Occupational Therapist (Rotational)

NHS Jobs; Sunderland; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an Occupational Therapist (Rotational) at Band 5 to work across physical specialities, including acute medicine, orthopaedics, and elderly care. The role offers a 12-month preceptorship and supervision by a senior therapist, with strong focus on development and CPD opportunities.

Post holder will manage their own caseload, assess functional needs, prescribe aids and liaise with partner agencies.

Qualifications

• Recognised degree in Occupational Therapy (completed or pending for new graduates).
• HCPC registration ideally in place on appointment.
• Valid UK driving licence is required.
• Membership of RCOT.

Responsibilities

• Provide therapy assessment, treatment and advice to a caseload across multiple specialities.
• Manage caseload to support discharge planning and prevent admission where possible.
• Liaise with partner agencies and adapt skills to each rotation.
• Develop manual handling skills and knowledge of specialist equipment.

Skills

UK driving licence

RCOT membership

HCPC registration

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Education

OT degree

Job description

Go back South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapist (Rotational)

The closing date is 06 October 2026

Weare looking to recruit existing or new graduate Band 5 OccupationalTherapist onto our physical specialities rotation at South Tyneside andSunderland Foundation Trust. This is a great opportunity to develop clinicalskills and develop knowledge of a wide range of conditions within severaldifferent teams between Sunderland Royal Hospital, South Tyneside Hospital andRecovery at Home. The rotation covers the following specialities:

SouthTyneside Hospital: Acute medicine, Orthopaedics and Surgery, Care of theElderly.

SunderlandRoyal Hospital: Medicine and Surgery, Care of The Elderly, Acute Stroke andNeurology, Interface Team, Trauma and Orthopaedics.

SouthTyneside Recovery at Home Therapy Team (Community).

SunderlandRecovery at Home Therapy Team (Community).

Ourteams are large, friendly and supportive and supervision will be provided by asenior therapist. We have an established Band 5 support group who plan theirown CPD activities and provide peer support, and a 12-month preceptorshipprogramme to support development of essential skills and knowledge. There is awide scope for ongoing personal and professional development.

Pre-Application/interview queries and visits arewelcome.

Main duties of the job

Ourphysical specialities rotation provides the opportunity to experience therapyintervention with patients throughout the whole acute patient journey. Our well-established Interface Team work into ED and EAU to help prevent hospitaladmission and also to facilitate safe and timely discharges from our short stayareas; our inpatient OT teams assess patients for discharge from base wards andour Recovery at Home Therapy Teams assess and work with patients at home ondischarge from hospital, as well as responding to situations to help preventadmission to hospital.

Witheach rotational area, you will hold your own caseload of patients and will beresponsible for assessing the functional needs of your patients to eitherprevent admission to hospital or facilitate discharge from hospital. You willalso be assessing for and prescribing aids, equipment and wheelchairs, andliaising with partner agencies whilst adapting your core skills to the patientgroup or speciality you are working in. You will also have the opportunity todevelop your manual handling skills and your knowledge of specialist equipment.

Due to the need to visit patients homes as partof assessment and treatment interventions, you will need to have a valid UKdriving licence and be able to drive our department vehicles in the acute teamsat Sunderland Royal, and have access to a vehicle for work purposes for theRecovery at Home rotations.

About us

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.

Job responsibilities

To work as a therapy practitioner using clinical reasoning skills to provide therapyassessment, treatment and advice to a caseload which will incorporate a range ofpresentation of conditions.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Recognised degree in Occupational Therapy (completed or pending completion for new graduates).
• HCPC registration (application pending for new graduates on confirmation of passing Degree).
• Valid UK driving licence.
• Membership of Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).

Experience

• Experience as a student Occupational Therapist in a physical health setting.
• Experience of working, either paid or voluntary, within a care or therapy setting.

Physical Skills

• Ability to engage in physical activity throughout the day and undertake moving and handling assessments with and without the use of equipment.
• Ability to sit at a workstation as necessary to complete administrative aspects of the Post.
• Ability to drive the Department vehicles.
• Access to a vehicle for work purposes / community visits.
• Ability to work in restricted spaces where there is a requirement to bend, or kneel down.
• Ability to lift and carry equipment ie. toilet or bathing equipment used for assessments.

Skills and Knowledge

• Developed verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proven written communication skills including report writing and maintaining patient records.
• Able to demonstrate analytical & judgmental skills.
• Skills to prioritise workload and make judgements on priorities when there are several competing demands.
• Able to present information, written and orally in a clear and logical manner.
• Basic IT skills.
• Presentational skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of South Tyneside and Sunderland Foundation Trust, its culture, strategic direction & achievements.
• Basic knowledge of adaptive aids and equipment used to facilitate functional independence.
• Knowledge of current legislation and guidelines which underpin practice.
• Knowledge of community and local authority services relevant to Sunderland, South Tyneside and surrounding areas.
• Knowledge of standard wheelchairs and the indications for safe use.

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.

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust