OT Acute and Community Rotation.

Lewisham and Greenwich; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust in London is recruiting an Occupational Therapist for a Band 6 rotational programme across acute and community placements. The role offers diverse clinical exposure, including a Stroke Unit, with development opportunities in leadership and education.

You will join a supportive team, participate in a wide range of rotations, and work 8am-8pm across seven-day services. HCPC registration, RCOT/BAOT membership, and post-graduate experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Post-graduate experience as a Band 5 Occupational Therapist.
• HCPC registration and RCOT/BAOT membership.
• Flexible and enthusiastic approach to a rotational role.

Responsibilities

• Manage a designated caseload with complex needs using evidence-based practice.
• Discharge planning and co-ordination of complex patients.
• Provide supervision and mentorship to OT students and junior staff.

Skills

Band 6 rotation

NHS OT experience

Education

Diploma / Degree in Occupational Therapy

Job description

Step into a place where exceptional care, patients, culture, and careers come together.

Explore our current vacancies and take your first step toward making a real difference.

Join us. Make a difference. Be part of Team LGT.

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, (LGT), is a community-focused provider of local and acute care, delivering high-quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich, and Bexley. We provide whole-life care and are here to support our communities to live healthier lives as well as taking care of them when they need us the most.

Employing almost 7,500 colleagues, affectionately known as Team LGT, we provide services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, University Hospital Lewisham, and at over a dozen community settings in Lewisham. We also provide some services at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

We have recently launched our new vision and values to mark the LGT10 – the tenth anniversary of our Trust forming in 2013. Our trust vision is to be exceptional. In the quality of our patient care; our support for colleagues; and in the difference we make through our partnerships and in our communities.

Our hospitals and community sites provide a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, as well as emergency and planned care. The Trust is rated as “good” or “outstanding” in over three-quarters of the services inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

Every year our work includes performing 10,000 procedures in our theatres; bringing seven and a half thousand new lives into the world; carrying out 570,000 visits to patients in their homes or communities and providing emergency care for more than 300,000 patients arriving in our busy Urgent and Emergency Departments.

LGT is a centre for the education and training of medical students enrolled with King’s College London’s GKT School of Medical Education. We are a training centre for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. We are pioneering new roles that will support the changing needs of our patients and are one of the largest employers of physician associates in the country.

We are committed to working with our partners to deliver the best outcomes for our local communities. This means playing an active role in the South East London Integrated Care System (ICS), and in formal partnerships including the South East London Acute Provider Collaborative, provider partnerships with our local mental health trusts and borough-based boards of the ICS in Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham.

Job overview

Are you an ambitious Occupational Therapist looking to expand your skills across a range of specialties while progressing your career in a supportive and forward-thinking Trust?

We are seeking motivated Occupational Therapists with excellent communication and clinical skills to join our expanding Band 6 rotational programme. This exciting opportunity offers a diverse mix of acute and community placements, enabling you to develop broad clinical expertise and gain valuable experience across different services.

Our acute rotations include exposure to a variety of inpatient settings, including our large and well-established Stroke Unit. We also offer a wide range of community opportunities, including rehabilitation and long-term conditions services, supporting individuals to maximise independence and achieve meaningful goals within their communities.

We are proud of our strong partnerships with community providers, creating opportunities for collaborative working and, where appropriate, additional experiences aligned to your professional interests and development goals.

Join a dynamic Occupational Therapy team where innovation, career development, and high-quality patient care are at the heart of everything we do.

Main duties of the job

The rotations:

• Rotations into 8 different speciality areas:
  • Stroke Unit
  • Community UCR therapy team
  • Community TOCH team
  • Neuro Outliers (including ITU and Trauma caseload)
  • Bromley Stroke Rehab Team
  • Acute Medicine
  • Acute COE
  • Acute ED
  • Acute Frailty

Candidates

Essential experience required:

• Post-graduate clinical experience working as a Band 5 Occupational Therapist
• Evidence of participation in In-service training and Personal CPD
• HCPC registration and RCOT/BAOT membership

Candidates must have a professional, enthusiastic, friendly and flexible approach

Working days and or shift patterns will be agreed by the line manager to meet the needs of the service, including shift patterns over 7 day period covering 8am-8pm in some services.

Informal visits will be available on request to shortlisted candidates.

Working for our organisation

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

• Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
• Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
• Improving the experience of staff with disability
• Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Summary

• To manage a designated case load with complex needs using evidence based / client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate
• Maintain records which fulfil legal requirements
• To regularly supervise O.T. students on practice placements
• To provide leadership for junior/support staff, through supervision and appraisal as delegated by a senior member of staff
• Participate in rotational scheme : Elderly , General Medicine, Stroke Unit, Surgery, Orthopaedics, Complex Neurological conditions (including major trauma) and Community Rehabilitation

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1 Clinical

1.1 To assess and treat a specific caseload of patients

1.2 To demonstrate a broad level of knowledge and understanding of clinical conditions.

1.3 To undertake individual initial screens to identify patient need including areas affecting functional ability, followed by agreed assessment plans.

1.4 To design / plan individual patient treatment programmes to implement oneself, or to delegate as appropriate

1.5 To assess and provide treatment for the functional level of patients with regard to personal and domestic activities of daily living, to maximise independence.

1.6 To select and conduct standardised cognitive and perceptual testing with further assessment when needed.

1.7 To carry out an initial risk assessment where necessary and to monitor ongoing risk

1.8 To assess need and risk factors for hoist and wheelchair provision

1.9 To advise, recommend, make provision for the installation of appropriate aids and adaptations to the patient’s social and physical environment.

1.10 To carry out home visits, with or without the patient, to assess environmental risks and functional ability at home.

1.11 To carry out community visits to assess for and practise daily living skills as needed.

1.12 To identify and set client centred goals

1.13 To monitor and evaluate treatment, including the use of outcome measures, in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of the intervention

1.15 To undertake discharge planning / co‑ordination of complex patients.

1.16 When working in the community and domiciliary settings, to work as a lone practitioner with telephone support from a senior Occupational Therapist, if required.

1.17 To refer on to appropriate agencies for the continuation of treatment, reassessment, monitoring and provision of further adaptations.

1.18 To participate in the weekend service.

2 Communication

2.1 To communicate effectively with patients and carers, O.T colleagues, multidisciplinary team members and other agencies

2.2 To participate in the multidisciplinary team meetings and case conferences.

2.3 To advise and educate patients and carers regarding aids / equipment and safety in the home and community

2.4 To participate in staff meetings and other meetings as directed by senior staff and the Lead O.T.

3 Documentation

3.1 To maintain up to date activity data and activity records in accordance with Professional and Trust standards.

3.2 To promptly provide reports on home visits

3.3 To provide specific reports to other agencies as appropriate

4 Professional Ethics

4.1 To adhere to the COT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and all other relevant policies and procedures. These include maintaining confidentiality and respecting the patient’s dignity, privacy culture and wishes.

5 Leadership, Supervision and Appraisal

5.1 To participate in the individual performance review programme

5.2 To effectively use supervision and appraisal to reflect on own practice and performance.

5.3 To undertake the supervision and appraisal of junior/support staff as delegated by a senior member of staff

5.4 To delegate tasks to support staff as appropriate

5.5 To provide advice to junior/support staff on a day to day basis as required.

5.6 To deputise for the Senior I in his/her absence, taking responsibility for operational management of the team, allocating and organising the work of junior and assistant staff to meet service priorities on a daily basis.

6 Training Staff and Students

6.1 To participate in the planning and implementing of the induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting.

6.2 To be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of O.T. students on practice placement on a regular basis

6.3 To give presentations on specific chosen topics.

6.4 Responsibility for organising specific aspects of training within the department.

7 Service Development and Delivery

7.1 To work with other staff within the department to ensure that equipment is maintained and stock monitored.

7.2 To manage the caseload efficiently in order to achieve timely and safe discharges of patients from hospital.

7.3 To assist senior staff and the Lead O.T. / Inpatient Therapy Manager in implementing new policies within the department.

7.4 To undertake specific departmental duties as requested by Senior staff or Lead O.T / Inpatient Therapy Manager

7.5 To work constructively with other senior OTs / Inpatient Therapy Manager on service development issues, adapting practice and/or making recommendations for change as indicated.

8 Personal / Professional Development

8.1 To participate in internal and external training opportunities, including mandatory and statutory training, to meet identified objectives and demonstrate ongoing development.

8.2 To demonstrate an increasingly complex skills and knowledge base to establish competence and fitness to practise as a senior O.T.

Person specification

Experience

• Broad based experience of Occupational Therapy treatment including work as a qualified OT in an NHS acute hospital
• Knowledge and experience of equipment provision and prescription.
• Broad experience of treatment options and approached
• Advanced clinical reasoning skills.
• Experience in complex moving and handling.
• Experience in assessment and discharge planning within a fast paced environment.
• Broad experience in standardised assessment.
• Broad experience in assessment of and treatment of cognitive deficits.
• Knowledge of wheelchair assessment and provision
• Experience of supervising / teaching other staff
• Experience in working in rehabilitation, stroke and community teams.

Knowledge & Skills

• Good verbal communication skills in the English language
• Ability to communicate clearly with other disciplines
• Ability to keep clear, precise records in the English language, which meet legal requirements
• Clear, concise report writing
• A clear understanding of clinical governance and its implications on OT
• Ability to plan, prioritise and manage a caseload
• Able to work autonomously and to manage time effectively
• Broad understanding of current issues surrounding healthcare provision in London
• Knowledge of Support services in community

Qualifications & Training

• Diploma / Degree in Occupational Therapy
• Evidence including attendance at recent post graduate courses/training relevant to rotational clinical specialties
• Member of British Association of Occupational Therapists
• Supervision/Experience Training
• DBS clearance
• Evidence of attendance at relevant post‑registration courses
• Member of COT special clinical interest
• Experience in having students

Personal Characteristics/Disposition

• Flexible and innovative
• Ability to work with others as part of the multidisciplinary team
• Calm and reliable
• Well organised
• Ability to treat people with respect, irrespective of age, gender, culture, religion & sexuality
• Committed to ongoing CPD.
• Good interpersonal skills with ability to establish rapport with patients and carers
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to change

Circumstances

• Able to work hours prescribed including shift patterns if required (Shifts covering between 8am-8pm)
• Able to work weekend shifts.

We reserve the right to close the post before the stated closing date, please apply early. We do not contact applicants with the outcome of the shortlisting. If you have been shortlisted, you will receive an invite to an assessment day or interview.

As a local employer and anchor institution we work closely with our community to recruit locally and we welcome applications from the widest variety of people to ensure our workforce are reflective of the local communities which we serve. We encourage all suitable candidates to apply including if you are Black, Asian or other ethnic minorities, live with a disability (visible or not) or are LGBT+. We have a number of active staff networks including Disability, LGBT+, Multicultural Inclusion and Women’s staff networks to bring staff together and celebrate diversity across our whole workforce.

Please note: Information provided during recruitment and pre‑employment checks must be accurate. Misrepresentation may be investigated as fraud and could lead to withdrawal from the process, professional sanctions, or criminal action.

Please note: that sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route is subject to Trust allocation and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) approval.

Use of AI in recruitment: We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support the initial review of applications against the essential criteria for this role. Where AI is used, it will support rather than replace human decision-making, and applications will remain subject to appropriate human review.

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

To ensure fairness and manageable shortlisting processes, some vacancies may have an application cap. This means the vacancy will close once a set number of applications have been received even if this happens before the advertised closing date.

We recommend applying as early as possible to avoid missing out. All applications received before the cap is reached will be considered equally and assessed against the person specification.