Rotational Occupational Therapist

Sussex Community Nhs Foundation Trust; Haywards Heath; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Training & development

Nurseries

Job summary

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a newly qualified or practicing Occupational Therapist (Band 5) to join our supportive MDT in the Chichester/Bognor/Worthing area. You will work across community and hospital-based settings, developing core OT skills with full teaching support and protected CPD time.

The role offers flexible working patterns and opportunities for growth within a team focused on compassionate care and development. UK registration and valid DBS are essential.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification such as a degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy.
• Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Evidence of CPD activities and ongoing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high quality, evidence-based care to patients.
• Learn, develop and adapt to CPD and change.
• Operate in a team and contribute to team decisions.
• Manage own caseload and prioritise.
• Teach patients, carers and peers.

Skills

Assessment & care planning

Communication skills

CPD & learning

Travel for work

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy

HCPC registration

Tools

CPD tracking

Job description

Job summary

We look forward to welcoming you as a newly qualified or currently practising OT. Do you want to be part of a supportive, friendly and dynamic team dedicated to providing executional care in the Chichester/Bognor/Worthing area. You will gain a balance of physical health community and hospital-based working in settings working with specialists where you will gain experience and receive full support. You will have the opportunity to enjoy an in-depth learning experience working with caseloads of patients within an MDT. We encourage development of core OT skills within a supportive environment. We are committed to your growth with a strong focus on teaching and development including regular in-service training, protected CPD time and a Band 6 led band 5 peer support group. Please note we are actively looking for those qualified or nearly registered. Thank you.

Main duties of the job

Staff are encouraged to develop their full potential as we understand the transition from student to practitioner can be challenging and we are dedicated to developing your full potential. We believe in a healthy work-life balance and offer flexibility to accommodate your personal and professional needs. We work collaboratively to create a nurturing and inclusive environment where both patients and staff can thrive.

About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays. Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
• Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast

Our values--Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence--guide everything we do. We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment. This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Details

Date posted: 27 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year Per annum / Pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 150-KB3040-CC-A

Job responsibilities

We recognise that band 5's bring innovation and dynamism to our clinical teams and are keen to work with you. In this role you will be involved in:

• Delivering of high quality, individualised, evidenced-based care to all patients
• Learning, developing, and adapting to change evidenced in CPD
• Operating in a team and contributing to team decisionsli>
• Managing own caseload and prioritising
• Teaching of patients, carers and peers

The rotation is developing and will include mental health opportunities at a later date. Join a team where collaboration and mutual support are at the forefront.

Person Specification

Education

Essential

• Professional qualification such as a degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy
• Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist

Desirable

• Up to date CPD

Experience

Essential

• Relevant postgraduate or undergraduate experience in the clinical field

Desirable

• Experience within specialism underpinned by theory and specific therapeutic knowledge
• Experience of using assessment tools relevant to client group

Skills

Essential

• Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for individuals
• Promotes choice and independence in undertaking patient care
• Good communication and negotiation skills
• Good numeracy, literacy and IT skills
• Knowledge of Professional code of conduct
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge / understanding of boundaries of role
• Demonstrates a commitment to learning and development with documented evidence of CPD
• Ability to travel for work purposes

Desirable

• Ability to plan and prioritise a caseload efficiently
• Knowledge of clinical governance, clinical audit, risk management and clinical supervision
• Identifies difficulties as challenges and works with others to identify solutions

Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.

Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer detailsEmployer name: Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Hayworthe Villas, Market Place, Haywards Heath, RH16 1DB, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/

Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact: Operational Therapy Lead, Debbie Pirkiss, [e-mail], 07484403616

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