Occupational Therapist

Royal Devon; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Staff discounts

Family friendly policies

Flexible working

Job summary

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 6 Occupational Therapist for the Urgent Community Response (UCR) Team in Central & East Exeter. This role focuses on enabling independence at home and preventing hospital admissions within a supportive, team-based environment.

You will work 8am-8pm across 7 days with flexible patterns (5 days of 7.5h or 4 days of 9.5h/9h). The team offers structured induction, supervision, and opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• Autonomous practitioner with excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in community/urgent care settings preferred.
• Willingness to work across 7 days with early and late shifts.

Responsibilities

• Support hospital discharge and prevent admission through home-based interventions.
• Provide clinical supervision to rotational staff and support workers.
• Work within a team to prioritise, problem-solve and adapt to change.
• Deliver a 7-day service across 8am-8pm with rotating shifts.

Skills

Autonomous practitioner

Lone working

Communication skills

Problem solving

Team player

Job description

Would you like to join a friendly, dynamic & supportive service, based in a health and social care hub in Central & East Exeter? We are seeking a Band 6 substantive Occupational Therapist to join our team based within the Urgent Community Response (UCR) Team in Central & East Exeter.

About the Role

More detail about the role

We aim to provide high quality care to maximise independence and quality of life at home through a strength-based approach. This is completed within a supportive network of experienced therapists offering a structured induction, time to shadow other community teams, peer support groups and opportunities for career development.

Our focus is on keeping patients safe in their own home environment through assisting hospital discharges and preventing hospital admission. The UCR function covers 8am-8pm across 7 day working and provides a 2-hour response to admission avoidance patients within the community, supporting the National Ageing Well Agenda within the NHS Long Term Plan.

We work extremely closely and hold a team-based caseload to assist group-focused problem solving through daily team meetings. Due to the workstreams, we see a variety of patients, including and not exclusively:

• Working with patients with long-term conditions
• Frailty
• End of life
• Neurological conditions
• Respiratory conditions
• Trauma, orthopaedic and musculoskeletal conditions
• Moving and handling including equipment prescription

There will be an opportunity to provide clinical supervision to rotational staff members as well as support workers. We strongly support a learning environment, therefore we also support students and apprentices within the team, which you will have an opportunity to work with.

The successful candidate will be an autonomous practitioner who is confident with lone working. You will require excellent communication skills, with the ability to prioritise, problem solve and be a team player who is adaptable to change.

Working Pattern:We are happy to support a 5-day working (7.5 hour shifts) or 4-day working (9.5 or 9.0 hour shifts) week. The service runs Monday-Sunday, 8am-8pm and you would be rota'd for shifts within these hours.

Interview Date:Provisionally set for 22nd October 2026.

As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Preference will be given to staff with ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation TrustandNorthern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

About Us

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford). Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within people’s own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world-class care to our local communities.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do.

It has never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as you will help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.

Looking after you is important to us.

We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.

If you are starting out in the NHS, you’ll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.

You will benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.

We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.

This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we will help you get there.

Salary is not the only financial benefit

You will have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers. You will also have access to other benefits including:

• National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
• Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter
• Car lease schemes.
• The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
• Cycle to work scheme

These are just a few of the benefits available – if the role is something you are interested in, we would love to hear from you.

• Salary Band 6: £39,959 - £48,117 per annum pro rata
• Frequency Annual
• Vacancy Reference 185-1392-14318
• Contract Type Permanent
• Closing Date 11 October, 2026
• Job Category Occupational Therapy
• Staff Group Allied Health Professionals
• Location Poltimore Centre, Exeter Community Hospital, Hospital Lane, Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom