Specialist UCR-VW Therapist (Occupational or Physiotherapist) | East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

ESHT; St Leonards; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in England seeks qualified Occupational Therapists or Physiotherapists to deliver urgent community response services. Candidates should have HCPC registration and experience in acute or community settings. The role focuses on providing personalized care to prevent hospital admissions and support recovery in home environments. Additional benefits include professional development opportunities, access to NHS pension scheme, and psychological support services.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

NHS pension scheme

Access to onsite nurseries

Free psychological support

Qualifications

• HCPC registration essential for application.
• Experience in community settings preferred.
• Ability to work independently in pressured environments.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a 2-hour urgent community response.
• Complete assessments and deliver therapy interventions.
• Contribute to care planning within virtual ward services.

Skills

HCPC registration (Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist)

Clinical experience in acute or community settings

Strong assessment skills

Excellent communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Proactive teamwork

Job description

We are committed to enhancing patient outcomes through a robust quality improvement approach. Our integrated model, combining urgent community response and virtual ward services, enables us to deliver a truly seamless, multi-disciplinary approach to care. Urgent community response and virtual wards provide a 7 day working service.

As part of our "Art of the Possible" vision, we’re delivering rehabilitation and care that is:

• Closer to home
• Faster to access
• Seamlessly coordinated
• Built around our patients

Our Home First and Virtual Ward models are at the heart of this transformation—enabling people to recover in their own homes with hospital-level support, surrounded by comfort, dignity, and expert care.

This means:

• Faster recovery and fewer hospital admissions
• Truly personalised care, wherever it’s needed
• Greater independence and better outcomes for our communities

Main Responsibilities

• Deliver a 2-hour urgent community response to help prevent hospital admissions
• Support virtual ward services and contribute to care planning
• Complete assessments and deliver therapy interventions for all discharge pathways
• Work closely with specialist clinical therapy teams to promote integrated MDT working
• Lead with service development, policy implementation, and audit activities
• Liaise with acute, community, and social care teams to provide person-centred care
• Participate in health promotion and education for staff, patients, and families
• Take part in the weekend and bank holiday rota on a rotational basis

What We’re Looking For

• HCPC registration (Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist)
• Clinical experience in acute or community settings
• Strong assessment, communication, and problem-solving skills
• A proactive, team-focused approach with the ability to work independently under pressure
• Band 5–7 candidates will be considered

Please ensure your application clearly demonstrates how you meet the Person Specification.

We offer a wide range of staff benefits, including professional development opportunities, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, and access to onsite nurseries, staff restaurants, and accommodation.

All staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme, alongside support from our internal Occupational Health department. Onsite parking is available from just £50 per year.

There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust—submit your application today.

Statement on the Use of AI

We value the individuality each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage using AI-generated content when applying for roles with us. Your application should reflect your authentic skills, experiences, and motivations, expressed in your own words and perspective.

Using AI may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and could create a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.

Please complete your application thoughtfully to help us understand your potential and ensure a fair evaluation. Excessive use of AI-generated content may reduce your chances of success.

Please refer to the job description attached.

If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.

This advert closes on Tuesday 30 Dec 2025