Occupational Therapist-Surrey Downs H&C

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust; Molesey; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Molesey is seeking an Occupational Therapist to deliver community-based occupational therapy services. Key responsibilities include assessing and treating patients with diverse conditions, collaborating within multi-disciplinary teams, and maintaining clinical records. Candidates should possess a relevant qualification, HCPC registration, and experience in community settings. This role offers a salary of £40,617 to £48,778 per annum, pro-rata, including benefits.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience working as an Occupational Therapist.
• Experience as a community Occupational Therapist.
• Experience of staff supervision.
• Work across Neuro / Frailty pathways in various settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive occupational therapy services in community settings.
• Assess and implement specialist treatment programs.
• Manage own patient caseload and guide technical instructors.
• Communicate complex information to patients and carers.
• Attend multi-disciplinary meetings to discuss patient care.

Skills

Good communication skills (written and verbal)

Ability to prioritise and plan

Flexibility

Basic IT skills

Physically capable for moving and handling

Education

Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy

HCPC Registration

Post-graduate training

Further specialised courses

Job description

Overview

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust - Occupational Therapist-Surrey Downs H&C

The closing date is 29 September 2025

Main duties of the job

1. To provide a comprehensive and co-ordinated range of specialist occupational therapy therapeutic and preventative services in community settings, which maintain or improve people's health, independence and quality of life.
2. Applying specialist knowledge and skills across the total range of complex health conditions, procedures and practices gained through practical experience, underpinned by theoretical knowledge.
3. Care group includes frailty, complex co-morbidities, discharge to assess and admission avoidance.
4. To assess and implement specialist treatment programmes as an autonomous practitioner, maintaining associated clinical records.
5. To work unsupervised reporting back to the clinical lead on a regular basis and to work as part of the wider MDT.
6. To participate in the day-to-day management of the service provision undertaking tasks as delegated by leadership, supporting new graduates and less experienced therapists, and non-registered staff members on a daily basis.
7. To provide formal supervision to nominated staff members and students.

About us

Surrey Downs Health and Care deliver care closer to people's own communities through our Primary Care Networks, Community Hospitals, Specialist Services and our innovative partnership of local NHS organisations.

Surrey Downs Health and Care has a track record of providing person centered care that goes beyond organisational boundaries to do what is best for the individual. This partnership includes:

• The three GP federations GP Health Partners, Dorking Health Care and Surrey Medical Network representing practices that operate in the Surrey Downs area
• CSH Surrey
• Epsom and St Helier's University Hospitals NHS Trust

Historically, there have been boundary lines between the organisations that provide care to people in their homes, in GP surgeries and in hospitals, but we have always been united in our mission to provide great care to the people who need us.

It's on those grounds that the Surrey Downs Health and Care was formed - we want local people to receive the care that they need in the right environment. By bringing together our expertise, we can improve patient care and enable local people to access the right support, care and treatment more easily than ever before.

In bringing this partnership together, we are working to the same set of values that will translate into better care for our residents.

Job responsibilities

Clinical

1. Carry and prioritise own patient caseload and other ongoing tasks, allocating appropriate work to technical instructors and students.
2. Carry out assessments and treatment in the most appropriate setting for the patient's needs, whether this is in the patient\'s home, Residential/Nursing Home, Surrey Downs area, appropriate community setting, or tertiary unit.
3. Perform specialist occupational therapy assessment of patients with diverse and complex presentations, using advanced clinical reasoning skills to analyse, interpret and make judgements on complex facts or situations.
4. Develop specialised programmes of care, treatment and advice to patients and their care givers, based on evidence-based practice and the range of treatment options and/or adaptive techniques and/or equipment provision, and/or care services.
5. Incorporate appropriate standard assessment tools and outcome measures with patients, and apply additional relevant skills such as therapeutic handling, moving and handling risk assessment and hand-related treatment strategies/equipment for housebound patients.
6. Communicate sensitively and reassuringly on complex conditions and functional risk/limitation. Gain consent to and cooperation in assessment and treatment, and in giving specialist advice to patients/carers regarding ongoing care needs.
7. Be aware of the sensitive nature of some recommendations and potential barriers to understanding for patients/carers with special communication needs.
8. Attend multi-disciplinary meetings as the occupational therapist representative for individual patients, to inform complex discussions, gain information prior to planning person-centred goals, analyse options and participate in MDT plans for discharge.
9. Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required.
10. Work closely with the PCN MDT, patients/carers and wider service providers to ensure effective communication of information and co-ordination to achieve all agreed goals and safe discharge. Act as discharge key worker for individual patients.
11. Undertake pre-discharge home risk assessments to inform discharge planning. Make arrangements to reduce risks and maximise potentials at home, including referrals to statutory and non-statutory agencies as appropriate, with patient consent to information sharing.
12. Liaison with local equipment providers for provision of daily living equipment and adaptations for patients\' homes where appropriate. Be aware of resource implications when considering options for prescription to meet patients\' needs.
13. Manage clinical risk in relation to own caseload, seeking guidance from a senior therapist as appropriate.
14. Maintain accurate, legible and complete clinical records of all patient-related interventions, in line with Information Governance policies and guidelines. Include the use of EMIS and Systm1 patient record systems.
15. Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own professional and clinical work, ensuring assessments and interventions are carried out in accordance with ESTH/ Surrey Downs policies, College of Occupational Therapy standards and code of conduct, and have a good working knowledge of national and local standards. Monitor own and others\' quality of practice and seek guidance as necessary.
16. Deliver competency training for new members of staff, the wider team and assist with ongoing review of competencies within the wider team.

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for more details.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy (OT)
• HCPC Registration
• Post-graduate training
• Further specialised courses

Knowledge

• Sound knowledge of complex frailty conditions and rehabilitation
• Clinical knowledge of all areas within remit of post
• Knowledge of UCR service requirements
• Attendance at relevant training courses

Experience

• Demonstrable experience working as an OT
• Experience as a community OT
• Experience of staff supervision
• Work across Neuro / Frailty pathways - acute, inpatient rehab or community

Skills

• Good communication skills both written English and verbal
• Able to prioritise and plan
• Flexibility
• Basic IT skills
• Physically capable of completing moving and handling within a rehab-based service

Other

• Full UK driving license
• Use of a car for work purposes
• Fit enough to perform other clinical duties

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.

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

£40,617 to £48,778 a year Pro Rata Per Annum inc Fringe HCAS