Occupational Therapy Support Worker

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; West of England; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff restaurants

Award schemes for excellence

Green spaces

Extensive wellbeing programme

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an enthusiastic individual with previous health or social care experience to support our team in providing occupational therapy to elective orthopaedic patients. The team are predominately based at the new Princess Royal Bristol Surgical Centre at Southmead Hospital.

The newly formed Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is a great place to work. Situated in the vibrant city of Bristol, Southmead Hospital is an award-winning building opened in 2014, offering

Qualifications

• GCSE Level Education or Equivalent.
• Evidence of Literacy & Numeracy Skills.
• Level 3 qualification in health or social care (desirable).
• Experience working in a healthcare, social care or patient-facing environment.
• Experience supporting patients with rehabilitation or daily living activities.
• Previous NHS experience (desirable).
• Fluent English is required and will be assessed at interview.

Responsibilities

• Under supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist, work with patients on wards and therapy areas to provide interventions to facilitate recovery and independence.
• Support individuals to use the toilet, wash and dress or carry out other domestic tasks.
• Deliver Occupational Therapy services within acute clinical settings under supervision.
• Implement delegated rehabilitation programmes and maximise independence in activities of daily living.
• Assist discharge planning and maintain accurate clinical records.
• Work with patients, carers and the multidisciplinary team, monitor and report progress, and undertake admin, equipment and departmental duties.

Skills

Good Written Communication

IT Skills

Knowledge of rehabilitation

Education

GCSE Level Education or Equivalent

Literacy & Numeracy Skills

Level 3 qualification in health or social care

Job description

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job Overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic individual with previous health or social care experience to support our team in providing occupational therapy to elective orthopaedic patients. The team are predominately based at the new Princess Royal Bristol Surgical Centre at Southmead Hospital.

The newly formed Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is a great place to work. Situated in the vibrant city of Bristol, Southmead Hospital is an award-winning building opened in 2014, offering exceptional facilities for patients and staff. We are a large teaching trust that provides multiple specialties including regional services for neurosciences, major trauma, orthopaedics and surgery (major arterial centre and burns & plastics).

There is plenty of support in each team with development opportunities and training courses available. Additional benefits include award schemes for excellence, staff restaurants, green spaces and an extensive wellbeing programme.

• award schemes for excellence
• staff restaurants
• green spaces
• an extensive wellbeing programme

Main duties of the job

Under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist, you will work with patients on the wards and in therapy areas to provide a range of interventions to facilitate recovery and promote independence. This will include supporting individuals to use the toilet, wash & dress or carry out other domestic tasks.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

The post holder will support the delivery of Occupational Therapy services within acute clinical settings under the direction and supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist.

The role involves implementing delegated rehabilitation programmes, assisting patients to maximise independence in activities of daily living, supporting discharge planning and maintaining accurate clinical records.

The post holder will work directly with patients, carers and members of the multidisciplinary team, monitoring and reporting patient progress and undertaking administrative, equipment and departmental duties to support the effective and efficient delivery of the Occupational Therapy service.

Person specification

Education/Training/Qual

• GCSE Level Education or Equivalent
• Evidence of Literacy & Numeracy Skills

Desirable criteria

• Level 3 qualification in health or social care

Work Experience

• Experience working in a healthcare, social care or patient-facing environment
• Experience supporting patients with rehabilitation or daily living activities

Desirable criteria

• Previous NHS experience

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Good Written Communication/IT Skills
• Knowledge of rehabilitation, disability and the role of Occupational Therapy in promoting independence.

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Important

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.