Band 7 Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist in Emergency Department
Please note that the successful candidate will be expected to commence employment on 1 April 2027.

We have an exciting opportunity for a clinical specialist Occupational Therapist to join our Occupational Therapy Department at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

This post will be mainly based in the Emergency Department and associated Front Door Services and will also include covering the Falls and Frailty Response service.

You will be a versatile and enthusiastic OT, clinically expert in the management of patients at the front door. We are a friendly, very supportive and proactive multidisciplinary team with fantastic links with our community and system partners.

If you are looking for a new leadership role using your clinical experience and opportunities to grow, develop and work with others, then this role will be ideal for you!

Main duties of the job

• To be an Occupational Therapist clinical expert in the management of patients in the Emergency Department for the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust (RBFT) supporting admission avoidance and safe, prompt return to the community.
• To work on the Falls & Frailty Response Service in the community alongside a Specialist Paramedic, providing a blue light response to older people who have fallen - providing rapid intervention, equipment and onward referrals to support people to remain at home.
• To be responsible for the operational management and clinical leadership of the Emergency Department Therapy (EDT) team in conjunction with the other Specialist Band 7 Therapists in the team and the Operational Lead for Front Door Service.
• To use expert occupational therapy knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning skills to provide specialist support and advice to the therapy team and other healthcare staff, and to manage own caseload of patients with highly complex discharge planning and admission avoidance support, as an autonomous practitioner.
• To ensure a high quality and effective therapy service at the front door to the hospital.
• To work with South Central Ambulance Service on the 'Falls & Frailty Response Service' on 12 hour shifts, as an autonomous practitioner, preventing conveyance to hospital and maximising independence and safety in the patient's home.

About us
The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest District General Hospitals in the country. The hospital achieved Foundation Trust status on 1st June 2006.

It was the first Foundation Trust in the South Central Strategic Health Authority.

The Trust has a successful track record of delivering high quality acute medical and surgical services for 500,000 patients across West Berkshire, an area extending from Newbury in the west to Henley-on-Thames in the east, and including Wokingham and parts of Hampshire to the south and parts of Oxfordshire to the north. The Trust is Reading's biggest employer.

The CQC rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.

Our innovative Therapies Practice Education Team are an integral part of our staff's experience in their roles. Please follow this link to see more of what we do! https://youtu.be/dFeVzr_UqCw

Our "CARE" values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.

Essential Experience

• Substantial specialist experience at a senior level
• Extensive post-graduate experience
• Post-graduate training/qualification in the management of frail elderly patients and falls prevention
• Experience of teaching and presenting to other staff
• Experience of supervising and developing other staff and students

Desirable Experience

• MSc or equivalent training/experience in related area
• Management training
• Previous experience of a range of healthcare settings

Essential Knowledge

• In-depth understanding of a broad range of non-elective admissions, admission avoidance and work with frail, elderly patients
• Knowledge of current issues and policy relating to field of practice
• Advanced knowledge and experience of a wide range of approaches to the management of frail elderly patients & falls prevention, including advanced clinical reasoning & treatment skills

Desirable Knowledge

• Attendance at specialist courses relating to OT within the field of ED/admission avoidance
• Completion of relevant QI projects
• Evidence of CPD

Essential Education & Registration

• Degree or other recognised qualification in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registered

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.

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: Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Royal Berkshire Hospital, Craven Road, Reading, RG1 5AN, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact:
Operational Lead Therapist for Front Door Services, Ruth Chapman, ruth.chapman14@nhs.net, 01183227015

Reference number: 193-8398337NCG
Date posted: 04 November 2026
Closing date: 18 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change, Band 7
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Job location: Royal Berkshire Hospital, Craven Road, Reading, RG1 5AN, United Kingdom

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