Senior Occupational Therapist

NHS National Services Scotland; Inverness; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Highland is seeking a Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join the Home First service in Inverness. You will conduct urgent assessments and deliver person-centred rehab at patients’ homes to prevent admission and enable safe discharge.

Working within a multidisciplinary team, you’ll prioritise high‑risk referrals, provide day‑to‑day supervision to Band 5 staff, and contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives across health and social care.

Qualifications

• Registered Occupational Therapist with active licence.
• Experience in community and home-based rehab.
• Leadership or mentoring experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform urgent assessments for adults at risk of admission.
• Deliver timely occupational therapy within home/community settings.
• Support discharge planning and home adaptations.
• Provide supervision to Band 5 staff and students.

Skills

Occupational Therapy

Band 6

Home First

Autonomous practice

Clinical supervision

Job description

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

NHS Highland is seeking a motivated and experienced Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our Home First service.

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic clinician who is passionate about admission avoidance, early supported discharge, rehabilitation, and person‑centred care delivered in people’s own homes.

Working as part of a dynamic multidisciplinary team, you will provide urgent assessment and intervention to adults who are at risk of hospital admission or who require timely support to return home safely following illness or injury.

The post holder will work autonomously to deliver timely and high‑quality occupational therapy assessments within community and home environments, supporting individuals to remain safely at home through targeted intervention, rehabilitation, provision of equipment, and environmental adaptations.

The role involves facilitating safe and effective discharge pathways in accordance with the Home First model and working collaboratively with physiotherapists, nurses, social care, GPs, care at home services, and acute hospital colleagues to ensure coordinated, person‑centred care.

The Band 6 Occupational Therapist will manage a complex and fluctuating caseload, independently prioritising urgent and high‑risk referrals and adapting practice in response to changing service demands. The post holder will provide day‑to‑day clinical supervision, leadership, and support to Band 5 staff, support workers, and students, and will actively contribute to service development, quality improvement initiatives, and the ongoing strengthening of integrated working across health and social care.

Professional guidance and day to day management will be provided through an Advanced Practice Occupational Therapist/Team Lead. Regular supervision is provided (including peer supervision opportunities) and opportunities for ongoing professional development are encouraged.

You will be expected to travel efficiently and effectively between various work locations and patient residences, so a full current driving license and use of a vehicle is essential.

• Applications are welcome from Gaelic speakers. / Tha fàilte air tagraidhean bho luchd‑labhairt na Gàidhlig.

NHS Highland is geographically the largest of the 14 regional boards of NHS Scotland, covering an area of 12,500 square miles, across Highland and Argyll & Bute.

We employ over 10,700 people, making us one of the biggest employers in the area. As an organisation, we make a very significant contribution to the local economy.

Our staff are also important members of our communities. Our greatest asset is our workforce, and the way we go about our work comes from the values and behaviours we demonstrate on a daily basis. As a board we strive to ensure the environment is conducive to nurturing a positive culture, supported and delivered through our NHS and social care values.

Care and compassion

Dignity and respect

Openness, honesty and responsibility

Quality and teamwork