Senior Occupational Therapist

Transformation Unit; Tees Valley; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join the Acute Trauma and Orthopaedic Team at James Cook University Hospital, with responsibilities across the Friarage Hospital. The role focuses on advanced OT assessments, treatment planning, and MDT collaboration to support patient recovery and service delivery.

The ideal candidate will have HCPC registration, OT qualification, and postgraduate development.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of OT assessments used in Trauma and Orthopaedics.
• Strong problem solving and assessment skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a MDT.
• Experience supervising and delegating to students and staff.
• Knowledge of NICE guidelines for Trauma and Orthopaedics.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced clinical and professional Occupational Therapy on the Acute Trauma and Orthopaedic wards.
• Work within the MDT to support the senior specialist OT and AHP Service Lead.
• Undertake advanced OT assessments and develop individualised treatment programmes.
• Experience with musculoskeletal/orthopaedic post-surgery care is desirable.
• Engage in CPD, workshops, audits and research; contribute to appraisal process.

Skills

Advanced communication

Interpersonal skills

Complex problem solving

Autonomous working

MDT working

Supervision & delegation

Education

HCPC registered OT

OT degree/diploma

Postgraduate training

Job description

Main area Community and Neighbourhood Health Services Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 30 hours per week (Will involve some Bank Holidays and occasional weekend days) Job ref 328-CN-8180303

Employer South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site The James Cook University Hospital Town Middlesbrough Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum (pro rata) Salary period Yearly Closing 07/10/2026 23:59

Senior Occupational Therapist

Band 6

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, dynamic and enthusiastic band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our Acute Trauma and Orthopaedic Team. The team is based at James Cook University Hospital but also covers the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton. The team reviews patients on the acute trauma and Orthopaedic wards at James Cook Hospital and on Gara Orthopaedic Unit at the Friarage Hospital. The post will involve some pre assessment work and on occasion has some requirement to review patients in the community.

Main duties of the job

To provide advanced clinical and professional Occupational Therapy to patients on the acute Trauma and Orthopaedic wards. The successful candidate will work within the MDT, providingsupport to the senior specialist Occupational therapist and AHP Service Lead, to ensure that the wider Orthopaedic Team contributes to the Strategic plan for University Hospital Tees NHS Trust.

A key role is to undertake advanced occupational therapy assessments of patients with diverse and complex conditions and to develop and delivery individualised treatment programmes.

The post holder will be expected to have experience and knowledge of the occupational therapy management of musculoskeletal/orthopaedic conditions and experience of managing patients post surgery is desirable. Successful candidates will be able to provide comprehensive assessments and treatment plans to these patient groups. Relevant post graduate study, leadership training and experience is also desirable.

This post will offer development in clinical skills and the post holder will be supported to attend relevant post graduate courses. We have an established training programme and our staff are encouraged and supported in their CPD through workshops, clinical supervision and the appraisal process. There is also an expectation to actively participate in audit and research and the Hospital has close links with both the University of Teesside and Durham University.

Please note this post may close at sufficient applicants

Working for our organisation

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have come together to form University Hospitals Tees. As a result, post holders may be required to work across sites within both organisations.

Across University Hospitals Tees, our ambition is to be the best place to work, ensuring we have the right staff in the right roles at the right time to deliver outstanding patient care and experience.

We are committed to supporting our staff through an inclusive and supportive working environment, offering health and wellbeing initiatives, staff benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional development.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive recruitment process and welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates, including those who first language is not English.

We support the 'Making Every Contact Count' approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) attached for main responsibilities of the role.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

• To hold a Diploma, or Degree awarded by professional body.
• Registered as fit to practice by the Health and Care Council (HCPC) as a registered Occupational Therapist
• Evidence of Post Graduate clinical training/ development with documented evidence

Knowledge and skills

• Has knowledge and understanding of, and has appropriate skills to complete occupational therapy assessments used in Trauma and Orthopaedics.
• Complex problem solving and assessment skills
• Ability to work autonomously and as a member of a team, as well as part of the wider multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience of managing, supervising and delegating work to students and qualified and unqualified staff
• Advanced communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of NICE National Guidelines relevant to Trauma and Orthopaedics. Best practice Guidelines for Occupational Therapists.

Experience

• Demonstrates a specialist clinical knowledge and skills relevant to role.
• To display effective communication skills, communicating complex, sensitive and contentious information to other
• Demonstrates an ability to prioritise and co-ordinate the workload
• Demonstrates excellent organisational/ delegation/prioritisation skills.
• Evidence of MDT working
• Experience of working within the NHS

Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)
It is the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay.

Qualifications
Please note the essential qualifications required for the post are outlined within the Person Specification. You are required to provide original evidence of the necessary qualifications for the post at interview should you be shortlisted.You will also be required to provide original copies as part of the pre-employment check screening.

New Starters – Probationary Period

For any new employees commencing employment with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, you will be subject to satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period. Please note that internal applications and individuals that are appointed to fixed term appointments of less than 6 months duration are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or a bank member of staff).
Employment References

As part of our pre-employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references covering their last three years employment history including any gaps. Applicants are requested toensure e-mail addressesfor all referees are included on their application form. Personal references are not acceptable.

Working Hours

If the hours advertised for the post are up to full time (37.5 hours per week), applications are still welcomed from individuals who may be seeking to work less than full-time hours and all requests will be considered in line with the post being appointed to for the successful applicant.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Everything we do is shaped by our values: Respect, Support, and Collaborate.

At University Hospitals Tees we want our workspaces to be places where everyone feels welcome, valued and safe. We treat people with respect, and we celebrate the differences that make each of us unique.

We welcome applications from everyone, no matter your age, background, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family circumstances or beliefs.

We are here to supportyou throughout your application and at every stage of your career with us. We believe we work best when we collaborate, learn from each other and build teams that reflect the communities we serve.

Supporting disabled people and people with long‑term conditions

We are a Disability Confident committed employer aspiring to become a lead employer in 2026.

This means we give fair and full consideration to applicants and will offer reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. If you need help with your application, or need the information in a different format, please contact our recruitment team and we will support you.

If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at [e-mail] or call us on 01642 854610

Right to Work in the UK

The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship hereWork in the UK - GOV.UK ( www.gov.uk ).

Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.

Please note that not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.

Further Important Information

Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.

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

Please note that this vacancy will close when we receive sufficient completed applications.

Name Emma Young Job title Senior Specialist Occupational Therapist Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01642 850850 ext 56511