of excellence in therapy delivery. Benefits include flexible working, career development opportunities, and staff recognition schemes. This position aims to enhance patient care outcomes through innovative practices and effective teamwork.

Benefits

Career development

Flexible working

Wellbeing recognition scheme

Cycle to Work scheme

Car lease schemes

Membership for onsite leisure facilities

Qualifications

• Experience in critical care, surgery, or respiratory pathways is essential.
• Ability to supervise and educate staff effectively.
• Demonstrate advanced professional skills and maintain clinical quality.

Responsibilities

• Lead specialist assessments and pathway planning.
• Coordinate patient flow from ICU to wards and follow-up clinics.
• Inspire others to deliver best practice and improve service delivery.

Skills

Advanced clinical expertise

Strong leadership qualities

Collaborative care

Innovative thinking

Education

Relevant clinical qualifications

Job description

We are offering an opportunity for a Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist in Critical Care surgery and respiratory pathways to join our progressive therapy team, at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. This pivotal role spans the patient journey from initial admission in ICU through to safe transfer of care into the community. You will play a vital part in delivering high‑quality, patient‑centred care, ensuring continuity and excellence throughout recovery from surgery or acute respiratory illness.

As a senior clinician, you will lead on specialist assessments, treatments, and pathway planning. Your responsibilities will include supporting the coordination of patient flow from ICU to wards and follow‑up clinics, supporting liaison between teams, and embedding best practice across surgical and respiratory pathways. Leadership and development of others is central to this role: you will supervise, educate, and appraise Occupational Therapists across Bands 7–4, as well as students, fostering professional growth and a culture of excellence.

We are seeking an individual with advanced clinical expertise combined with strong leadership qualities, innovative thinking, and a passion for collaborative, patient‑centred care. You will join a forward‑thinking team with an excellent track record in care delivery, actively involved in NWL Cardiac, ICU, and Major Trauma Networks, as well as pan‑London therapy networks.

Clinical Practice

• Demonstrate advanced professional skills and service standards; act as a source of expertise for the MDT and provide highly specialist second opinions.
• Maintain and improve clinical quality and patient safety, promoting kind, compassionate care and shared decision‑making.
• Provide clinical leadership in partnership with patients, families, and MDT colleagues; influence planning and service delivery within critical care, surgery and respiratory.
• Lead development and support of clinical guidelines, SOPs, and therapy service policies; review skill mix and workforce.

Education

• Develop and implement training strategies with team leads and clinical academics; deliver education in management of pathways from ICU and integrated working.
• Act as role model, educator, supervisor, coach, and mentor; build staff confidence and competence in managing neurological illness or injury.

Leadership & Management

• Inspire and motivate others to deliver best practice and improve standards in line with evidence and national guidelines.
• Provide clinical supervision, support appraisal, and professional development for Occupational therapy staff across Bands 7–4 and students.

Professional Development

• Promote evidence‑based practice; support research, service improvement, evaluation, and audit in collaboration with clinical academics.
• Support therapy research strategy; network with clinical leads to share and enhance expertise.

Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

This advert closes on Friday 19 Dec 2025.