Senior Occupational Therapist - Complex Medicine

Bedfordshire Hospitals; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Occupational Therapist (Band 6) for the Complex Medicine team in Luton. The post is part-time (30 hours/week) with late shifts and weekend working on a rota.

You will manage a defined caseload across Cardiology, Haematology, General Medicine and Elderly Care, guiding students and junior staff in a dynamic NHS setting. You will deliver high-quality assessments, treatment and evaluation for patients with diverse and complex needs,

Qualifications

• Advanced OT assessment and treatment planning for complex medicine patients.
• Caseload management with minimal supervision.
• Supervision of students on placement.
• Lead on rota and weekend late shifts in a Band 6 role.
• Experience in NHS complex medicine settings preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced occupational therapy assessments to diagnose and treat complex conditions.
• Own a defined caseload and contribute to service development with supervision as needed.
• Undertake autonomous clinical duties and supervise junior staff.
• Plan, educate and assess OT students on placement in complex medicine wards.
• Design, implement and audit practice improvements with senior guidance.
• Deputise for the senior therapist and lead day-to-day team operations.

Skills

Organising & prioritising

Delegation

Verbal & non-verbal communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

Dip COT or BSc (Hons) in OT

HCPC registration

CPD portfolio

BAOT/RCOT membership

Job description

Senior Occupational Therapist - Complex Medicine

Band 6

Main area Occupational Therapy Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent: Will include late shifts and weekend working Hours Part time - 30 hours per week (To include late shifts and weekend working) Job ref 418-DTO7746-KA

Site Luton and Dunstable Hospital Town Luton Salary £39,959 - £48,117 pa pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 23/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 05/11/2026

Job overview

Would you like to work in a forward thinking Occupational Therapy service? We have exciting career development opportunities and the added benefit of being in the vibrant and diverse town of Luton.

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a dedicated and self-motivated Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our friendly and innovative Complex Medicine team within the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This part time post is permanent and involves late shift and weekend working on a rota basis. You will have the chance to work across our four major ward areas which include Cardiology, Haematology, General medicine and Elderly care.

OccupationalTherapy plays an instrumental role in the exciting developments in the Trust and our team is growing. You will be responsible for providing a high standard of assessment, advice, treatment and evaluation of patients referred to the acute inpatient service. This includes patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions. You will also have the opportunity to support students and apprentices alongside managing Band 5 Therapists and support staff.

Our Trust highly respects and values the importance of Occupational Therapists in the healthcare industry. As a result, we invest time in your training and development which includes our ‘OT Aspiring to Excellence’ sessions to share best practice.

Main duties of the job

• To perform advanced occupational therapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions, to determine a diagnosis, formulate and deliver an appropriate, individualised treatment programme.
  
• To hold responsibility for own caseload and be responsible for a defined area of the service/particular patient group, working without direct supervision. Access to advice and support from a more senior therapist is available if required. Clinical work is evaluated through regular clinical supervision with a specialist occupational therapist but day-to-day clinical work is not routinely reviewed.
  
• To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.
  
• To plan, supervise, educate and assess the performance of occupational therapy students on placement within the complex medicine wards. To work closely with the university and comply with all the standards required for the degree level qualification.
  
• Supported by the specialist occupational therapist, to design and undertake evidence-based audit and research projects to further own and team’s clinical practice and improve service delivery with the specialist therapist. Make recommendations and occasionally implement changes to practice or service protocols, as agreed with the specialist occupational therapist.
  
• To deputise for the specialist occupational therapist in their absence, taking the lead role in the day-to-day operational management of the team.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

• Dip COT or BSc (Hons) in OT
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendances at recent post graduate courses/ in-service trainings relevant to the speciality
• Membership of BAOT/RCOT or similar

Experience

• Experience of working in an acute hospital environment
• Evidence of broad based postgraduate experience to include experience in medicine or elderly care
• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team with example
• Experience of supervising junior staff or non-qualified
• Knowledge of working in liaison with community therapy services and intermediate care services
• Experience of supervision of staff or students including staff appraisal
• Experience within the NHS

Skills

• Examples of organising, prioritising and delegating appropriately
• Awareness of wider local and national agendas and impact on OT

Communication

• Example of excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills
• Example of where there may be barriers to understanding

It is an exciting time to join Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.

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.

Name Charlie Whitfield Job title Team Lead Complex Medicine Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01582 497350 Additional information

If you would like to get in touch, please contact Charlie Whitfield, Specialist Occupational Therapist on 01582 497350

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust
Lewsey Road
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU4 0DZ
Telephone [phone]