Job summary
Rotational Band 5 Occupational Therapist - up to 12 months fixed term contract, 30 hours per week, maternity leave cover.

We are looking to recruit a flexible and dynamic Band 5 Occupational Therapist to join our exciting rotation at the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven

This role may be suitable for individuals Returning to Practice. Please speak to the recruiting manager for more information.

Main duties of the job
You will be welcomed onto a rotation that covers Medical, Surgical, Orthopaedics, Elderly Care, Stroke Rehabilitation and Copeland and Allerdale Community Rehabilitation Services. You will have the opportunity to work as part of a team, consolidating your skills as an independent practitioner, whilst also developing delegation skills to our dedicated support staff.

Our popular rotation appeals to Occupational Therapists wishing to explore specialist areas of practice with each rotation worked over 6 months.

You will enjoy the support of a strong Occupational Therapy network across both health and social care, which brings with it professional development opportunities.

You will have access to high quality, regular supervision as well as being encouraged to become an active member of our Band 5 Peer Support Group.

We will offer an excellent induction, ongoing professional support, preceptorship, annual appraisal and a highly rewarding job to the successful candidate. We are keen to hear from both qualified, registered Occupational Therapists and those recently qualified who are awaiting HCPC registration in the coming months.

About us
At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Details
Date posted: 07 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year
Per Annum Pro Rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 262-A-26-8192743
Job locations: West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, CA28 8JG, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

AHP - Return to Practice Job Advert information. This role may be suitable for individuals Returning to Practice. Please speak to the recruiting manager for more information.

The Trust will provide a twelve month preceptorship period for New to registration Nurses Midwives and Allied Health Professionals.

Registered Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals returning to practice, moving into new roles or changing clinical environments, may access an agreed preceptorship period.

Disclosure and Barring Service:
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.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

• Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £6.50 = £28.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.
• Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £6.50 = £56.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

• 27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years
• Flexible working Scheme
• NHS Discounts*
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*
• Excellent opportunities for development*
• Competitive NHS Pension scheme
• Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

*Subject to eligibility

Important Information:
Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Degree in occupational therapy or equivalent
• Current registration with HCPC

Experience
Essential

• Wide range of practice educational placements.
• Physical disability acute hospital placement.
• Community Rehabilitation placement
• Use of reflection in practice

Desirable

• Use of standardised assessment.
• Employment as an occupational therapist
• Experience of managing a caseload

Knowledge
Essential

• Continuing professional development with portfolio.
• Occupational therapy models of practice and frames of reference.
• Clinical governance
• Microsoft Word and use of Internet
• Equality legislation and best practice

Desirable

• Local and national health policy
• Evidence of relevant health related training courses

Skills and Apptitudes
Essential

• Well developed communication skills
• High standard of written communication skills
• Good problem solving skills
• Reflective skills
• Organised team worker
• Enthusiasm
• Flexible approach

Personal Circumstances
Essential

• Ability to participate in weekend working rota
• Willing to participate in rotational scheme

Other Requirements
Essential

• Ability to travel extensively across North Cumbria
• Able to travel independently of public transport (and at times) transport patients and /or equipment across the locality

Desirable

• Driving licence
• Membership of Professional Body (RCOT)

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).

Employer details
Employer name: North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Address: West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, CA28 8JG, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Deputy Head of Occupational Therapy
Karen Barwick
karen.barwick@ncic.nhs.uk
01228814445

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.

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.