Job summary
We are looking to recruit existing or new graduate Band 5 Occupational Therapist onto our physical specialities rotation at South Tyneside and Sunderland Foundation Trust. This is a great opportunity to develop clinical skills and develop knowledge of a wide range of conditions within several different teams between Sunderland Royal Hospital, South Tyneside Hospital and Recovery at Home. The rotation covers the following specialities:

South Tyneside Hospital: Acute medicine, Orthopaedics and Surgery, Care of the Elderly.

Sunderland Royal Hospital: Medicine and Surgery, Care of The Elderly, Acute Stroke and Neurology, Interface Team, Trauma and Orthopaedics.

South Tyneside Recovery at Home Therapy Team (Community).

Sunderland Recovery at Home Therapy Team (Community).

Our teams are large, friendly and supportive and supervision will be provided by a senior therapist. We have an established Band 5 support group who plan their own CPD activities and provide peer support, and a 12-month preceptorship programme to support development of essential skills and knowledge. There is a wide scope for ongoing personal and professional development.

Pre-Application/interview queries and visits are welcome.

Main duties of the job
Our physical specialities rotation provides the opportunity to experience therapy intervention with patients throughout the whole acute patient journey. Our well-established Interface Team work into ED and EAU to help prevent hospital admission and also to facilitate safe and timely discharges from our short stay areas; our inpatient OT teams assess patients for discharge from base wards and our Recovery at Home Therapy Teams assess and work with patients at home on discharge from hospital, as well as responding to situations to help prevent admission to hospital.

With each rotational area, you will hold your own caseload of patients and will be responsible for assessing the functional needs of your patients to either prevent admission to hospital or facilitate discharge from hospital. You will also be assessing for and prescribing aids, equipment and wheelchairs, and liaising with partner agencies whilst adapting your core skills to the patient group or speciality you are working in. You will also have the opportunity to develop your manual handling skills and your knowledge of specialist equipment.

Due to the need to visit patients homes as part of assessment and treatment interventions, you will need to have a valid UK driving licence and be able to drive our department vehicles in the acute teams at Sunderland Royal, and have access to a vehicle for work purposes for the Recovery at Home rotations.

About us
Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Job responsibilities
To work as a therapy practitioner using clinical reasoning skills to provide therapy assessment, treatment and advice to a caseload which will incorporate a range of presentation of conditions.

PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

Qualifications
Essential

• Recognised degree in Occupational Therapy (completed or pending completion for new graduates).
• HCPC registration (application pending for new graduates on confirmation of passing Degree).
• Valid UK driving licence.

Desirable

• Membership of Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).

Experience
Essential

• Experience as a student Occupational Therapist in a physical health setting.

Desirable

• Experience of working, either paid or voluntary, within a care or therapy setting.
• Acute hospital placement experience.

Physical Skills
Essential

• Ability to engage in physical activity throughout the day and undertake moving and handling assessments with and without the use of equipment.
• Ability to sit at a workstation as necessary to complete administrative aspects of the Post.
• Ability to drive the Department vehicles.
• Access to a vehicle for work purposes / community visits.
• Ability to work in restricted spaces where there is a requirement to bend, or kneel down.
• Ability to lift and carry equipment ie. toilet or bathing equipment used for assessments.

Skills and Knowledge
Essential

• Developed verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proven written communication skills including report writing and maintaining patient records.
• Able to demonstrate analytical & judgmental skills.
• Skills to prioritise workload and make judgements on priorities when there are several competing demands.
• Able to present information, written and orally in a clear and logical manner.
• Basic IT skills.
• Presentational skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of South Tyneside and Sunderland Foundation Trust, its culture, strategic direction & achievements.
• Basic knowledge of adaptive aids and equipment used to facilitate functional independence.
• Knowledge of current legislation and guidelines which underpin practice.

Desirable

• Knowledge of community and local authority services relevant to Sunderland, South Tyneside and surrounding areas.
• Intermediate IT skills.
• Knowledge of standard wheelchairs and the indications for safe use.

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. 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).

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