Job summary
BAND 6 SPECIALIST OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST Acute Stroke Permanent | Full Time (37.5 hours)

Do you have a passion for stroke rehabilitation? Are you looking for the opportunity to deepen your knowledge base and expand your skillset as part of a committed and driven team? Are you interested in quality improvement?

We are looking for a therapist with NHS and stroke/brain injury experience who is looking to develop their Band 6 clinical and professional skills, working within the dynamic Stroke Therapy Team in the James Paget University Hospital Stroke Unit. We are able to offer bespoke training and encourage external education opportunities.

Main duties of the job
We know that development and wellbeing are crucial to the success of your work, and you will receive regular one-to-one supervision to discuss your progress, and any service evaluation and ideas. You will work alongside existing staff to share ideas to help develop yourself and the team. As a team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and rehabilitation assistants we are changing and developing our service continuously to improve delivery of rehabilitation. With a wider therapy department of more than 100 staff, there are lots of opportunities to develop and progress your career.

The James Paget Stroke Unit is commissioned to offer both acute care and rehabilitation, and as such the role provides the opportunity to develop skills in every phase of inpatient stroke rehabilitation, and joint working to provide a solid discharge plan. As a specialist you would be providing a high standard of care to the more complex patients following stroke and brain injury, facilitating their rehabilitation journey.

About us
We are committed to service development, with opportunities to lead on audit and service improvement. We have a dedicated research role within the team and are engaging with research opportunities locally and nationally. The profile of therapies is growing, and our voice and opinions are heard and valued at both departmental and operational levels.

If this advert sparks your interest and you think you fit the bill, we would love to hear from you. Call for a chat or to arrange a visit.

Details
Date posted: 10 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 177-EMER-8128189
Job locations: James Paget University Hospital, Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, NR31 6LA, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
The Trust offers:

• Training and development opportunities
• Protected CPD time
• Generous annual leave: 27 days on appointment, 29 days after five years service, and 33 days after 10 years service
• NHS pension scheme
• NHS discounts
• Salary Sacrifice car scheme
• Flexible working options, including nine-day fortnights, part-time working
• Employee celebration - regular staff awards
• International peer support group and celebration events
• Neurodiversity support
• Health and Wellbeing Service, including counselling, physiotherapy, mental health, and menopause support etc.
• Career pathway development, supportive PDP to help you achieve your goals
• Social events
• Long service recognition
• On-site parking
• Single accommodation on site for new staff
• Occupational Therapy specific training in an integrated therapy department
• Recruitment support
• Excellent maternity package

Please see the attached Job Description for details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role.

Please watch the following videos for an insight into our Integrated Therapies Department:
Landscape version: https://youtu.be/tklpzav7UrU
Portrait version: https://youtube.com/shorts/U4lwU9T1wKA?feature=share

Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential

• Degree/MSc in Occupational Therapy
• Current Health and Care Professions Council registration
• Evidence of up-to-date manual handling, relevant post-graduate courses or CPD and reflections of learning

Desirable

• Undertaken a student educators/supervision course

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Experience working with stroke survivors in an acute or rehabilitation setting
• Clinical experience within the NHS to include acute hospital setting and discharge planning
• Experience at Band 5 level within a range of clinical areas
• Evidence of acting in a supervisory manner, providing specialist guidance, training and support to other staff or students
• Experience of working with a range of professionals within multidisciplinary teams

Desirable

• Working knowledge of stroke/brain injury including recovery pathways and approaches to treatment
• Working knowledge of clinical governance and implications for own work
• Experience at Band 6 level
• Involvement in service improvement/project work

Skills and Knowledge
Essential

• Adaptable communication skills including empathy, assertiveness and negotiation skills, and evidence of working with barriers to communication
• Ability to prioritise and organise workload and support others with this
• Ability to act as an autonomous practitioner with minimum supervision
• Ability to work proactively under pressure and work flexibly
• Evidence of initiative and ability to promote change
• Recognise own limitations and know when to ask for help

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.

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

Employer details
Employer name: James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: James Paget University Hospital, Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, NR31 6LA, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.jpaget.nhs.uk/work-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Integrated Therapies Administrator
Julie Power
ITAT@jpaget.nhs.uk
01493453121