Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Occupational Therapist

Closing date: 17 August 2026

Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to join our specialist team providing a service to inpatients within Trauma & Orthopaedics. The role is based at Southmead Hospital.

This advert may close early, if we have received a sufficient amount of applications. Therefore you are highly advised to apply as soon as possible if you are interested in this position.

Main duties of the job
To provide occupational therapy to acute inpatients with unplanned orthopaedic needs from local fractures to complex polytrauma. The Trust Trauma Service is a centre of excellence and offers specialist intervention for a wide range of needs including pelvic, acetabular, spinal trauma, and foot & ankle surgery.

The caseloads are interesting and challenging with provision of early assessment and intervention to address occupational needs, prevention of complications and progression from hospital to home. This requires a range of therapeutic skills including splinting and rehabilitation.

There is close team working and links within the wider system to address needs at all stages of the clinical pathway, with occupational therapy playing a crucial role.

To understand more about Occupational Therapy at NBT, watch our video on our website.

About us
The newly formed Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is a great place to work. Situated in the vibrant city of Bristol, Southmead Hospital is an award-winning building opened in 2014, offering exceptional facilities for patients and staff. We are a large teaching Trust that provides multiple specialties including regional services for neurosciences, major trauma, orthopaedics, renal and surgery (major arterial centre and burns & plastics).

There is plenty of peer and senior support in the team, as well as the wider service. Various professional development opportunities and training courses are available, with quality improvement projects and service development ideas actively encouraged. Additional benefits include award schemes for excellence, staff restaurants, green spaces and an extensive well being programme.

Details
Date posted: 03 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
per annum, pro rata for part time roles
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 339-CCS5227-BAL
Job locations: Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• Provide a specialist Occupational Therapy service to patients within a defined clinical specialty, including those presenting with complex physical, cognitive, psychosocial and environmental needs.
• Manage a caseload autonomously, prioritising workload and ensuring effective service delivery within available resources.
• Undertake specialist assessment, intervention and support discharge planning
• Supervise Band 5 staff, support workers and students
• Contribute to service development, participating in audit, quality improvement, clinical governance activities and designated service development projects.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Degree in Occupational Therapy (or equivalent)
• HCPC Registration
• Practice Educator qualification or willingness to obtain

Desirable

• Postgraduate training relevant to specialist area
• Membership of RCOT

Work Experience
Essential

• Post-registration Occupational Therapy experience
• Experience within relevant clinical specialty
• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Experience supervising staff and/or students
• Experience of audit, service evaluation or quality improvement

Desirable

• Experience of research

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Essential

• Specialist knowledge of occupational therapy theory and practice
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Supervision and leadership skills
• IT and electronic record keeping skills

Desirable

• Wheelchair assessment skills

Personal Qualities
Desirable

• Membership of RCOT or specialist interest group/network

Employer details
Employer name: Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Pathway Lead Occupational Therapist (MSK)
Suzanne Billings
Suzanne.Billings2@nbt.nhs.uk

Additional information
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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).