Specialist Occupational Therapist/ Specialist Physiotherapist

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; Chester-le-Street; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Chester-le-Street seeks a Specialist Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to join their Intermediate Care and Crisis Therapy Team. The role focuses on providing rehabilitation services and urgent community responses to improve patient outcomes. Candidates need to be HCPC registered and exhibit strong teamwork and leadership skills. The position offers competitive pay, with a range of £38,682 to £46,580 per annum.

Qualifications

• Comprehensive and relevant qualified experience in physical rehabilitation.
• Experience in Intermediate Care and crisis management.
• HCPC registered Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist.

Responsibilities

• Organise and prioritise workload within a defined area.
• Provide holistic assessments and create rehabilitation plans.
• Manage crisis intervention and reduce hospital admissions.

Skills

Physical rehabilitation experience

Communication skills

Multidisciplinary team collaboration

Crisis management

Leadership

Education

BSc/MSc in Occupational Therapy

BSc/MSc in Physiotherapy

Job description

Specialist Occupational Therapist / Specialist Physiotherapist

The closing date is 11 December 2025

The County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest integrated organisations in the country, providing hospital and community services to a population of over 650,000. We are an ambitious and innovative organisation with a talented workforce of over 7,000 colleagues. Our vision is to be Right First Time, Every Time and our mission is to provide safe, compassionate and joined‑up care to the populations of County Durham and Darlington.

We are looking for a dynamic individual to join the Intermediate Care and Crisis Therapy Team at Chester le Street Community Hospital. The team works across the Durham, Chester‑le‑Street and Derwentside area providing therapy into rehabilitation beds within care homes and out into the community, along with providing urgent community response therapy intervention to prevent avoidable hospital admissions. The post involves working as part of a multidisciplinary team including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Therapy Assistant Practitioners and Duties.

Main duties of the job

• Complete own individual responsibilities and share team objectives.
• Work as part of a dynamic multidisciplinary team.
• Complete holistic and specialist assessments and create specialist rehabilitation plans as required for patients in Intermediate Care beds.
• Lead or contribute to creating improvement, transformation and innovation of services.
• Work as part of crisis therapy team to meet national guidance of two hour response therapy.
• Work flexibly across the service and support other clinical service needs as required.
• Lead by action and inspire others acting as a role model, demonstrating the leadership behaviours and values identified by CDDFT.
• Communicate positively and effectively.
• Actively give and receive feedback in a constructive manner.
• Be adaptable, work with integrity, and be trustworthy.
• Show constancy, courage and resolve in the pursuit of the vision and aims of CDDFT.
• Actively contribute to improving the health and well‑being of the population that is served.

About us

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as they are currently under‑represented. ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification must be produced to complete pre‑employment checks.

Full job descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Job responsibilities

The successful applicant will be required to:

• Organise and prioritise own workload and monitor those clinically supervised within a defined area.
• Undertake holistic and comprehensive specialist assessments of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multiplathologies that change across the caseload.
• Utilise analytical and clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide accurate management of the condition, interpret facts, select the appropriate treatment and implement rehabilitation programmes.
• Maintain timely documentation of clinical records and audit the documentation of supervisees, ensuring compliance with standards set down by the Trust, HCPC and relevant professional bodies.
• Delegate treatment plans to unqualified staff inclusive of assistants and care support workers.
• Complete assessments of patients' homes such as environmental visits and home visits and arrange equipment for safe discharges from Intermediate Care beds as required.
• Manage crisis intervention within the community to meet national guidance on two‑hour responses. Provide holistic assessments, provision of equipment, short‑term therapy including organising short‑term social care needs as required to reduce hospital admissions.
• Formally supervise less experienced staff and assistants to whom clinical and non‑clinical tasks are allocated, ensuring their input is within the remit of their role and competencies, and to be responsible for the safe use of equipment used by self, assistants and students.
• Participate in the clinical governance procedures including the prompt recording and reporting of incidents, equipment defects and first‑line management of informal complaints.
• Appraise and develop clinical activities within the team through monitoring and reviewing both individual and team performance, addressing performance capability issues where necessary.
• Contribute towards the provision of flexible and timely service.
• Be responsible for own Continuous Professional Development evidenced by attendance at relevant courses (in‑service and external), achievement of appraisal objectives and maintenance of a professional portfolio, which includes reflective practice.
• Participate in the staff appraisal scheme and Personal Development Plan as both appraiser and appraisee.
• Be an active member of the in‑service training programme, including attendance and participation in the provision of training to staff; attendance at training sessions in‑house, external courses, and practising reflective practice.
• Undertake the measurement and evaluation of work and current practices through the use of evidence‑based practice projects, audit, research and outcome measures, either individually or with colleagues, clinical lead or manager.
• Maintain own registration with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and adhere to codes of conduct as set by the HCPC and relevant professional body.

Person Specification

Experience

• Comprehensive and relevant qualified experience in physical rehabilitation including recent general rehabilitation experience.
• Experience of collaborative working within multidisciplinary teams.
• Evidence of communication skills within a wide variety of settings.
• Experience in staff appraisals.
• Experience in working in a variety of settings.
• Experience of working in Intermediate Care and crisis management.

Statutory Registration

• HCPC registered Occupational Therapist or HCPC registered Physiotherapist.
• Member of BAOT or Member of CSP.

Special Requirements

• Ability to travel and carry small items of equipment on a daily basis to fulfil the requirements of the post.
• Ability to meet physical demands of the post.
• Commitment, motivation and ability to work flexibly within a multidisciplinary service.

Special Skills & Knowledge

• In depth and up to date knowledge and skills in the assessment and treatment of a wide range of physical disabilities.
• Remain updated with professional practice and new research.
• Understand clinical governance and its implication for services, including experiences of quality and audit.
• Ability to comprehend and work within the Trust's policies of data protection, equal opportunities and health and safety.
• To meet the differing needs of patients.
• Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities.
• Ability to cope with working in a stressful environment and deal with emotional or aggressive patients and carers.
• Ability to work independently and organise, prioritise and delegate workload to meet service demands.
• Understand the legal responsibilities of the profession.
• Able to organise, prioritise and delegate.
• Evidence of self‑directed learning and critical appraisal skills.
• Ability to use own initiative appropriately to enhance service delivery.
• Presentational skills.
• Evidence of participation in research/audit.
• Clinical supervision of other therapy staff/students.
• Clinical educator experience.
• Attendance at a recognised clinical

Qualifications

• BSc/MSc in Occupational Therapy or BSc/MSc in Physiotherapy or equivalent.
• Evidence of CPD, including attendance at recent post‑graduate courses relevant to the clinical fields in the specialism.
• An understanding of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, its culture, strategic direction, achievements and NHS standing.
• Involvement in specific interest groups.

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.

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum, pro rata