Senior Therapist - Urgent Community Response South

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust; Wymondham; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A community healthcare provider in England seeks a Senior Therapist for the Urgent Community Response team. This role involves delivering high-quality therapy interventions to patients at home to avoid hospital admissions. Candidates should have a degree in Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy, effective communication skills, and a flexible approach to changing environments. Join a dedicated team making a significant impact on patient care within the community setting.

Qualifications

• Experience with supervision of staff and students is desirable.
• Ability to manage stressful situations.
• Experience of working in admission avoidance situations.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate a flexible approach, adapting and responding effectively.
• Provide evidence-based clinical/therapeutic interventions.
• Assess and prescribe care pathways for patients in crisis.

Skills

Effective communication

Problem-solving

Teamwork

Flexibility and resilience

Therapeutic diagnostic skills

Education

Diploma or 1st level degree in Physiotherapy / Occupational Therapy

Current HCPC registration

Clinical educators course

Job description

Senior Therapist - Urgent Community Response South

The closing date is 04 January 2026

We are looking for a proactive and forward‑thinking Band 6 Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to join us in an exciting opportunity to work in the South Urgent Community Response (UCR) team on a 12‑month secondment.

We want someone who is keen to work in a multi‑disciplinary integrated team consisting of Registered Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Community Assistant Practitioners and Health Care Assistants. You will also contribute to triage and referral management of admission avoidance referrals coming via the Rapid Response referral process.

Main duties of the job

This post provides an exciting opportunity for an applicant looking to build on a broad clinical skill base and learn shared competencies in an admission avoidance response, who has excellent communication skills, along with complex problem‑solving skills to provide quality outcomes for patients. You will be expected to work in an integrated way with our partners in health and social care, whilst adhering to the Trust's Behaviour Framework.

You will be based at Wymondham Health Centre, but you will be required to cover across South Norfolk.

The post is suitable either for an existing band 6 Occupational Therapist / Physiotherapist or an experienced band 5 seeking a new secondment role. You should be motivated, adaptable and willing to work within a changing environment. Experience with supervision of staff and students is desirable.

About us

The Urgent Community Response South Service operates 7 days per week, including bank holidays, between 8 am and 8 pm. A requirement to work weekends and bank holidays applies.

For further information please contact Jacqui Percival (Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist for Urgent Community Response South) via email: [e-mail].

Find out more about working for our organisation here: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/2565ae62eb.html

Please note, the selection processes at Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right values and skills. The use of AI in applications is monitored; we remain watchful of candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that does not accurately reflect their skills.

Apply now to join an organisation that has been awarded an Outstanding rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible rating, and the first stand‑alone NHS community trust in the country to be awarded the title.

Job responsibilities

• Demonstrate a flexible approach, adapting and responding effectively and efficiently in potentially stressful case scenarios.
• Use therapeutic diagnostic skills within assessment to determine the need for further investigations and support the UCR team with ongoing patient management to prevent avoidable hospital admission and facilitate early supported discharge.
• Lead the delivery of high‑standards of therapy interventions to patients within their own place of residence to prevent avoidable admissions to acute care.
• Provide short‑term reablement/rehabilitation programmes with effective short‑term goal setting for vulnerable adults with acute health needs.
• Use health coaching skills to engage with patients and their families, ensuring expectations are appropriately managed.
• Show resilience by working with the team to develop competencies in all areas of practice.
• Involve in the training of other team members to maintain competence within aspects of profession, and develop and maintain own competencies.
• Predominantly provide face‑to‑face intervention for the UCR team, with an element of triage in Rapid Response MDP on a rota basis.
• Work within the UCR team to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital.
• Make risk assessments to determine the safety of a patient's ability to stay at home or return safely from another care setting, providing and arranging supportive care packages as necessary.
• Assess and prescribe care pathways for patients in crisis situations, including those with long‑term conditions, frail or elderly patients, palliative or end‑of‑life care, and rehabilitation needs, aiming for quality of life and independence where possible.
• Act as a patient advocate, facilitating choice and patient empowerment.
• Provide evidence‑based clinical/therapeutic interventions based on best practice to improve health outcomes and promote choice.
• Provide in‑reach to inpatient units and step‑up beds to support early discharge from hospital.
• Work with all health‑care professionals and statutory/non‑statutory agencies to provide a seamless, integrated service to our service users.
• Triage referrals on a rotational basis for the UCR team.

Clinical -

Undertake comprehensive therapy assessments of patients, including those with complex presentations, using investigative, analytical and clinical reasoning skills, and inform the development of a differential diagnosis.

Formulate and execute individualised therapy management and treatment plans with complex presentations, collaborating with the UCR team, other agencies and the patient, utilising a range of treatment skills.

Be aware of Assistive Technology and make referrals for this as required.

Assess patients' holistic needs, communicating complex and sensitive information about assessment, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan.

Adjust explanations for barriers to understanding, such as hearing impairment, mental capacity impairment, and other difficulties in comprehension, to secure understanding, consent and concordance.

Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients and carers, incorporating motivation, encouragement and confidence building to enable engagement in the treatment/care plan.

Liaise with GPs, Social Services, inpatient teams, other allied health‑care professionals and the voluntary sector to ensure identified needs are met and care is coordinated appropriately.

Participate in multi‑disciplinary/multi‑agency meetings as appropriate, e.g. Gold Standard Framework.

Ensure activity data and clinical information is recorded on SystmOne daily.

Plan and organise specialist services within the UCR team.

Demonstrate dexterity, coordination and palpatory senses for assessment, and manual treatment of patients, including the use of specialist equipment and fine tools, manual and mobilisation skills.

Order equipment and contribute to the requisitioning of supplies and equipment through electronic ordering systems.

Ensure informed consent is obtained prior to initiating interventions.

Employ universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies, as exposure to bodily fluids, infected material and blood products occurs daily.

Professional -

Plan and prioritise workload for self and others according to UCR service targets and needs.

Be accountable for work delegated to others.

Maintain own records and those maintained by the team.

Contribute to the staff rota monthly as required.

Actively participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and other relevant meetings.

Support all team members within the UCR team, respecting their roles and contributions.

Attend in‑house training as required to develop the current job role.

Maintain continuous professional development.

Arrange personal travel to patients' homes, clinics, base and meetings as required.

Ensure safe use and maintenance of equipment and supplies.

Remain accountable for own professional actions as determined by professional bodies.

Demonstrate mentorship for students and less experienced staff, including providing training in specialist areas and contributing to the induction process for new staff/students.

Demonstrate leadership within own competence.

Manage budget awareness and work within budget constraints.

Organisational -

Undertake mandatory training as required.

Participate in a Personal Development Review process.

Undertake Personal Development Plans for junior staff members.

Take part in clinical supervision as per Trust policy.

Follow Trust policies and local procedures, using discretion in interpreting them according to setting and circumstances.

Ensure absence reporting is undertaken as determined by team leader and Trust policy.

Contribute to clinical audit as required.

Complete staff survey as required.

Complete risk assessments and incident forms as required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Diploma or 1st level degree in Physiotherapy / Occupational Therapy or equivalent experience
• Current HCPC registration
• Clinical educators course

Personal and People Development

• Ability to manage stressful situations
• A team player
• Community Health Experience
• Experience of working in admission avoidance situations

Other

• Professional appearance
• Be able to kneel, bend & stoop, and work in cramped environments.
• Manoeuvre limbs of around 5‑6 kg.
• Manoeuvre patients using handling aids.
• Must have a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle.

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

• Knowledge of additional specialist areas through in‑house training & short courses
• Able to communicate effectively in written and verbal English
• Highly motivated
• Flexible & resilient
• Experience of triaging referrals
• Experience of working within an MDT

Experience

• Evidence of working at relevant level
• Good observational and reporting skills
• Concentrate when undertaking patient care & inputting data/patient records
• Work flexibly to accommodate patient/service needs
• Demonstrate good IT and standard keyboard skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Experience in complex moving and handling
• Experience in training and supervising staff
• Experience working at a relevant level

Communication

• Tact & diplomacy
• Empathy & sensitivity
• Ability to use own initiative

Personal Attributes/Behaviours

• Able to identify with the Trust's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults
• Previous experience of shift working

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This 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.

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust