Occupational Therapist

NHS Lothian; Livingston; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Lothian’s occupational therapy team at St John's Hospital is seeking a dedicated Band 5 Occupational Therapist to provide a full, independent service of assessment, diagnosis and treatment for a range of patients.

You will supervise AHP assistant practitioners and students, contribute to training, and educate carers about therapy processes. This permanent post is 36 hours per week with PVG checks and UK Right to Work obligations.

Qualifications

Responsibilities

• To act independently to provide a full comprehensive service of assessment, diagnosis, treatment/appropriate management, onward referral and discharge to a range of patients referred to the service.
• To supervise AHP assistant practitioners, clinical support workers, and students. To contribute in the development and delivery of training programmes for a wide range of professionals and carers.
• To educate carers and significant others in the understanding of both the therapy process and any intervention relating to the management of patients medical and social needs.

Job description

Job reference: 263391
Salary: Band 5 (£34,544 - £43,039)
Job closing date: 11/11/2026
Job Type: Allied Health Professions
Location: St John's Hospital
Employment type: Permanent
Hours Per Week: 36
Job posted date: 28/10/2026
Employer (NHS Board): NHS Lothian
Department: Occupational Therapy

Job Advert

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

The Job Purpose is to:

• To act independently to provide a full comprehensive service of assessment, diagnosis, treatment/appropriate management, onward referral and discharge to a range of patients referred to the service.
• To supervise AHP assistant practitioners, clinical support workers, and students. To contribute in the development and delivery of training programmes for a wide range of professionals and carers.
• To educate carers and significant others in the understanding of both the therapy process and any intervention relating to the management of patients medical and social needs.

Application guidance

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application—but your answers must be your own.

• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It's fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don't let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you—not an AI tool.

Right to work

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

Please note

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long‑term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

PVG requirement

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.

If after reading this information you have any questions, please contact Heather Robertson at 01506 524131.

Supporting Documents

• Lothian Additional Information (PDF)
• NHSL - 263391 - Occupational Therapist - Job Description (PDF)
• NHSL - 263391 - Occupational Therapist - Person Specification (PDF)