The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wave—a national programme that’s changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector.

This means we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives.

We’re a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

Job overview
Are you an experienced and enthusiastic occupational therapist looking for an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in urgent and emergency care?

We are seeking a motivated band 6 specialist OT to join our dynamic acute therapy team, providing specialist assessment and intervention across the Emergency Department (ED) OPAL unit (older persons assessment and liaison) and the short stay wards.

This is an exciting role for an autonomous clinician who thrives in a fast paced environment and is passionate about supporting timely decision-making, preventing unnecessary admissions and facilitating safe, patient centred discharges.

This is a full time role working across a 7 day roster, including extended hours (8am to 8pm) and is fixed term for 12 months to cover a secondment.

Main duties of the job

• To continue to develop specialist clinical skills, knowledge and experience through practice in the different areas in the Emergency Department, the Medical Assessment Unit, Short Stay Assessment Unit and the Frailty Unit. This will also mean contributing to in-service training sessions and specialist Personal Development as identified in Personal Development Plan.
• To maintain personal professional status by ensuring that the requirements laid down by relevant professional body for periodic registration to maintain personal professional licence are complied with. Exercise professional accountability as guided by the relevant professional body and maintained in accordance with the policies of the department and The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust.
• To regularly assist in the planning & delivery of departmental training and education sessions, to further professional and personal development for staff, working with the guidance and support of more senior members of staff if required.
• To maintain effective communication links with patients, carers and all other members of the MDT regarding patient’s condition, including the completion of accurate clinical records in line with the trust and professional body codes of practice.
• To supervise Band 5 physiotherapist/occupational therapist on rotation and assist in maintaining physiotherapy/occupational therapy/generic assistants’ competency.
• To be responsible for the clinical education and practice of Physiotherapy Undergraduates accepted on clinical placement.
• To actively participate in service improvement initiatives such as in planned research and audit.
• To work as part of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) in the provision of a high standard of care to those patients referred to the Emergency Department Therapy Service, to ensure the continuation of therapy on transfer or discharge as necessary.
• Working without direct supervision, to hold responsibility for own caseload and the seamless transfer of physiotherapy care for a defined area of the service or a particular patient type. Supervision may take the form of regular formal training and clinical reasoning sessions, peer review or case presentations / discussions. Access to advice and support from a more Senior Physiotherapist/Occupational therapist is available if required, with clinical work not routinely evaluated by others.
• To assist the specialty Team Lead for the Emergency Department Therapy team, in the further development and the coordination of the provision of physiotherapy/occupational therapy to Emergency Dept and Short Stay wards.
• To be an advocate of patient safety and excellent patient experience while working in the trust.
• To work (having achieved the correct competencies) on the respiratory and orthopaedic weekend and oncall rosters.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and personal specification for the role for further information. We welcome telephone conversations or visit to the hospital if you would like. Please call Katie Silk (Head of Therapies) on 01279 827199.