Occupational Therapist

NHS Jobs; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Induction programme

Professional development

Clinical supervision

Job summary

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an Occupational Therapist to join the Acute OT Team on a development pathway from Band 5 to Band 6. The post involves supporting discharge planning, assessing needs, and promoting independence for patients following acute illness.

The role offers a supportive environment with induction, ongoing professional development, and regular supervision. Progression to a substantive Band 6 position is anticipated after achieving competencies within

Qualifications

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy and HCPC registration are required.
• Evidence of postgraduate learning relevant to clinical area is desirable.
• Continuing professional development is expected.

Responsibilities

• Support clinical delivery of OT on Acute Wards.
• Manage own caseload and provide autonomous clinical duties.
• Assist with discharge planning and patient/carer education.
• Contribute to staff development and supervision.

Skills

OT process

Clinical reasoning

Discharge planning

Team collaboration

Education

HCPC registration

OT Diploma/Degree

Postgraduate learning

Job description

Go back Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 16 October 2026

We are excited to advertise a Band 5 to Band 6 Development Occupational Therapist role within the Acute OT Team at Great Western Hospital.

The successful post holder will join a team of Occupational Therapists, Apprentices and Therapy Assistants working across Medical, Surgical and Respiratory wards, supporting patients, families and carers with discharge planning and facilitating safe transitions home from hospital.

We are a supportive, welcoming and passionate team who work collaboratively to achieve the best outcomes for our patients, while supporting one another's development and wellbeing. We place great value on ensuring new team members feel confident and well supported, and therefore offer a comprehensive induction programme, regular in-service training, and opportunities for continued professional development.

You can also expect regular support through clinical and managerial supervision, daily caseload discussions, and monthly team meetings.

This is a development post offering the opportunity to progress from Band 5 to Band 6. With the support and development opportunities available, we would expect the successful candidate to achieve the required competencies and objectives within approximately 12 months, enabling progression to a substantive Band 6 position

Main duties of the job

Support the clinical delivery of Occupational Therapy on the Acute Wards by:

• Prioritising patients who require OT to support weekends discharges.
• Provide interventions inc. Assessing and providing equipment to enable and support on discharge.
• Providing Risk Assessments for care agencies for new equipment.
• Signposting and referring patients on to services to support follow up on discharge.
• Liaising with the MDT to support problem solving blocks to weekend discharges for example working with transport teams and our discharge support teams.
• Providing guidance and training to patients and their families and carers to promote independence to manage at home, following acute illness.

About us

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

Job responsibilities

• To assist with the modernisation of the therapy services to provide high quality care and timely intervention.
• To hold responsibility for own case load and be responsible for all patients on their wards. Supervision will take the form of regular formal training, clinical reasoning sessions and one to one sessions with a supervisor.
• The staff member will be required to work their contracted hours over 7 days a week.
• To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

Please see attached job description for full details.

Qualifications Band 6

• Registered with Health and Care Professions Council
• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy
• Evidence of postgraduate learning relevant to clinical area
• Evidence of continuing Professional Development
• Registered field work educator
• Evidence of basic management training
• Member of special interest group
• NVQ Assessor
• Member of professional body

Qualifications Band 5

• Diploma /Degree: Occupational Therapy
• Registered with Health Profession council
• Member of professional body / special interest groups

Experience Band 5

• Application of OT process
• Use of functional assessment and activity analysis
• Broad clinical experience.(placement level or post graduate)
• Use of basic outcome measures
• Evidence of Continuing professional development e.g. a Portfolio
• AuditExperience of planning and co-ordinating treatment programmes
• Experience of a broad range of clinical interventions

Experience Band 6

• Experience of working within the specific clinical area
• Broad clinical experience e.g. surgical, ED, neurology, medical, orthopaedic, hand injuries, rehabilitation.
• Experience of providing a broad range of interventions for a complex caseload
• Use of goal setting and outcome measures
• Experience of providing supervision for junior staff or assistants
• Lead for student supervision
• Carrying out and receiving appraisal
• Experience in and an understanding of clinical governance e.g. audit, risk management, education
• Application of the Occupational Therapy process and models of practice
• Experience of providing a broad range of interventions for a highly complex caseload
• Experience of working with children and/ or adults in acute hospital services
• Experience of using a wide range of standardised and non-standardised assessments
• Involvement in the recruitment and retention process
• Service development and change management
• Taking a lead role in project work
• Inter-disciplinary team working

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£39,959 to £48,117 a yearper annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working