Occupational Therapist - Inpatients - Acute Wards

Mcht; Crewe; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) is seeking a Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join the inpatient acute wards. You will work 30 hours per week on a rota including Saturdays, supporting discharge planning and MDT collaboration on surgical wards.

The role offers part-time hours with flexible working arrangements, with supervision and opportunities for clinical leadership development within the team.

Job description

Occupational Therapist - Inpatients - Acute Wards

Band 6

Main area Occupational Therapy Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours

• Part time
• Flexible working

30 hours per week (Saturday Working as part of a rota) Job ref 412-DCSS-8252428

Site Leighton Hospital Town Crewe Salary £39,959 - £48,117 pa, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 15/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist

Band 6 - Frailty- 30 HOURS

We have an excellent opportunity for a motivated and highly enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to join our Inpatient team.

You will be working as a Specialist Band 6. You will support a Band Occupational Therapist and Band 3/4 Therapy Assistants. You will work alongside the MDT to support timely discharges for patients on the surgical wards. Part of the role will be supporting the Band 7 in service development initiatives and assisting the Team Manager, ensuring junior staff are supported in their roles. We offer regular supervision and actively encourage progression onto clinical leadership programmes to develop and enhance skills in this area.

Main duties of the job

To work autonomously to manage a defined patient caseload whilst working as part of a multidisciplinary team.

• To utilise advanced communication skills to ensure clinical advice and treatment programmes are delivered sensitively, taking into consideration the needs of carers.
• To gain consent for treatment and motivate patients to comply with treatment programmes, overcoming barriers such as dementia, cognitive impairment, hearing, visual or speech impairment.
• To undertake clinical assessment, taking into account all relevant information and clinical reasoning to formulate evidence based individualised treatment plans in agreement with the patient.
• To monitor progress and review treatment plans and interventions to facilitate the achievement of goals.
• To provide appropriate oral and written information for patients and carers where relevant.
• To maintain accurate documentation in line with professional standards, and local policies and procedures.
• To record and submit clinical activity data as required by the Trust in an accurate and timely manner.
• To ensure the safe and timely discharge of patients from the caseload, liaising with other agencies as required.
• To be responsible for safe and competent use of equipment including the provision of support, education and training to other staff, patients and carers as required.

Working for our organisation

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) provides good quality, safe and effective healthcare to the people of Cheshire and beyond. The Trust, which manages Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford, was established as an NHS Trust in April 1991 and became a Foundation Trust in April 2008.

We employ almost 5,000 members of staff, provide around 540 hospital beds, with a range of services including accident and emergency, maternity, outpatients, therapies, and children's health.

The Trust is also part of Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP), a unique local health partnership that provides a range of community services for people across South Cheshire and Vale Royal.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, the Trust was recognised nationally for its ‘Be Safe Be EquiPPEd’ campaign, which aimed to make the Trust as safe as possible for staff and patients, through supporting the correct use of PPE. The results in the 2020 national NHS Staff Survey showed improvements in all elements of the safety culture theme, with 92% of respondents feeling their role made a difference to our patients. We were also recognised nationally for our workforce health and wellbeing initiatives.

At Mid Cheshire, we value our staff and appreciate that in order to give our patients the best quality, compassionate care, we also need to look after our colleagues.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

• As a clinical specialist provide a high standard comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessment and treatment service to patients with complex presentation and provide clinical leadership and support to delegated staff.
• Work across the acute medical, to provide detailed assessments, develop treatment plans and facilitate early discharge.
• To collaborate closely with the patient and members of the multidisciplinary and multi-agency team to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients.
• To continuously contribute to service development and innovation.

SERVICE DELIVERY

• To work autonomously to manage a defined complex patient caseload whilst working as part of an integrated Therapy team.
• To contribute to the delivery of the service in a variety of defined clinical settings, which may include in-patient wards, and the patient’s home.
• To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients, contributing to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
• To utilise advanced communication skills to ensure clinical advice and treatment programmes are delivered sensitively, taking into consideration the needs of carers.
• To gain consent for treatment and motivate patients to comply with treatment programmes, overcoming barriers such as dementia, cognitive impairment, hearing, visual or speech impairment.
• To comply with the Mental Capacity Act to gain valid and informed consent to specific treatment and intervention for patients who lack capacity to consent themselves.
• To undertake specialist clinical assessment, taking into account all relevant information and clinical reasoning to formulate evidence based individualised treatment plans in agreement with the patient.
• To implement specialist individual and/or group interventions for patients with diverse presentations and complex needs.
• To monitor progress and review treatment plans and interventions to facilitate the achievement of goals.
• To provide appropriate oral and written information for patients and carers where relevant.
• To develop and maintain good working relationships with other healthcare professions, social care and other appropriate agencies, to ensure integrated and high quality patient outcomes.
• To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, contributing to decisions with regard to patient care programmes through attendance at ward rounds, case conferences and other multidisciplinary meetings.
• To maintain accurate documentation in line with professional standards, and local policies and procedures.
• To provide accurate and timely written information and reports to referring agents and other agencies where appropriate.
• To record and submit clinical activity data as required by the Trust in an accurate and timely manner.
• To ensure the safe and timely discharge of patients from the caseload, liaising with other agencies as required.
• To be responsible for safe and competent use of equipment including the provision of support, education and training to other staff, patients and carers as required.
• To identify appropriate equipment and adaptation needs, liaising with equipment providers, completing paperwork and complying with any tracking, stock control and maintenance systems as required.
• To be an active member of a weekend rota.

Staff are encouraged to contribute to service development through participation in audit and service improvement projects both on a uni-disciplinary and interdisciplinary basis.

On commencing the role you will have a full induction. We offer regular supervision, setting individual objectives, promoting self-analysis/reflection and development. All staff irrespective of their post will be given equal opportunity to undertake a full variety of CPD to support and develop them in their role.

MCHFT is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC, had the staff survey results of all acute trusts in England indicate that MCHFT is a good place to work. The Trust consistently achieves Cancer and A&E waiting time targets and has an award winning Maternity Unit. In recent years, we have invested in clinical expansion and now have cutting-edge clinical facilities including Critical Care and state-of-the-art theatres. The Trust has a ‘Stronger Together’ clinical partnership with University Hospital North Midlands and is part of Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP) which aims transform, develop and deliver health care services in the community.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Degree in Occupational Therapy
• Evidence of post qualification training in a relevant area

Registration

• HCPC registered

Experience

• Previous experience of working in the NHS
• Broad clinical experience, and knowledge of conditions
• Experience of working in an MDT
• Involvement with audit
• Completion of band 5 rotation
• Student educator or experience of having students

Communication

• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Evidence of managing complex situations using a range of communication skills

Key Messages

We are a forces-friendly employers.

Candidates should ensure that all submissions and interactions reflect the candidate’s own skills, experience, and understanding. Any use of AI that compromises the integrity, fairness, or authenticity of the recruitment process may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of offer, or dismissal if this these circumstances come to light post hire.

Candidates that require sponsorship to work in the UK are strongly advised to check the Government website for up-to-date information about whether the role they are applying for (incl. offered salary) is eligible.

Please let us know if you require an adjustment to our recruitment process and we'll be happy to discuss this with you.

We actively promote flexible working so please discuss any requirements you may have with us.

Secondments will be considered for fixed term positions when both parties agree. Candidates should seek approval from their current line manager before application.

All correspondence will be sent via the email address you have registered as your TRAC account. Selection is based on the Trust's values, and the criteria outlined in the Job Description for the role.

Appointments are subject to a 6-month probationary period. LED Doctors are subject to a 3-month probationary period.

You are required to pay for a DBS disclosure where the post requires one, and we encourage applicants to join and remain registered with the DBS update service.

We do not reimburse travel to interview expenses.

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.

Application numbers

We expect to receive a very high level of applications for this vacancy, and due to this a limit has been set on the number of applications we are able to receive. Once this limit is reached the vacancy will close. We would urge interested candidates who meet the specification to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.