Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust; Guildford; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust in Guildford is seeking a Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist (AfC Band 7) to join the Orthopaedic & Surgical team. The role involves delivering expert OT assessments and interventions, supporting complex discharges and supervising OT staff.

We require a registered OT with HCPC, and a Masters level or equivalent, with experience in an acute NHS setting. The department operates seven days a week and weekend work is expected. Car use for business is essential.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Occupational Therapy from a recognized awarding body.
• Registered with HCPC and UK-based.
• Educated to master’s level or equivalent and senior supervisor experience.
• Experience in acute NHS Trust or Community Trust at a senior level.
• Experience supervising OT students and junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist knowledge to the Occupational Therapy team within the specialty Unit, ensuring ongoing service development and clinical governance.
• Collaborate with MDT to plan complex discharges.
• Supervise junior and senior Occupational Therapy staff.
• Develop new pathways and ways of working to enhance patient experience.
• Carry out expert assessments and interventions for complex cases; support discharge and referrals.

Skills

Occupational Therapy

Clinical governance

Discharge planning

Audit & research

Education

Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy

HCPC registration

Masters level / supervisor experience

OT supervision for degree students

Job description

Employer Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust Town Guildford Salary £51,657 - £58,785 (per annum) including High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) Salary period Yearly Closing 24/11/2026 23:59

Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist

AfC Band 7

Job overview

Are you looking to specialise in Orthopaedics, Surgery and Medicine? Are you an experienced Band 6 looking for a promotion? Or an established Band 7 wanting to join a vibrant and dynamic team?

A new & exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic & motivated Occupational Therapist (OT) to join our dedicated department. We are passionate about patient centred care, support our clinicians to lead & deliver excellent & compassionate services, & value our clinical teams as the real heart of the NHS.

This position is for a Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist within our well-established Orthopaedic & Surgical team, working with patients who have an orthopaedic injury or general surgical intervention. The team also support one of our medical wards. The team covers all aspects of care for patients with a variety of co-morbidities, social & environmental challenges. The OT will support individuals to achieve their goals in self-care, productivity & leisure through assessment on the ward, onward referral & discharge.

We pride ourselves on being a forward thinking department and it is expected that you will be integral to our department and team service development.

Our services cover 7 days per week & the post holder will be expected to work regular weekends & bank holidays. Use of own car for business use is essential.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 7 Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist you will work within a highly respected Occupational Therapy team comprising of support workers, junior OTs, apprentices, rotational specialist OT, and highly specialist Occupational Therapists under the lead of experienced Team Lead OTs. The team work closely with the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team and have an excellent, well respected working relationship with Doctors, Nurses, Physios, Social Care Team and Case Managers. Our team are always looking to enhance their service in line with national guidance to provide an enhanced service to our local population.

As a Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist, you will be expected to deliver expert assessment and interventions, manage complex clinical needs, have excellent communication skills in order to maximise the patients independence and facilitate safe, timely discharge

Working as a valued member of the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team your role will include assessment and treatment of patients, prevention and treatment of de-conditioning, facilitation of timely and effective patient discharge, and on-going referrals to other agencies. You will also take on the responsibility of supervising Band 5s and 6s. As the opportunity arises, you will be expected to take on the supervision and education of Occupational Therapy Students on placement.

Working for our organisation

Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5,000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing programme alongside a strong commitment to developing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family ensures you feel valued from your initial interview and throughout your time with us.

We are clinically led and provide joined-up care by bridging hospital and community services, alongside delivering regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford, with community sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh, and services delivered in patients’ homes across Guildford and Waverley.

We work in partnership with Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust through a collaborative Group Model, supporting joined-up services, workforce flexibility and development opportunities.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated us as Outstanding. We are proud of our achievements and continue to invest in our people and infrastructure.

To learn more about life at Royal Surrey, please watch our short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo

Adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• The post holder will be responsible for providing specialist knowledge to the Occupational Therapy team within the specialty Unit, ensuring the continuing development of the service reporting progress for clinical governance and audit purposes
• The post holder will work within the MDT to assist in the planning of complex discharges.
• The post holder is responsible for the supervision and management of Junior and senior Occupational Therapy staff.
• The post holder will work with wider services to develop new pathways and ways of working to enhance the patient experience.

Identifies the Occupational therapy role and develops a service within a Specialist Multi-disciplinary team for patients with conditions associated with specialty. To use highly specialist Occupational Therapy knowledge and skills to manage a complex caseload of patients, with regard to the physical, emotional, social, spiritual and psychosocial aspects of their care. The post holder will act as an autonomous practitioner and as a source of expertise in the OT assessment, treatment and management of this client group; providing advice to patients, carers, other health and social care professionals, consultants, GPs and fellow OTs. The post holder will incorporate national guidance, and the use of evidence based research into their practice and that of the service.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification to understand more about the opportunity this role presents you.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy by recognised awarding body College of Occupational Therapists.
• Educated to masters level/ degree level/NVQ/ Certificate OR equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level/supervisor/ in specialist area.
• Satisfies the criteria for full Membership of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Must be a State Registered Occupational Therapist.
• Further qualifications/Study
• Member of the appropriate special interest group.
• An approved Occupational Therapy supervisor for OT degree students

Knowledge

• Completed all core Junior rotations
• Extensive experience within specialty in an acute NHS Trust,/ Community Trust , at a Senior Level.
• Evidence to support knowledge base in specialist area
• Evidence of post registration education and continuous professional development
• Specialist clinical skills in specialty area
• Knowledge of systems used for data recording and reporting
• Experience of audit, research and evidence based practice

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Suzanne Ward Job title Head of Occupational Therapy Email address [e-mail] Additional information

For further information, or for an informal visit/chat please contact: Keri Thompson – Orthopaedic OT Team lead, Suzanne Ward (Head Occupational Therapist) or Isla Pavey (Deputy Head Occupational Therapist) on 01483 571122 ext 4766. Email: [e-mail] or [e-mail]