Specialist Occupational Therapist - OPU

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust; Bath; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Occupational Therapist to join the Stroke Unit (OPU) as a Band 6 Specialist OT on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

You will cover OPU wards, provide specialist assessments and interventions to optimise independence and discharge planning, oversee junior staff, and support clinical leadership within a busy acute care setting in Bath.

Qualifications

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy and HCPC registration required.
• Postgraduate training in relevant area desirable.
• Experience in NHS acute care setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions on OPU wards to optimise independence and discharge planning.
• Clinical management and supervision of OT staff and junior Physiotherapy staff; supervise OT students and apprentices.
• Coordinate daily service delivery across the rotational team and allocate capacity according to service demands.

Skills

Written and verbal communication

Evidence based practice

Cognition assessment

Leadership

Time management

Education

Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy

HCPC registration

Postgraduate training

Job description

Main area Occupational Therapist - Stroke Grade Band 6 Contract 12 months (Fixed term.) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (To include weekend working) Job ref 427-8362099

Employer Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Royal United Hospital Town Bath Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 04/11/2026 08:00

Specialist Occupational Therapist - OPU

Band 6

Job overview

Are you an experienced Occupational Therapist with the passion for working with older people?

Are you keen to develop on your broad clinical skills in an acute settings?

Do you want to develop clinical leadership skills and be involved in exciting service development opportunities?

If so, then we are looking for you to join our team!

We are a large, vibrant and friendly team of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and therapy support workers with a shared vision of supporting patients to do what is important to them and to continue participating in their activities of daily living.

This exciting post would provide you with the opportunity to join our Band 6 team, gaining valuable experience, clinical and leadership opportunities in acute. You will be covering our OPU wards to support with maternity leave cover

You will be part of the RUH’s progressive and friendly integrated therapies department, where there is a culture of promoting learning and staff and service development.

If you would like to know more about the role, please contact Laura Aro OPU OT Team Lead at [emailprotected]

Main duties of the job

You will providespecialist Occupational Therapy assessments and intervention to patients on the OPU wards to optimise independence as support discharge planning.

You will provide daily clinical management of Occupational Therapy staff and some junior Physiotherapy staff working with their rotational team and provide supervision to occupational therapy students and apprentices.

You will have clinical autonomy and be responsible for the management of their own caseload, have an awareness of the caseload demands within the whole rotational therapy team and allocate clinical capacity according to service demands. This will enable you to co-ordinate the daily service delivery across the hospital in the most effective way.

Working for our organisation

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

By working together, we make a real difference for our patients, each other, and our community. Every role matters in delivering the exceptional, person‑centred care we’re proud of.

We’re committed to a compassionate, inclusive culture where kindness is championed, differences are valued, and diversity makes us stronger.

We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential. We prioritise staff wellbeing – and yes, we even have a pool!

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please find attached to the vacancy a detailed person specification and job description for further information about this role.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy
• Current HCPC registration
• Appropriate post graduate training

Specific Skills

• Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Up to date with professional and evidence based practice
• Assessment and management of cognitive deficits, including use of outcome measures.
• Effective leadership skills
• Effective time management and organisational skills and ability to work under pressure

Knowledge and experience

• Practical experience and knowledge of clinical conditions relevant to area of work.
• At least 18 months post-qualification experience, including in acute care
• Experience of working within NHS
• Experience of student and therapy assistant supervision
• Significant experience of working with and discharge planning for patients with complex needs including patients at the end of their life
• Experience in leading complex discharges from acute setting

Please note - Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered unless an alternative right to work solution can be provided. Candidates requiring sponsorship (or will need sponsorship at the end of a current visa e.g. those with graduate visa's) should reviewthe eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying: Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK

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.